So, I took my dd (2) to the ER today for a head injury

[Jennifer in MI]

My ds (11) was walking with her in his arms and he tripped over the sidewalk and dropped dd on her head. I ran over, picked up dd and she was wimpering, but limp. Her little body just melted into mine. We walked into the store to get some ice and she just kept wimpering - not screaming like I would've thought she would after a fall like that.

I decided to take her to the ER. On the way there she kept trying to fall asleep (still wimpering). My 11 yo was crying in the back seat trying to keep her awake. He felt SOOOOO bad.

Anyway, she is fine for now. She perked up after about an hour when we were waiting for the doctor. The doc said to keep a close eye on her for the next 48 hours. So, now I'm really scared. Dh isn't home to reassure me. She's acting normal, but every time she falls down or starts acting funny, I assume it's a brain bleed!!!

So I need you all to reassure me that the chance of a brain bleed are minimal and that if she's acting okay and keeping food down, she's probably going to be okay. Please?

[mommylaw]

Did they do a CT scan at the ER?

My baby (he was 22 months) had a mild concussion last summer when he fell/climbed out of the crib and broke his arm. They took the "possible head injury" much more serious than the broken arm.

Even with the concussion he was fine within a day, completely back to his normal climbing self.

[Danestress]

Oh my stars - your poor poor poor 11 year old. I'm more worried about him than about your dd, and I'm going to pray for him when I am done typing this.

Whenever we had injuries in our family (like the time my infant son fell off a bed FLAT on his head and it sounded like a cantaloup hitting the floor) my husband would remind me (even though he also was really panicked) that few children have brain injuries from household accidents - these thing tend to require real physical violence. He's prosecuted a lot of criminal cases when doctors have testified that there is NO WAY the brain injury could be from an innocent fall.

Now, I don't know if that's really always true, but it really was reassuring. I don't know much about concusions and such, but my guess is your daughter is going to be fine. Bless your poor son's heart. That poor boy.

[Closeacademy]

We did this last summer at the pool. My dd slipped in a pool of water in the bathroom and landed on the back of her head. She layed there stunned. The lifeguard thought he felt a soft-spot so we did the whole trip in the ambulance. Luckily I had two friends there that day who could take my older dd.

We did the CAT scan and x-rays, but she was ok.

We will pray for your little one and that she will be ok too. These head bumps can be scary. I didn't take them back to the pool for the rest of the summer and right now I am trying to get my self motivated to do so this summer.

Hang in there.:)

[Sue G in PA]

I, too, worry more about your ds11! My dd11 would be absolutely beside herself had she accidently hurt her lil sis. Good for you, mom, for not coming down on him...that would have been hard for me in the heat of the moment of panic! Make your ds feel better and tell him this: When my dd11 was not quite a yr. old, dh and I were walking into a restaurant. I had dd in my arms and mis-judged the curb. I tripped and she flew out of my arms, landing on her head, HARD, on the sidewalk. She did start screaming and we didn't take her to the ER, but watched her for 24 hours. I didn't sleep at all that night making sure she was still breathing, etc. I felt like the WORST mom on the planet. Dh still teases me about it today (I can laugh about it now!) I'll say a prayer for your dd and ds...that BOTH will be healed completely (physically and emotionally!).

[Jennifer in MI]

Did they do a CT scan at the ER?

My baby (he was 22 months) had a mild concussion last summer when he fell/climbed out of the crib and broke his arm. They took the "possible head injury" much more serious than the broken arm.

Even with the concussion he was fine within a day, completely back to his normal climbing self.

They did not do a CT scan. The doc told me that if they did and it came back negative, that that didn't mean she was in the clear. Apparently brain bleeds often happen sometime within the first 24 hours. And, if they did do it, the sedation they used would make it difficult for me to watch her for the next day for other signs of head trauma. He also thought that since her neuro exam was normal, that there wasn't bleeding (yet).

Oh my stars - your poor poor poor 11 year old. I'm more worried about him than about your dd, and I'm going to pray for him when I am done typing this.

