Babies and falling are two sides of a coin. “Growing up comes from ‘ouch’!” Literally and figuratively. While your baby is in full development mode, learning to walk and run, your baby will also occasionally fall. Some falls will be nothing more than a slight tumble and will be quickly forgotten after a kiss and a hug. But babies can also suffer an injury, like a scrape or abrasion or cut lips when they fall. This section on “First Aid for Babies after a Fall” provides information on the things you can do if your baby suffers.
A scrape wound
A scrape wound is a superficial injury to your baby’s skin. Usually the wound does not bleed. A scrape wound can be quite painful for your baby because the scraping or abrasion of the skin causes a burning sensation. Dirt can get into the wound, so it is important to clean your baby’s wound well. Rinse your baby’s scrape wound with lukewarm running water and disinfect the wound if it is a very dirty wound or if you didn’t have the opportunity to rinse the wound right away. Even if it is a deep abrasion or if the wound is bleeding, you should disinfect it, for example, with iodine (betadine). It’s best to leave a scrape wound to air dry. This will make the wound heal faster. If the scrape wound is more extensive and if some blood or wound fluid oozes from the wound, you can (temporarily) cover the wound with a band-aid strip (plaster) or gauze to prevent dirt or bacteria from entering the wound.
Cut
Did your child fall on something hard and sharp, such as a shard of glass or sharp pebbles? This may result in a cut. Bacteria on the sharp object can also get into the wound. It is, therefore, very important to treat the wound properly. Remember to thoroughly clean your own hands before touching the wound. Rinse the wound clean and pat it dry with a gauze or clean cloth. If the wound is still bleeding, press the wound with the gauze or cloth for several minutes to stop the bleeding. If bleeding persists, continue to apply pressure and seek medical attention. Disinfect with a disinfectant, such as iodine (betadine). Do so by dripping the disinfectant directly on the wound or apply it with a gauze pad. Cover the wound with a band-aid strip (plaster) to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the wound. Choose a colored strip or one with princesses or cars on them. The cheerful motives on the strip itself will often help to ease your little one’s pain a bit. Over the next few days, check that the wound does not become inflamed. If you notice any redness, swelling, heat, pus or increasing sensitivity at the wound, contact a doctor.
Cut lip
Children often injure themselves by biting their lips. It can look quite scary because saliva dilutes the blood, and the wound may appear to bleed more profusely than it actually does. If your child cuts their lips with their teeth, press a wet washcloth or wet (sterile) on the lip to close the wound. Usually, the bleeding will stop after a few minutes. Depending on the severity of the cut, you/your child may still have to cool the wound with a cold compress for a while to prevent the lip from swelling.
Bruise/bump
Cool a bruise with a cold wet washcloth. You can also cool the bruise or bump with ice cubes or a cold pack. Important: never place ice cubes directly on your child’s skin! Pack them in a clean tea towel or washcloth, for example.
After every fall, keep a close eye on your child. Is your boy/girl becoming drowsy, less alert, dizzy or nauseous? If so, contact your family doctor.
First aid kit
Make sure you always have a well-stocked first aid kit at home so you can provide immediate first aid after any fall. Your first aid kit should definitely include the following items:
- Disinfectant
- Band-aid strips (plasters) / for children
- Sterile gauze
- Bandage gauze
- Bandage swabs
- An ointment or gel to treat bruises, crushed fingers or toes, scrapes or abrasions and to relieve pain.
