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The psychologist talks about childhood traumatism - why a child often falls and gets hurt.

Parents explain the frequent injuries of the child by his frivolity, negligence, or even "damage", "evil eye". I do not take medical problems in which a high injury rate is associated with illness, disorders of the musculoskeletal system, brittle bones, but consider cases where a child with an average or good health regularly gets damaged:

• cuts
• dislocations
• fractures and cracks
• bruises, bruises
• concussion
• severe wounds

Once in the park, I watched a teenager on a bicycle. He rode himself and carefully taught a younger friend. During the next trick, he accelerated strongly, flew over the steps, but landed unsuccessfully - with all his weight on one leg.

I approached and asked how he was feeling, to which the teen reported nonchalantly that his leg had cracked as he landed. I looked - the ankle was rapidly swollen. The boy told me not to worry, it was not the first time he had broken his leg on a bicycle, and he hobbled to the bench on his own.

Then, in the distance, his mother's cry was heard. He called her and told her about the injury on the phone, so as not to go forward and wait on the bench. A few moments later I saw a woman, she waved from afar to her son to follow her, and quickly disappeared.

The boy got up, took the bike and jumped after him, trying to catch up with his mother.

The boy told me not to worry, it was not the first time he had broken his leg on a bicycle, and he hobbled to the bench on his own.

Of course, there is no great harm in the injury itself. Fears are caused just by the indifferent reaction of the boy and mother. In the future, this may open the gate for extreme or unnecessarily heroic behavior.

So why does the child often fall? Let's take a closer look at the reasons behind this.

Features of physiological and neuropsychological development

In preschool and junior school age frequent injuries are more likely to occur for physiological and neuropsychological reasons. It can be:

• clumsiness, clumsiness
• poor coordination - lack of coherence of movements, unnatural gait
• lack of sensitivity to pain (may roll head over heels down the stairs and say that everything is fine), changes in temperature (does not feel cold, although the hands are already blue)
• difficulty in visually assessing height, depth, distance (watch how the child catches and throws the ball)
• lack of attention
• motor disinhibition
• inability to predict the consequences of one's actions
• the desire to get what you want prevails over reason and a sense of self-preservation

Behind these features are physical development and brain development - connections between neurons formed chaotically or insufficiently. Classes for the development of sensory integration, cerebellar stimulation, neurocorrection will help. They may be called differently, but they do similar things - they establish connections between different parts of the brain. In each case, the neuropsychologist conducts a complex diagnosis and, based on its results, selects corrective exercises and games.

In addition to working with a neuropsychologist, you can study on your own with a child or in tandem with a neurologist and educational psychologist. Showing sports. It can be exercise therapy (physical therapy), running, swimming, some types of martial arts, dancing or juggling. These exercises develop and correct neural connections.

A child needs support and patience from an adult, because it will take longer for him to develop a skill than for other children.

Body memory of trauma

The body remembers experiences, including traumatic ones. If you sprained your leg once, in similar situations it can happen again and again.

The memory of trauma occurs at a conscious age - from 10-11 years old - and is associated with the development of voluntary behavior, reflection. What to do if the child often falls and gets injured in the same situation - riding a bike, playing or playing sports, or maybe just walking?

It is based on psychological and functional factors: self-doubt and an incorrectly made movement. Wrong movement, which led to injury, is easily fixed, because it is emotionally rich. The expectation of a repeated mistake, uncertainty, stress lead to this very mistake.

In the story of a teenager on a bicycle, this is the most likely case - this is not the first time he breaks his leg when he tries to do a trick.

A habitual injury can occur without tricks (the child twists his leg all the time when walking). The problem disappears with the growth of self-confidence. The acquisition of independence and personal support, success in life changes the gait, makes it more elastic and strong.

Muscles that are constantly injured can be strengthened with exercise. You can do it yourself, but it is better to take a few lessons with a trainer who will correct mistakes step by step and tell you how to move correctly. This is especially true for sports and near-sport activities: parkour, skating, cycling tricks.

The psychologist will help to cope with fear and insecurity, with a “vague feeling” of trauma, help complete the “gestalt”: complete the action that you wanted to do at the time of the first experience of the trauma.

secondary benefit

Here, as with some diseases in childhood, we are looking for what is the benefit: to get rid of school and reduce the level of stress, skip the next test, get the attention of relatives and friends, feel like a “hero”, reconcile dad and mom.

A calm attitude towards injury, moderate attention, maintaining duties and workload levels will help stop the vicious circle. A calm attitude does not mean indifference to the event. You just need to encourage this behavior in your child less with phrases like “you are a hero.” Irritation and criticism in some cases also act as encouragement.

Please note that the load can be really high. If a child complains about the number of circles and walks with an extinct look, reduce the load - for him this is a clear overkill. Frequent injuries in an athlete who is actively preparing for competitions signal overwork and exhaustion - the coach gives him a break.

Intense negative feelings: rage, anger, irritability

Also, the most common causes injuries in children - rage, anger and irritability. “In anger, he hit the table with his fist”, “kicked the wall with irritation”, “broke the glass in a rage” - these situations indicate the inability or inability to express strong negative feelings in another way. Sometimes only bodily pain or destruction can stop a fit of impotent rage.

In this case, do not forbid the child to be angry or angry, forget the phrases: “come on, stop the tantrum”, “just try slamming the door again” - this will only increase the destructive power of emotions. Do not use sarcasm and mockery: “come on, break everything here”, “show how strong you are”.

Often, recognizing the right to a feeling or emotion is enough to reduce its strength and intensity. After the child opens up, help solve the problem: analyze the situation, how you can answer the offender; acknowledge your responsibility in the conflict if anger is about you.

When the emotional state is visible, the problem is obvious and understandable. In this case, we say that a person needs to learn to control emotions.

Anger is not always on the surface. When a child finds anger unacceptable, he controls and restrains it. However, it is too strong and necessary an emotion to be suppressed so easily. Suppressed anger is more likely to lead to self-aggression and injury than outwardly expressed anger. Help your child to be aware of feelings and express them: “I see that you are trying to hide your anger”, “I think you think anger is too bad a feeling to show it.”

Self-punishment and guilt

Children feel guilty for wrongdoings that go unpunished. If a child often falls and hits his head, this sometimes acts as self-punishment. It doesn't happen on purpose. Rather baby(or even an adult) is so worried that he becomes inattentive, plus a sense of shame makes the body clumsy and awkward.

Guilt may be obvious - the child started the fire. Such events leave a deep imprint in the soul, and punishment helps to cope with guilt. Sometimes you need to talk to the child why there is no punishment (what happened may look significant only in the eyes of the child).

Sometimes the child has a secret (for example, he lied and considers lying unacceptable). If the baby is too categorical and sharply dismisses you in every conversation - “I said that everything is fine, leave me alone!” - let a person whom he is not afraid of, whom he trusts, or a psychologist, talk to him.

In the third case, the reasons for guilt are not clear to the child himself. He is not aware of it - he feels guilty that he is "not good enough." Perhaps the child is often shamed or criticized. High standards of behavior in the family, set by the situation itself (everyone in the family is a "professor", and he does not pull mathematics) or settings (the only possible rating is "5", a good person does not behave like a piglet), develop in the child a sense of inadequacy.

Parental Messages

The most common causes of trauma in children are caused by the harmful influence of parental messages:

• “Caring for yourself is not for a man”
• "Real men don't feel pain"
• "Pain must be endured"
• "You're old enough to carry around with sores"

These messages are realized through the following actions: the parent ignores injuries, abrasions, bruises of the child (“it will heal before the wedding”, “they all constantly get hurt at this age”), reproaches for tears, scoffs at the child’s request to examine and treat the wound - it can be insignificant but the child does not understand this.

In the story with the boy on the bike, there are likely to be such messages. Mom acts out of the best of intentions - to make the child stronger, stronger, more independent, to let him feel the consequences of his actions, but as a result, he does not learn to take care of himself, treats health and life negligently.

It is better to change the attitude to a positive and less rigid one: "I know that you are able to take care of yourself." At a toddler age, reinforce with actions: blow on a bruise, treat even a minor wound. The child learns to relate to himself by observing the attitude of the parent towards him. After a while, he will learn to take care of himself (and others!).

At an older age, pay attention to a complex injury or injury, help, if necessary, to limit the movement of the injured part of the body.

The most destructive parental message is "Don't live." It is formed as a result of extreme, difficult circumstances in the life of a parent or against the background of postpartum depression and can be expressed in such words:

• “Because of you, I didn’t finish my studies (lost my health, lost my husband)”
• "I'll Love You More When You're Gone (If You Do a Heroic Deed)"

A child in such a system is filled with feelings of guilt, anger, rejection, resentment, seeks to fill the void and become worthy of the mother's love, often due to extreme behavior.

What to do if the child often falls: rules for the parent to prevent injuries

There may be more than one cause behind traumatic behavior. But to prevent such accidents, you need to follow a few rules.

1. Do sports with your child, develop his dexterity and muscular system, overcome physical disabilities (flat feet, scoliosis).
2. Don't ignore persistent typical injuries. They are based on the wrong movement, which can be corrected by working with a coach.
3. Be alert to changes in your child's behavior and emotional state help him talk.
4. Avoid focusing too much on the trauma so as not to reinforce the traumatic behavior.
5. Show your child an example of a careful and attentive attitude towards yourself: do not miss the pain, do not show miracles of patience, heroism, treat wounds, consult a doctor. Likewise for a child. Taking care of the body is also a manifestation of love.
6. Talk to your child about the importance of caring for yourself and your body. The body is one for life, there will be no other.
7. Teach your child self-help techniques extreme situations. How to behave if a leg is broken, severely cut, bitten by a dog.

