What to do if babyê fall off the bed

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 examinations and confirm that there is no internal damage.

Falls are relatively frequent in babies and young children, as they are not aware of height, and can roll out of bed or sofa. Therefore, it is very important to be careful not to leave the baby alone in high places where it can fall when moving.

What to do after a fall

If the baby falls from a high place such as a bed, crib or chair, for example, what you should do is:

1. Keep calm and comfort the baby: It is important to remain calm and not immediately call the pediatrician or take the baby to the hospital, because the fall may not have caused injuries. In addition, the baby needs affection to stay calm, stop crying and the person responsible for the baby can better evaluate;
2. Assess the baby's physical condition: Check the baby's arms, legs, head, and body for any swelling, redness, bruising, or deformity. If necessary, undress the baby;
3. Apply a pebble of ice in case of redness or bruising: the ice reduced blood circulation in the area, reducing the bruise. The ice stone must be protected with a cloth and applied to the bruise site, using circular movements, for up to 15 minutes, reapplying 1 hour later.

Even if no signs or symptoms related to the fall were observed at the time of evaluation, it is important that the baby is seen by a doctor.

When to go to the ER

It is always recommended to go to the emergency room when the baby has fallen from a high place, because, even if it does not show signs of injury, it may have some type of internal damage, such as a fracture, that needs proper treatment.

The most serious situations that should be observed as soon as possible are:

• Presence of a bleeding wound;
• Swelling or deformity in arms or legs;
• Existence of vomiting;
• There is intense crying that does not go away with comfort;
• There is loss of consciousness;
• Baby does not move its arms or legs;
• The baby was very calm, listless and unresponsive after the fall.

These symptoms may indicate that the child has a head injury and therefore should be taken to the emergency room immediately.