Fall Prevention in Babies by Dr Chetan Ginigeri

Yes, handling a growing baby is not an easy task! Their first roll-on bed, the first crawl, the first step, the first jump – you will remember it all. And once they learn all that, there is no stopping them. While they use their new attained superpowers, stumbling and falling become inevitable.

Babies and Falls

Falls are a major cause of injuries among babies. For this second, they will be right in front of your eyes being all cute; and the next second, they tumble down on the floor. Genius! Aren’t they? They manage to fall from the bed, staircase, cradle, veranda, swing, furniture, balconies, or even slip and fall on the floor. Falling down the stairs is one of the most common accidents. Their cry will make you rush to the Emergency Room.

Most of the time, just bumps, bruises and cuts heal themselves in a few days. But sometimes a fall results in serious injuries like fractures and head injuries that, in rare cases, might lead to death. So, educating yourself about fall prevention is a must to protect your little one.

It is also important to note that infants and small children are top-heavy, that is, they have large heads and are toppleable. So, in case of any unwitnessed fall, it’s better to assume that the head has hit the ground first and measures need to be taken accordingly.

Tips For Fall Prevention in Babies

Due to their restless and clumsy nature, babies fall down more often than you predict. So, if your baby falls, don’t think of yourself as a bad parent. Read along to know all the fall prevention tips to help lessen the chances of babies falling.

1. Fall Prevention From Bed

Falling from the bed while sleeping is highly possible in the case of babies. Taking these precautions will ensure your infant does not fall off:

Babies love rolling on the bed. So, while you change their clothes or diaper, do it on the floor or make sure to hold them with one of your hands at all times.
They roll over in their sleep too. So, try not to leave alone in bed. If you do, keep huge pillows (not the round ones) around them.
Do not keep any toys or pillows in their crib. They might climb on them and fall out.
For babies sleeping in a swinging cradle, use swings with good depth. Do not keep the pillows in there too

2. Fall Prevention From Stairs

If there are stairs at your place, once your baby learns to crawl, install a baby gate. Keep the gate locked while your baby is unattended. Make sure they meet all safety standards and the baby should not be able to climb that in the future.

3. Fall Prevention From Furniture

Parents may not even realize that having furniture around a baby can lead to accidents! Ensure your baby does not get hurt by following these safety measures:

Do not leave your baby unattended on high furniture like a dining table, coffee table, sofa, etc. There is a high chance of them tumbling down.
Keep the light and easily movable furniture out of sight. As babies can push them, they might use them to climb on a higher platform. Make sure the furniture is heavy enough to be steady.
Do not place any furniture like a table, stool, couch, or chair near windows or on balconies. Once they learn, babies will climb on them to peep and fall off them causing serious injuries.
Make your furniture baby-proof so even if they fall off them, they don’t get hurt badly.
Secure the possible furniture to the wall to prevent tip-overs.

[Read : Childproofing Your Home]

3. Fall Prevention on Slippery Floors

Slippery floors can spell doom for a baby and can hurt them bad. These tips will help in making sure your baby doesn’t hurt itself if the floor is wet:

Due to wet floors, babies can fall into the bathroom very easily. So, keep them within arm’s reach. Make them sit while you bathe them. You can also use non-slippery bathroom mats.
If there is a spill on the floor, clean it as soon as possible or babies can slip over it.
Sit them in a safe place when mopping the floor.

4. Fall Prevention From Trip Hazards

Parents love to see their little hearts taking their first steps and learning to walk. However, you need to make sure that there are no obstacles on the way to avoid tripping and falling!

After they learn to walk babies don’t bother to look around and just keep walking. So, if you have small steps in your house, secure them.
Do not leave any electric cords or wires on the floor. Do not even keep toys that can make the trip over on the floor.

5. Fall Prevention From Balconies

Balconies are danger zones for babies who may try to climb them and fall.

Do not leave the child unattended on the balcony. Lock the doors of the balconies when you are not using them.
If possible, raise the heights of balcony railings because falls from balconies can be severe.

Other Important Measures For Fall Prevention

Besides the points above, parents must pay heed to these as well to ensure the safety of their infant.

Try not to leave your baby unattended anywhere.
Lock all windows and doors consciously.
Put stickers on glass doors so that children don’t run through them inadvertently.
Many doctors recommend not using baby walkers as they increase the chances of babies falling. As walkers move easily on the floor, the chances of tripping over something harmful are very high.
Never keep bouncers or car seats on a raised platform. Always keep them on the floor.
Make sure to strap your baby properly in car seats, bouncers, high chairs, and swings. Check them twice.
Keep the things that your babies need like toys in their reach so that they don’t attempt to climb things.

What to do if Baby Falls?

Firstly, pick your baby up and try to console them. Check for the wounds or injuries if any.

If they have a bump, apply an ice pack or cold compress.
Clean the wound and apply a bandage or antiseptic cream if there is any cut.
Call the baby’s doctor if you feel the injury is bad. They will advise you what to do further.
If the baby has lost consciousness, has a swelling, got hit on the head badly, or if the injury is severe call 108 without any delay.

Fall prevention in babies cannot come from mere luck. You, as a parent or caregiver, never want your baby to get hurt. So, make sure to follow the fall prevention tips mentioned above and you will be able to avoid serious injuries among babies.

[Read : Head Injuries In Children]

FAQ’s

1. How Long Should You Monitor a Baby After a Fall?

Even if your baby seems fine after falling, keep an eye on their behavior over the following 24-hour period even if it doesn’t seem like an emergency. After you’ve passed that 24-hour mark, you are less likely to encounter any frightening situations with your little one.

2. Should I Let My Baby Sleep After a Fall?

It depends on the situation. When your baby gets a small bump on its head, if it does not bother them for long, they can take a nap. The only concern is if they falls asleep right away. Do your best to keep your baby awake and seek medical care immediately if you suspect a more serious head injury.

3. How Long After Hitting Head Can Concussion Symptoms Start?

In general, concussion symptoms appear within 24 hours after hitting the head. Some concussions, however, may not show up for up to three weeks.

4. How Long Should a Child Stay Awake After Hitting Their Head?

Ensure that your child rests until all symptoms subside. If your child wants to sleep, let them, but keep monitoring them. Wake the child up after 2 hours of sleep. Make sure the child is conscious and alert and knows who you are. Also, make sure the baby is able to walk and talk normally (if the baby is big enough)

Fall Prevention in Babies by Dr Chetan Ginigeri

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Babies and Falls