Whenever we had injuries in our family (like the time my infant son fell off a bed FLAT on his head and it sounded like a cantaloup hitting the floor) my husband would remind me (even though he also was really panicked) that few children have brain injuries from household accidents - these thing tend to require real physical violence. He's prosecuted a lot of criminal cases when doctors have testified that there is NO WAY the brain injury could be from an innocent fall.

Now, I don't know if that's really always true, but it really was reassuring. I don't know much about concusions and such, but my guess is your daughter is going to be fine. Bless your poor son's heart. That poor boy.

Thank you so much!!! I need to sit down and talk with my ds. He has a particularly close relationship with my dd, so I know he felt absolutely terrible. I also find your dh's story reassuring. Thank you!! We really appreciate your prayers.

We did this last summer at the pool. My dd slipped in a pool of water in the bathroom and landed on the back of her head. She layed there stunned. The lifeguard thought he felt a soft-spot so we did the whole trip in the ambulance. Luckily I had two friends there that day who could take my older dd.

We did the CAT scan and x-rays, but she was ok.

We will pray for your little one and that she will be ok too. These head bumps can be scary. I didn't take them back to the pool for the rest of the summer and right now I am trying to get my self motivated to do so this summer.

Hang in there.:)

Oh man! I'd be afraid to go back to the pool too. My ds did that once. We were on vacation and he lost consciousness for about 10 seconds. We were visiting with my BIL who is a paramedic. We just kept a close eye on him. It took me a long time to go to another pool!

I, too, worry more about your ds11! My dd11 would be absolutely beside herself had she accidently hurt her lil sis. Good for you, mom, for not coming down on him...that would have been hard for me in the heat of the moment of panic! Make your ds feel better and tell him this: When my dd11 was not quite a yr. old, dh and I were walking into a restaurant. I had dd in my arms and mis-judged the curb. I tripped and she flew out of my arms, landing on her head, HARD, on the sidewalk. She did start screaming and we didn't take her to the ER, but watched her for 24 hours. I didn't sleep at all that night making sure she was still breathing, etc. I felt like the WORST mom on the planet. Dh still teases me about it today (I can laugh about it now!) I'll say a prayer for your dd and ds...that BOTH will be healed completely (physically and emotionally!).

Oh man!!!! I'd have felt awful too!!! I'm so glad she was okay. I'll tell my ds your story tonight. I know it'll make him feel better.

Dh just called!!! He's on his way home!! I know I'll feel better having his feedback.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Oh dear! I hope your dd is ok! I would be a bit freaked out too. And your poor ds. I hope he doesn't beat himself up too much. We all do stuff like that. Dh was getting ready to rush up the stairs with ds when he was about 5. Ds threw his head back fast at just the wrong moment. His head cracked against the corner of the wall going up the stairs giving him a huge goose egg on his noggin. Dh felt awful!

Poor guy and poor girl,

[fishnoises]

Tell your ds, that his love for his sister is very touching. She is blessed to have a brother who realizes how much he cares for his sister and what it really means to feel sorry. (And that we all have made mistakes that have hurt other unintentionally!)
Wow, what a scare for you all. Let us know how they are doing.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

How are the kids doing today? Is your dd okay? Is your ds traumatized? I've been thinking about you all.

[Jennifer in MI]

Awwww. Thank you so much for thinking of us. Dd has a bad headache when the Advil wears off, but she's back to acting very normal (after meds take effect!).

Ds is fine. He and I had a talk last night about how accidents happen and I reiterated the fact that we don't blame him. Dh told him how proud he was of him and his relationship with dd. I think he walked away feeling really good. He seems completely normal today.

Thank you so much for asking. You don't know how much that means to me!!! I'd give you more rep, but I can't!!!

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Good! I am so glad things turned out okay. He sounds like a lovely young man!

[Jean in Newcastle]

I'm so glad that both of your kids are doing fine. I hope your little one continues to get better.