My child hit his head: what should I do?

Children are fidgety and it can happen that they lose their balance and fall head first, given that at this age the skull is large in relation to the body, or even bump into furniture. While some impacts and blows are not serious, others are more severe and can lead to concussions. Indeed, “the impact of a shock, blow or jolt to the head or a blow to the body causes the head to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden impact, back and forth , causes the brain to twist inside the skull and stretch the brain cells. Chemical changes occur and temporarily disrupt normal brain function.explained Roni Robinson and Elizabeth B. Portiboth pediatricians.

Problem: Recognizing the symptoms of a concussion can be difficult because toddlers may not yet have the language skills to express what they are feeling. “Often, young children show behavioral changes when they have a concussion.” According to experts, they can be upset, grumpy or very capricious. They may also become more clingy, and their sleeping and eating habits may change. These signs may improve with rest initially, but may also worsen with increased activity in the days following the shock.

Head blow: when should you worry?

On the other hand, the two experts recommend immediately taking your child to the emergency room after the blow to the head if:

• He won’t stop crying and can’t be comforted;
• He refuses to breastfeed or eat;
• He presents with repeated vomiting or nausea;
• He has speech impediments;
• He seems very sleepy or cannot be awakened;
• One pupil is larger than the other;
• He suffers from convulsions or epileptic fits;
• He loses consciousness.

On site, the doctor must “ask for a detailed description of what happened, as well as your child’s medical history. They will also want to know how your child is doing since the injury. A parent’s report is often the most useful tool useful for diagnosing a concussion in this age group, as children are often not old enough to speak for themselves. Your child will not necessarily need brain or head imaging tests. , such as a CT scan or MRI However, this. depends on the situation.”

Several weeks for complete brain recovery in young children

If a concussion, that is, a problem in the functioning of the brain at the microscopic and cellular level, is identified, the child should stop doing their usual daily activities for a few days, even staying home and having need to get away from noisy or busy environments. “That doesn’t mean they can’t do anything. In fact, research has shown that it’s best not to cut out activities altogether. Let them play, but recognize that they may not be able to play as long as they usually do and they may need more breaks”, said Roni Robinson and Elizabeth B. Porti. Since toddlers’ brains are still maturing and growing, they may need several weeks to fully recover.

How to protect your child from concussions?

It is recommended to:

• Place baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs;
• Use window protection and non-slip bath mats;
• Always keep one hand on your child when he or she is on furniture, including a changing table;
• Secure heavy furniture, such as chests of drawers, to the wall to prevent them from falling;
• Make sure your child is always properly restrained in a safety seat when in a vehicle.