Based on how much thumping I heard, I think she only fell down four or five stairs. But still. It could have been so much worse. As it was, this morning was thump-thump-howl-momma realizes what's happening and while racing over screams "Kavi!" -- which is, by the way, entirely not helpful and probably just scared her more - thump-thump-howl!
She's fine. Kavi has a little scrape on her chin, and she cried for fifteen minutes straight, and would only be consoled by mommy, but once we rinsed off her chin and put a band-aid on it, gave her a little Tylenol to help with any aches, and took her out on the balcony to look at the pretty flowers (one of her favorite things), she was fine, back to her cheerful, giggly self. We'll keep an eye on her during her naps today, to make sure that she doesn't have any signs of concussion, but I think she's essentially come through this unscathed. We hope.
I'm not sure who left the gate open -- it might have been me, or it might have been Nancy. She'd arrived just before that and had taken Ellie out for a walk. In theory I was watching Kavi until Nancy came back (Kevin was asleep upstairs); in practice, I was grading the last of my papers while I thought Kavi was happily crawling around in the living room with her toys. But no. No, she had made her way over to the stairs, to the gate mysteriously left open, and started to climb. She loves climbing the stairs these days, and can make it all the way up an entire flight with one of us standing behind her, spotting her. And of course, the times we're right there, ready to catch her, nothing happens, but the one time we aren't there, she slips, and falls.
It's hours later now, and my heart is still pounding.
It all turned out okay, but Kavi could have broken her neck. Kevin tells me, again, that we have to be more careful. And he's right, of course, but I'm just not that careful a person. I'm trying so hard to be conscientious, and I still mess up. Poor munchkin. :-( :-( :-( She deserves a better momma.
Asd I said over on facebook, babies are amazingly resilient. I have a feeling that most babies have far worse accidents with little ill effect. You are a good momma!!
I fell down a long flight of stairs (tumbled, really) when I was three and it completely broke my mom’s heart. But other than a few minutes of wailing and being stunned, it apparently didn’t leave any lasting effects, although the jury might still be out on that one.
I agree with the previous poster–babies are resilient. 🙂 Today had nothing to do with your skills, just with the fact that life is full of heartstopping moments for parents.
Oh acca. She was bound to fall eventually. While more care is always nice, you can’t protect her from everything!
You’re a great mama! Just think, what did parents do before child gates 😉
Here’s a story that *may* or may not make you feel better: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080513.wlfreerange13/BNStory/lifeFamily/home
I’m sure you are a fabulous mom! Accidents happen!
I think that you are fine, and the baby is fine. Knowing what could have happened makes the discussion about what to do important. But these things happen to everyone.
There are far more tradegies in the world to dwell on, than ones that were averted in our lives.
Just hold her close, say a thanful prayer, and be watchful.
Speaking of which I need to go check on my little mess maker- about the same age.
Hugs,
-C
Kids will fall. it’s normal. and they are usually a lot more resilient than us. I think it has something to do with the fact that they fall “right” in the sense that they go slack and just flop as they fall while most adults tend to stiffen up which does more damage to us. (and is also why drunks can survive tumbling down stairs as well)
Kids are resilient. They fall, and they learn. kavi’ll be a lot more careful about climbing now. you can’t look after them all the time.(as much as you’d like to). You, on the other hand, are guaranteed heart attacks ona regular basis.
and i know you don’t need the validation. But i would like to throw in my vote with the rest of them on this one.
You’re a GREAT mum
You won’t get this in time, but here are the rules when your kid has had a nasty bump or falls down the stairs:
0) If kid lost consciousness even for a second, call the doctor and get prepared for scans. You’ll be going to the emergency room.
1) Check eyes. If eyes dilate correctly and equally, keep going. Otherwise call doctor right away.
2) Check movement, looking for broken bones. If trouble, call doctor right away.
3) No food and only clear liquids for 2 hours
4) Wake every hour for first nap
5) For the first night, wake your kid up every 2-3 hours or at least 3 times in night. Make sure your kid can move (walk if she can walk or otherwise crawl) and babble and do all the other things your kid usually does. Curse because now that you’ve woken her up so completely she won’t go to back to sleep.
6) For the following 2 nights, wake her up when you go to bed and one other time and go through the same rigamorole. Head injuries can take awhile to manifest.
Please don’t ask me how I know all this. I think it’s obvious.
One word of caution: a lot of the posters seem to be pooh-poohing this. Kids falling to the floor when they are trying to walk is unlikely to be serious. Kids falling down the stairs can be. Kids do get hurt seriously and they do sometimes die. Not often, but sometimes.
While we’re on the topic, bad bumps involving something hitting a baby (like a door you are swinging open, not knowing your kid is lurking behind) can be really serious too. There is a lot more oomph behind you opening a door than a kid hitting the floor because she tripped on her feet.
Heart thumping was the appropriate reaction, but you’re not a bad mommy. I suspect this happens a lot and most people are lucky. We were too.
Anyway, you might want to go through the wake-her-up routine. Better to be safe than sorry. Or at least that’s what I tell myself at 3:00 in the morning. Hang in there.
Hmmm. In case it wasn’t clear in my prior post, I don’t blame MaryAnne. My baby fell down the steps too, and by the sound of it, my baby fell down more steps. While there is no blame, there seemed to be a growing misconception it wasn’t dangerous.
Hmmm. In case it wasn’t clear in my prior post, I don’t blame MaryAnne. My baby fell down the steps too, and by the sound of it, my baby fell down more steps. While there is no blame, there seemed to be a growing misconception it wasn’t dangerous.
Thanks for all the kind words, folks, and Kirstie, I don’t know whether to be sorry or relieved I didn’t see your comment in time, because I think we would have felt obliged to do all that waking up, which would have been truly miserable for all concerned. She seems okay, although unusually fussy the last two days, although that might be all the travel and a strange place and strange people (we’re visiting the grandparents this weekend). Every time I find a new bump or red spot on her head, I think she’s secretly bleeding inside her brain. But she really does seem fine.
I am sooooo glad to hear Kavi did not have a concussion. I never want another parent to experience what we did.
Our son fell off a motorized bike, onto the concrete floor of an airplane hangar, when he was 2. He began throwing up, so we spent 5 hours in the emergency room.
When they finally attended to Jazz, he was taken to be x-rayed – without us, so they could do a child abuse check on his body. Then, we accompanied Jazz while he had an MRI. He was so scared, and I couldn’t comfort him. I will never forget the fear in his eyes.
Accidents happen with our children. Once, I thought it was to make them stronger. Now, I wonder if it is to make us stronger…
My daughter fell down today and I felt the same way. I am still so much worried for her. I hope she is alright.