If the baby falls out of bed or crib, it is important that the person remains calm and comforts the baby while assessing the presence of signs that may indicate injuries, such as redness, bleeding or bruising, for example.
Most of the time the fall is not serious, but it is always recommended to take the baby to the pediatrician or hospital for tests and to confirm that there is no type of internal damage.
Falls are relatively common in babies and young children, as they are not aware of their height and can roll off the bed or sofa. Therefore, it is very important to be careful not to leave the baby alone in high places where he could fall when moving.
What to do after falling
If the baby falls from a high place such as a bed, crib or chair, for example, what you should do is:
- Keep calm and comfort the baby: It is important to remain calm and not call your pediatrician or take your baby to the hospital right away, as the fall may not have caused any injuries. Furthermore, the baby needs affection to stay calm, stop crying and the person responsible for the baby can better assess;
- Assess the baby’s physical condition: Check the baby’s arms, legs, head and body to see if there is any swelling, redness, bruising or deformity. If necessary, undress the baby;
- Apply a piece of ice in case of redness or bruises: the ice reduced blood circulation in the area, reducing the bruise. The ice cube should be protected with a cloth and applied to the bruise site, using circular movements, for up to 15 minutes, then applying again 1 hour later.
Even if no signs or symptoms related to the fall were observed at the time of the assessment, it is important that the baby is observed by a doctor.
When to go to the emergency room
It is always recommended to go to the emergency room when the baby has fallen from a high place, because, even if they do not show signs of injury, they may have some type of internal damage, such as a fracture, that requires appropriate treatment.
The most serious situations that must be observed as soon as possible are:
- Presence of a bleeding wound;
- Swelling or deformity in the arms or legs;
- Existence of vomiting;
- There is intense crying that does not go away with comfort;
- There is loss of consciousness;
- The baby does not move its arms or legs;
- The baby was very calm, apathetic and unresponsive after the fall.
These symptoms may indicate that the child has a head injury and should therefore be taken to the emergency room immediately.
