{"id":4049,"date":"2020-11-04T11:37:37","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T11:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yellodoor.com\/?p=4049"},"modified":"2022-08-23T13:33:28","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T13:33:28","slug":"what-to-do-when-baby-bumps-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yellodoor.com\/de\/what-to-do-when-baby-bumps-head\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do When Baby Bumps Head: Should You Worry and First Aid Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

It happened. The thing you feared most has come knocking at your door, and now you\u2019re scrambling, trying to find a solution to ease the hurt. As parents, it can be distressing to see our little ones in pain, and even more frightening to think that we\u2019re ill-prepared or uninformed about the steps we need to take next. Rather than guess, it can help to think about what to do when baby bumps head ahead of time, so that when it happens, the situation isn\u2019t quite as terrifying.<\/p>\n

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What do I do if my baby bumps his head?<\/h2>\n

First and foremost, relax.<\/p>\n

In instances like these, you need to remain calm in order to best be of service to your baby in a potentially serious situation.<\/p>\n

After you’ve grabbed your baby and removed them from the hazardous situation, examine the impacted area. Does it appear red, swollen and tender? Has it taken on the shape of a goose egg?<\/p>\n

All of these symptoms are to be expected, but you aren\u2019t out of the woods yet.<\/p>\n

Next, you need to check for bleeding. If it is profuse, take a wash cloth to wipe the area and inspect the actual size of the cut. Has the skin separated? You may need to consult a doctor as to whether or not the wound will require stitches. Apply pressure with a wash cloth, and clean the wound with a mild soap before applying a bandage.<\/p>\n

Once your little one is all bandaged up, sit him or her on your lap and apply a cold compress. If there was no blood, this is one of the first things you;ll do following the injury.<\/p>\n

The cold compress could be in the form of ice wrapped in a sandwich bag then wrapped in a paper towel or could be as simple as using a frozen bag of fruit or veggies wrapped in a similar barrier. Whichever you choose, make sure intermittently lift the compress to give the baby a break before reapplying it again. Do this for a maximum of 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

Now, for the most important part in this process. For the next 24 to 48 hours, it is imperative that you watch your child.<\/p>\n

Warum?<\/p>\n

Because it is during this time that your baby may exhibit concerning signs that may warrant a trip to the hospital. Signals like unexplained drowsiness, unresponsiveness and more could be indicative of a concussion, so it is important to act if you feel that your baby is behaving differently than usual.<\/p>\n

Is It Normal for a Baby to Bump His Head?<\/h2>\n

As you might guess, a baby hitting his or her head is completely normal, especially in the mobile stage of babyhood. In fact, we recommend that as your baby approaches those exciting mobile years, which for some occurs as early as 7-8 months, you begin baby proofing your house to help lower the risks of head injuries.<\/p>\n

Cushions like these<\/a><\/strong> are designed to be placed around the sharp edges and perimeters to curb head injuries in little ones. Think of affixing them to table edges, fireplace ledges, TV stands and anywhere else you think your baby will take a liking to at this young age.<\/p>\n

In addition to being mobile, some babies, even those that aren\u2019t walking or crawling yet, tend to tip over, especially when they are first learning to sit on their own<\/a><\/strong>. To help with this, never leave your baby alone while he or she is sitting up and, if you must sit them down, be sure that there is nothing in either direction that your baby could hit his or her head on, and ensure that there is a pillow behind and on the sides of them at all times.<\/p>\n

Oh, and remember that Snoogle<\/a><\/strong> you bought back when you were pregnant? These make great \u201ccatchers\u201d for wobbly babies that tend to topple over, as you can position them to surround your baby on all sides at once.<\/p>\n

Just be sure to supervise your child when using these, and be sure never place them in the bed with your sleeping baby. Doing so may cause suffocation.<\/p>\n

What to Watch for After Child Hits Head?<\/h2>\n

You may be wondering, \u201cBut how do I know if baby is OK after hitting head?\u201d It\u2019s a good question, and one that’s worth exploring in detail.<\/p>\n

As mentioned earlier, you can expect your little one to have a bump on the head, some bleeding and some pain<\/a>. All of that is normal.<\/p>\n

What isn\u2019t normal however, is a profuse amount of bleeding that won\u2019t stop, inconsolable and ongoing crying and mood changes that last for more than an hour.<\/p>\n

