My 3.5 yr old DS just fell down some stairs and I am a wreck - anyone have any experience with this?

I was in the kitchen cleaning up dinner and DH was upstairs changing DD. I thought DS was playing in the livingroom with a big blow up ball he has. Next thing I know I hear loud noise followed by DS screaming. I went to him and he was laying on the slate floor on the bottom of the stairs screaming. I picked him up, he continued to cry as I consoled him. He cried for about 5 min off and on and for that time and about 5 min later he said his head hurt. He described to me what happened (as best he could) that he threw the ball up the stairs and it got stuck, he walked up to retrieve it and then threw it up in the air while on the stairs, lost his balance and fell down the stairs. He wasn't sure how many stairs he thought around 4 and wasn't sure if he hit the stairs on the way down. He said nothing else hurt but his head. But, at the foot of our stairs is hard slate/stone which is where I am assuming at some point he hit his head

After the 10 min he said he was fine - his head didn't hurt anymore and since then (1.5 hrs ago) he has been acting and playing completely normal. I called the ped and I know what to watch for and am going to wake him a few times during the night just to make sure. Ped thought he was fine but, told me to call the ER and him if any warning signs developed. He really seems fine but, he has never before ever complained that his head hurt like that after falling.

I am a nervous wreck right now thinking how could he have fallen down the stairs that hard, hit is head on slate and be ok? I just love him so much and feel so guilty right now. I guess I just have to and trust in God that he is fine.

Anyone have any similar stories? Did all turn out ok?

Message edited 3/11/2011 9:43:17 PM.

Re: My 3.5 yr old DS just fell down some stairs and I am a wreck - anyone have any experience with this?

I too know of this agony. DD fell down the stairs the week DH broke the baby gate. I caught her mid fall and took her to the ER. She fell six stairs from the top and I caught her 1/2 way down. She was fine, but limped for a month. They would not put a cast on her and she sprained her ankle. I think that her fall is why she is just starting to walk now at 17 months old. Did they tell you to wake DS every hour to a groggy state and check for vomiting?

Re: My 3.5 yr old DS just fell down some stairs and I am a wreck - anyone have any experience with this?

About 6 months ago, DD and I were goofing around chasing each other through the house...we got to the living room and I saw her start to trip. I reached out to catch her, and only succeeded in catching her legs.

That resulted in her "catching air" and landing head first HARD into our wood floors.

She cried for a few minutes, and was a little fussy for a bit...then she seemed to go back to normal. This was all about 1/2 hour before bed. I kept her up an extra 1/2 hour, and she was fine. She slept through the night, woke up the next morning okay, but crankier than normal...and she just seemed a little "off".

We took her to SB Pediatric Emergency, and they evaluated her and said she probably had a minor concussion, but she wasn't showing any signs of "damage" (dialated pupils, headache, vomiting)...they said we could give her motrin if she needed it, but otherwise just have her "take it easy".

She was fine within 24 hours of the incident....

Bottom line...watch him, if he seems "off", trust your instinct and take him to the ER. But I am sure he's fine. It never ceases to amaze me how much kids can handle that as adults we'd be a mess!!

Re: My 3.5 yr old DS just fell down some stairs and I am a wreck - anyone have any experience with this?

Posted by LSP2005

I too know of this agony. DD fell down the stairs the week DH broke the baby gate. I caught her mid fall and took her to the ER. She fell six stairs from the top and I caught her 1/2 way down. She was fine, but limped for a month. They would not put a cast on her and she sprained her ankle. I think that her fall is why she is just starting to walk now at 17 months old. Did they tell you to wake DS every hour to a groggy state and check for vomiting?

Re: My 3.5 yr old DS just fell down some stairs and I am a wreck - anyone have any experience with this?

My DS has taken several hard hits on our tile and wood floors. Make sure you can wake him throughout the night. I wouldn't worry as long as he is showing no signs of concussion.

Re: My 3.5 yr old DS just fell down some stairs and I am a wreck - anyone have any experience with this?

Posted by Mommy2Boys

My DS has taken several hard hits on our tile and wood floors. Make sure you can wake him throughout the night. I wouldn't worry as long as he is showing no signs of concussion.