Dr. Komarovsky: what to do if the baby fell out of bed?

The first independent movements of the baby cause delight in the whole family. Unfortunately, rarely any baby when trying to become more mature does not fall. The greatest horror covers parents when the crumb falls from a height: from the changing table, from the crib, from the sofa to the floor. At the same time, he shouts so strongly that the rich imagination of moms and dads immediately draws the most gloomy pictures: trauma, concussion, fracture ...

A well-known pediatrician, Yevgeny Komarovsky, tells us whether they should be afraid of such falls, what consequences they may have and how parents can act if the child flew from somewhere to the floor.

The prudent nature perfectly took care that the consequences of the fall were minimal for the child. For this purpose, the crumbs have a “spring” on the head, and the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in babies is incredibly large, and this is not without reason: it performs cushioning functions, significantly softening the fall from any height. Of course, we are not talking about the flight from the third floor, but the height of the crib or changing table protects the functions and mechanisms of the child’s body is enough.

This fact should reassure parents a little. However, caution should be exercised. Yevgeny Komarovsky advises the moms and dads of the “flyers” to closely watch the child for the first day after the fall. If possible, the crumbs need to provide physical peace: cancel the massage sessions, give up active games, mobile entertainment.

The symptoms that speak of a serious injury will tell Dr. Komarovsky in the next video.

A fallen child screams heart-rending not from pain, as parents think, but from fright. A sudden change in body position in space causes a real panic in the baby. If at the same time he feels a strong response panic, which his parents will demonstrate (and he will feel it without fail, you can be sure), his fear will only increase.

The main thing that parents should do if the child fell from a height - to remain calm (as far as possible in this situation). Baby should be carefully raised, inspected for damage and reassure. If, after half an hour, the toddler began to smile again and act as if nothing had happened, there are no grounds for an emergency visit to the traumatologist or surgeon. The probability of damage to internal organs is minimal.

Observations on the child in the next day should be based on the fixation of any (even minor) changes in his behavior. Naturally, the most dangerous consequences of a failed landing are various head injuries. Parents should be aware of symptoms that indicate such damage:

• Consciousness. It does not matter how many months or years a child is (a child fell in bed at 6 months or dropped a newborn). Even the most short-term loss of consciousness is a reason to immediately go to the doctor’s office or to call an ambulance.
• Changing the pace or purity of speech. If a child already speaks, even if only syllables, upon close observation, parents are able to notice that he began to “communicate” less often, more often, louder or quieter, his speech became illegible, signs appeared stutter and so on. In this case, a craniocerebral injury can be suspected, and this condition requires compulsory medical care.

• Drowsiness. If the child, after falling, began to sleep longer, he constantly falls down and quickly falls asleep, even if he has “exhausted” his daily sleep time a long time ago - this is a reason to take him to the hospital.
• Inadequate behavior. This is the most difficult. Sometimes it is quite difficult for parents to explain to the doctor exactly what is the inadequacy of the baby’s behavior (especially if it is a newborn or 5-month-old child). However, they will definitely notice oddities, the mother's heart will “prompt.” Do not be shy and believe that the doctor will not understand you, immediately contact the hospital.

• Headache. This symptom can be fixed if the child is already at that age when he can tell or show his parents that he has a headache. Not the headache itself should be alerted, but its duration. If the fall has passed without consequences, it will pass quickly. With a head injury, quite a strong pain will persist after an hour and a half after falling. Toddlers who cannot speak are more likely to express their feelings through crying. It will not be sharp and shrill. The nature of crying will be dull, constant, with short breaks (for a few minutes, not more).
• Cramps. This symptom is clear to everyone, as it is clear that one should not wait for the second attack. Already after the first convulsions, an ambulance should be called.

• Nausea and vomiting. If a child has more than one vomiting attack, this may indicate a concussion. Karapuzu needs qualified medical assistance.
• Dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus. If a child, which is quite confident on its legs in the arena at 10 months, is unstable, an imbalance after a fall, you should consult a doctor. This also includes such symptoms as a lack of coordination, the inability to move a hand or foot.

• Pupil size If the pupils are the same, there is no reason to worry. If one is larger than the other, then this is one of the easiest to diagnose signs of head injury.
• Circles under the eyes. If dark blue circles appear under the eyes or behind the ear, shortly after the fall, this is a very alarming symptom.

• Discharge from the ears and nose. Not only bloody and blood-like secretions should be alerted, but also completely transparent.
• Feelings and perception. If a child after a fall, even to an insignificant degree, has decreased vision, hearing has deteriorated, the sense of smell has disappeared, this is a good reason for seeking medical help.

This is due to the physiological features of babies. In humans, since birth and up to about the age of five, the head is rather heavy (when compared to the general proportions of the body). Imbalance leads precisely to falling on the heaviest part of the body, on the head. The most dangerous is if the child has hit the back of his head or temporal area.

If the child has one or more of the above symptoms, it should be taken to hospital as soon as possible. In the hospital, the baby will have an ultrasound of the brain, tomography (computer or magnetic resonance), and if necessary, an encephalogram.If damage is detected, hospitalization will be shown, and the child will undergo a course of treatment with the use of medications and special physical procedures under the constant supervision of doctors. If everything is done in a timely manner, the health effects will be minimal (or the injury will not affect the future development of the baby).

Komarovsky recommends that parents of infants, in any case, study and the procedure for the actions that need to be carried out while doctors are on call. First aid should be as follows:

• Bruise, lump, swelling. Something cool should be applied to this place, but not a piece of frozen meat from the freezer, so as not to cause brain overcooling.
• Rest The child does not need to be carried in his arms back and forth around the apartment and at the same time intensively swing. Crumb better to be in a horizontal position on the side. No pillows! Komarovsky emphasizes that the head and spine should be at the same level.
• Before the arrival of the "ambulance" is better not to let the baby sleep.
• When vomiting in any case, do not let the child lie on his back so that he does not choke on vomit.
• Do not give any medication.

The best prevention of head injuries is parental control. The baby is not as helpless as some parents think. As early as 4 months, he is able to roll over and roll down from the sofa on which he was left, or from the changing table, while Mom turned away to take a clean diaper or pants.

That is why Yevgeny Komarovsky advises to swaddle and dress the child either on the sofa or on a table with high sides around the perimeter. Near the floor is better to lay a soft mat. It will reduce the fall, if that happens.

Leaving the baby alone on the couch or table in no case be impossible, even if the mother needs to leave the room for only a few minutes. No matter how little the baby is outraged, it is better to shift it all the same to the time of absence to bed.

Children receive the most dangerous injuries not when a house falls, but on the street. To avoid the "flight" from the stroller, you need to carefully consider the first attempts of the crumbs to sit down. As soon as he begins to express such a desire, it is better to start using a stroller with straps that secure the child.

Older children, who already know how to walk, when playing on the playground should always be accompanied by an adult who leads the child by the hand, helping him climb up on the swing and get off of them.