URGENT my toddler has just wacked his head.

[tigwig]

As above, my 22mth old has flung himself forward and hit the front of forehead. It's immediately come out in a huge lump(the biggest I've ever seen and looks horrendous) and bruised. He has calmed down and seems fine but I'm unsure as to how long they need monitoring for re getting symptoms of concussion etc. He would normally be going to bed in around an hour so if he continues to be fine during that time is it safe to let him sleep? God I'm still shaking arrgh!

[garner]

At 22 months I would be at my nearest A@E hospital. Better to be safe than sorry as the saying goes.

[firewatch]

agree with the above, my toddler forever bumping her head hence the nick name danger mouse and shes all ways been fine, but if this is worst you ahve sen get him checked as its not just the head involved its the neck tox

[Sqad]

Don't panic....it looks worse than it is.
If he/she was not unconscious then all will be well.

Just make sure that he is well for the next 2 hours and doesn't vomit.
If he/she becomes unrousable during that time or vomits then take him/he to A&E.

Don't worry, no damage has been done.

[tigwig]

Right its been over the hour now and after the cold compress the swelling has gone down considerably. It is still a lump and his eye and nose are beginning to blacken but he is fine in himself and is eating and drinking normally.
Sqad is he ok to go to bed as usual in about 20 mins or do you think he needs to be kept up to monitor him further?

[fliptheswitch]

If it were me, I'd be taking him down A&E. As others have said, it's better to be safe than sorry and, no offence to Sqad whatsoever, you shouldn't really take the word of someone on an internet forum, when it comes to the wellbeing of your children. I feel awful saying that, but I don't mean it in a horrible way, just that you should get things checked out by a professional who's able to look at your son.
As Sqad says though, they usually ask things like "has the child been sick" and "did the child cry immediately".

I'm sure he'll be fine, but I know what I would do...

[ladybirder]

You could ring NHS Direct if you feel unsure.

[tigwig]

Thanks guys, I honestly dont think its at all necessary to go to A&E over this. He is not showing any signs of injury whatsoever and is laughing and chatting away etc. Plus they have just started to close the A&E dept of one of the local hospitals on a night making it a massive burden on the dept that is nearest me so I imagine we would be sat there for hours. By that time he would be screaming through blody tiredness!
Anyway I ask for Sqad cos he is my personal GP lol, trust me if I was in any doubt I wouldnt be on here I was just unsure about how long to wait to see if he does become ill thats all.

[Mamyalynne]

I think you have done correctly, he is chatty, happy and all his reactions seem OK. They are put here to scare us and they sure do that.

[firewatch]

glad hes ok,as i said mine is forever bumping her head and shes the same age as your little boy. i honestly dont think there is anything in there, we tell her not to do something and she goes and does it any way. most recent bump was when we were control crying with her she smacked her head on the childgate, before then she rode her lion push along toy off the step in the garden, jumped off various low walls, fallen over her own feet and walked into our side board (she does this at least twice a week, its like watching a pinball machine!) . if we took her every time we would be on first name terms with the staff lol. Think shes at the age where she will test her boundries and my nerves!

[tigwig]

Yes they are little horrors at this age arent they?! Well I'm glad to say he's had no worse a night than usual and is fine today. Just has a bit of swelling and a bruise now the monkey.

[firewatch]

lol, they are monkeys!