It is not uncommon for babies, toddlers, and children to fall; from a bed, a changing table, or even an adult's arms. If your child suffers a fall, the first thing to do is to pick them up and try to calm them down. The next step is to have them checked by a doctor, even if everything seems fine.
Children are surprisingly resilient, and injuries due to falls are not as frequent as one might think. And a small child is light enough that a simple fall may not cause serious harm. So if a child should fall and start to cry, chances are everything will be fine.
A study published in 2001, which looked at over 14,000 children under six months, found that approximately one in four had taken a fall by that age. Over half of them fell from their parents' bed or a couch. Only 14% had visible injuries (mostly bruises), and less than 1% of falls resulted in a concussion or fracture. However, 97% of children at this age do hit their head during a fall [1].
Further research on this topic led doctors to conclude that serious injuries in children under one year of age are seldom related to a simple fall and are more likely the result of an accident or abuse. Doctors describe the latter as abusive head trauma (AHT) and will consider the possibility of abuse if a young child presents a concussion [2]. The likelihood of a fatal outcome from a simple fall is less than 1 in 2 million cases [3].
However, some falls can cause unseen injuries that could manifest themselves as the child grows. Therefore, a doctor should thoroughly check a child who has fallen.
If a child hits their head and becomes lethargic or starts to vomit, they should be taken to the Emergency Room or receive immediate medical attention [4].
