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If the baby falls out of bed or crib, it is important that the person remains calm and console the baby while assessing the baby, checking for signs of injury, redness or bruising, for example.
Babies and young children, being unaware of height, may roll off the bed or sofa or fall off chairs or strollers. However, in most cases it is not serious and it is not necessary to take the baby to the pediatrician or to the emergency room, which is only recommended when the child bleeds, cries heavily or loses consciousness.
What to do
So, if the baby falls out of bed, crib or chair, for example, what should be done includes:
- Keep calm and comfort the baby: it is important to stay calm and not call the pediatrician or take the baby to the hospital right away, 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 assess;
- Assess the baby's physical condition: check the baby's arms, legs, head and body to see if there is any swelling, redness, bruising or deformity. If necessary, undress the baby;
- Apply an ice pebble in case of redness or hematoma: the ice has reduced blood circulation in the area, reducing the hematoma. The ice pebble must be protected with a cloth and applied to the hematoma site, using circular movements, for up to 15 minutes, applying again 1 hour later.
Even if no signs or symptoms related to the fall were observed at the time of the evaluation, it is important that the baby is observed throughout the day so that it is verified that there is no development of bruises or difficulty in moving any limbs, for example. And, in these cases, it is necessary to consult the pediatrician to be guided on what should be done.
When to go to the emergency room
It is recommended to go to the emergency room when signs and symptoms are observed as soon as the baby has an accident. Therefore, it is recommended to go to the hospital when:
- The presence of a bleeding wound is observed;
- There is swelling or deformity in the arms or legs;
- The baby limps;
- The baby is vomiting;
- There is intense crying that does not go away with comfort;
- There is a loss of consciousness;
- The baby does not move his 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, especially if he hit his head, broke a bone, has an injury or injury to an organ and, therefore, should be taken immediately to the emergency room. See some tips in the following video: