What To Do If Your Baby Falls Off The Bed?

While parents try their best to take care of an infant after they are home from the hospital, hoping that the baby will be safe all the time may not necessarily be practical thinking. Falling off the bed, for instance, is a common accident that happens in many houses, even after parents have taken all precautionary measures to baby-proof their home.

How Do I Know If My Baby Is Okay After A Fall?

Firstly, do not panic. You will need to judge the fall, so pick up your baby and check for any bruises or injuries. According to Community Expert Dr Pooja Marathe, the baby might experience constant pain after the fall,  which may likely keep the baby in pain and he or she might cry for the same reason. There may be a chance that your baby loses consciousness too.

If your baby seems to be distracted by toys as usual, is playing and smiling, then your baby is probably in the clear. But you must still move their arms, legs and other parts for bruises and inspect their head for injuries.

If your baby is hurt, picking him or her up immediately might make an injury worse. Community Expert Dr Pooja Marathe says,” A brain injury depends on the height from which the baby has fallen.”

Before you take an action, consider these tips-

1. The height from which your baby fell. The higher the height, the more dangerous it is for your baby. If your baby who is less than two years old falls from a height over three feet or more than five stairs, they should be taken to a doctor right away. 
2. It is more dangerous if your child fell into a hard surface. So check the surface to find out whether your baby fell onto compacted sand, ceramic tile, concrete, stone or other hard surfaces.
3. If your child hit something when he or she fell, it can cause serious injuries. If you notice any bleeding or anything that’s sticking out, they’ll need medical help urgently.

Common Signs You Should Go to the ER

Dr Pooja Marathe says, “Post the fall from the bed, we need to keep a clean watch on the baby for 24 hours. The baby should continue doing normal activities, which would be helpful in understanding how the child is dealing. The child should be conscious, play well, should not be left out of sight and also should not vomit within 24 hours of fall or else, this should be treated as an emergency.”

Even if your baby doesn’t lose consciousness or does not happen to show any serious injury, there may still be signs that may require a trip to the emergency room. Some of these are-

• Continuously rubbing their head
• Being inconsolable
• The soft spot in the front of the head seems to bulge out
• Baby gets excessively sleepy
• Has yellow fluid or bloody fluid coming out from the nose or ears
• High-pitched cry
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Changes in balance or coordination
• Pupils that are of different size
• Vomiting
• Seizure

Check your baby to ensure sure they don’t have any broken bones or fractures. Some of the signs include:

• Misshapen limb
• Swelling
• Trouble moving a limb 
• Trouble bearing weight
• Pain when you touch your baby or move the limb
• Paleness

Tips to Prevent Your Baby from Falling Out of Bed

• Ensure your child’s bed or cot has guards on all 4 sides where each guard is tightly locked. This prevents the child from bumping into the guard and loosening it up which may then result in your child falling out of bed.
• Check that the gaps between your child’s bed railings are no wider than 6 cm. Place a pillow or sheet against the outside of the bed’s railings so that the child does not put his or her arms or legs through the bed.
• It’s better to use a low-heightened place for sleeping, such as by placing a mattress on the floor.
• Never let your child sleep alone and ensure you have your child in sight at all times.

Parents can get scared when their baby falls from a bed. Normally, these falls do not cause significant injuries. If your baby is acting normal after a fall from the bed, chances are they are fine. However, if your baby is less than one year old or if you have any concerns, talk to your doctor.