Baby Bumps and Bruises

As your baby gains mobility, accidents will happen and her head will get bumped at least a few times. Rest assured that your baby’s head is built to withstand the bumps and bruises of childhood and that most falls injure only the scalp, not the underlying brain. A scalp injury will normally bleed a lot and a bump will appear quickly.

Here are some helpful tips to treat a head wound:

 

1. Apply ice to the bump for 20 minutes to reduce swelling. If your child won’t cooperate and you can’t keep the ice on that long, don’t worry; it won’t make the injury any worse.
2. Stop any bleeding with a clean cloth.
3. Watch carefully for signs of concussion or large hematoma. If she is alert, walking, talking and playing like she was before the injury, she’s probably okay. As a precaution, keep her awake for at least the first hour after the injury, and then let her nap in short, 20-minute intervals.

 

 

Trust your instincts; even if she is behaving normally, but you feel something isn’t right, call your pediatrician. Better safe than sorry.