Moreover, if you notice that your baby doesn’t respond to pain or your voice, is overly drowsy, is having seizures or is throwing up, you should seek help immediately. Also be on the lookout for confusion, fluid leaking from ears, imbalanced steps or crawling, persistent headaches and oversleeping.<\/p>\n

Baby Bumped Head: When to Worry<\/h2>\n

When it comes to the question of, \u201cShould I take my child to hospital after hitting head?\u201d the answer may shock you.<\/p>\n

In many instances, a bumped head isn\u2019t anything to worry about. Similar to how you can have a sense of when your baby is poorly, such as taking your baby’s temperature by touch<\/a><\/strong>, you\u2019ll likely know when the bump is severe enough to rush your baby to the hospital.<\/p>\n

Honestly, even extra bleeding can seem worse than it actually is, and those goose -sized bumps that form? They\u2019re usually just an indicator of your baby\u2019s body doing it\u2019s job.<\/p>\n

Having said that, you\u2019ll still want to use caution, common sense and your instincts when it comes to a head injury with your child. While it is true that many bumps look worse than they actually end up being, there is always the chance that things could actually be worse than they appear.<\/p>\n

As a rule of thumb, always check for the previously mentioned warning signs, including vomiting, seizures, inconsolable crying and fluid leaking from the ears, and always trust your gut if you aren\u2019t sure, or if your child just doesn\u2019t seem to be acting right.<\/p>\n

Can I Put Ice on My Baby’s Head?<\/h2>\n

You can and should ice your baby\u2019s head after a fall. Just be sure that you aren\u2019t doing this too long and that you are wrapping the ice in a towel, tea bag or some other sort of barrier to block the sting of the ice.<\/p>\n

Other home remedies for baby head bump include using frozen items from the fridge to relieve the pain, and also using a mild soap and water for any bleeding cuts.<\/p>\n

Apply pressure and a bandage, and only use a genetic acetaminophen or Tylenol when absolutely needed. Remember, unnecessary usage of pain reliever may dull symptoms and keep you from being able to detect serious signs of a concussion, so it may be better to let your baby\u2019s body take its course, rather than take the risk of missing concerning symptoms.<\/p>\n

Worried about head bumps and other injuries while out and about? You might consider stocking your diaper bag with a specially designed kids first aid kit<\/strong><\/a> that will be light-weight and easy to take with you on the go.<\/p>\n

Is It Okay for Baby to Sleep After Bumping Head?<\/h2>\n

Assuming that you aren\u2019t noticing any other alarming signs in your child after his or her head injury, it is okay to let your child go to sleep or take a nap.<\/p>\n

The most important thing, however, is that you are monitoring your child vigilantly for at least 24-48 hours after the head injury took place. This means you\u2019ll need to check in on your child at least every 2-3 hours while he or she is sleeping to ensure that everything still seems okay.<\/p>\n

What to Do When Newborn Bumps Their Head<\/h2>\n

A newborn bumping his or her head isn\u2019t uncommon, and can happen in a variety of scenarios. Unfortunately, because a newborn’s skull is still developing and the head is still soft, head injuries for a newborn baby can be a lot more serious.<\/p>\n

While the best thing you can do for a newborn to keep head injuries from happening is not to put the baby in compromising positions, accidents do happen and it is important to know what to do when they do.<\/p>\n

If something happens and your newborn incurs a head injury, look for the aforementioned signs and pay very close attention to your little one\u2019s behaviour.<\/p>\n

Is he or she crying non-stop? Do you see any bleeding? Is he or she unusually quiet or refusing to eat? These clues, along with the others mentioned, are sure signs that you need to get your newborn to the hospital, immediately.<\/p>\n

Likewise, if your baby seems to cry when you move him or her, call your local emergency line to ensure that he or she gets the proper care. You may attempt to gently move him or her to a safe location if possible until help arrives, but even then, be sure to hold your newborn still and in your lap in case there is a neck or spine injury involved.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind that, depending on the severity of the impact, you may need to go ahead and have your little one seen by a medical professional regardless, even if your newborn seems \u201cokay\u201d, as a newborn\u2019s skull is fragile and may be damaged more easily.<\/p>\n

Tips to Prevent Head Injury in Children<\/h2>\n

Sometimes, it isn\u2019t just the rock and tumble that your baby takes that causes a head injury. Situational circumstances, such as being involved in a car accident, may also play a role. No matter the situation, you can try the following helpful tips to prevent future injury, applicable for children of any age.<\/p>\n