Whatever strength bends you
Neither pressed hard to the ground, -
You get up like nothing happened
All misfortunes and grief in spite.
Rozhdestvensky V. A.

Hyperactive childhood

Mom brought the baby to an appointment with a pediatric neurologist. While the mother and the doctor are talking, answering questions, the baby rolls over from his back to his stomach. Only two days ago he mastered this movement, which is serious for a baby - and now he is turning over “to the point of falling”, he cannot stop. His mother is on his back for the doctor to look at, he is on his stomach, his mother is on his back, and he is on his own again. And so all the time of admission. The neurologist observed and asked:
Is he like this all the time?
- Yes.

Further - in the same spirit. The kid grows up, masters new movements. You can't stop him, it just flashes before your eyes: he was just here, already there. On a walk you can’t keep up with him: he doesn’t just run, he “rushes”. Well, it falls, of course, as without it, with such and such speeds.

Growing up but not changed

When a baby who is just learning to walk falls, this is perceived as the norm. It’s not scary when a preschooler or a younger student sometimes falls - who doesn’t happen to them, because they have such outdoor games. But what to do when it falls big child who is almost as tall as her mother? And it falls constantly ... This fact causes mixed feelings. Annoyance and bewilderment are added to the concern for his health.

They say about such people: "Fell out of the blue." He immediately jumped up and ran again. Usually does not complain and does not cry, only rubs the bruised place. When you ask where the next bruise or abrasion comes from, he begins to look at him in bewilderment: “I don’t know ...” I didn’t even notice how he fell. Or "did not fit into the turn." Or again "sat down by the bench." Or "counted another corner" ...

Why is he so careless? And when will it end? It's time to settle down, right? Maybe send him to a chess club? At least there he will stop jumping: he will sit calmly and think. Is this decision correct? This question is clearly and reasonably answered by the System-Vector Psychology of Yuri Burlan.

According to the System-Vector Psychology of Yuri Burlan, the psyche of each person has desires and properties set from birth, the groups of which are called vectors. Our desires are usually specific: we want this, and not something else. And if these are our innate desires, we have all the necessary properties to realize them.

Nimble, fast, mobile, energetic - these are people with a skin vector. The life of such a child is filled with movement, he simply cannot stop. Such a skin fidget is simply not able to sit still, he has a different nature.

In addition, people with a skin vector have a special flexibility in everything. For example, such a person walks in a crowd of people, while deftly and masterfully maneuvering between other people's elbows and backs - he will not collide with any of them.

Nature did not create them this way by chance: thanks to their innate activity and flexibility, they realize their desire to be the first, champions in everything - to achieve the goal faster, spending a minimum of effort.

Only a person with a skin vector is distinguished by the desire for success, for property and social superiority. It is skin people who make a brilliant career - they strive for this, and they achieve this.

Accompanying the achievement of success and the desire for leadership: a skin person wants to get one of the first roles in the team. The owner of the skin vector can become the best organizer, manager. Potentially. How to realize this potential?

We are born to realize ourselves. It sounds nice, but how to understand in which area to manifest yourself? How not to try everything, but to focus on the inclinations of a person? The system-vector psychology of Yuri Burlan gives answers to these questions, as it reveals a well-functioning mechanism for knowing oneself and other people. And the knowledge of one’s mental properties given by nature allows one to determine one’s mission, to find one’s favorite work, and ultimately, to realize oneself in society and be happy.

If the child does not develop in the right direction, his innate properties still manifest themselves, but in a distorted way. Then the skinner, who has every chance of becoming the most dexterous, who has the potential to become an excellent dancer or achieve success in sports, becomes an awkward and lax person. He keeps falling and bumping into corners, picking up joints, injuring himself. And instead of moving forward at high speed towards the goal, it begins to fuss and flicker in vain.

Therefore, it is important to give the right direction to the development of the child in order to fully realize his potential. And do not try to suppress his natural desires or replace them with others that are more “correct” and significant in our opinion. It is impossible to change nature, but to cripple a child, to influence him in the most negative way. life scenario- easy.

Gymnast or chess player?

So, what kind of activity can be chosen for the skin baby to develop its properties? From the foregoing, it becomes clear that such a child will not sit at the chessboard, calculating the moves in the game for a long time. But he can be wonderful.

How to choose a suitable section or circle for a skin child? The criterion that the choice is right will be the general condition of the child - a good mood, a happy look and obvious success in his hobby. Give the child the choice of a circle within the framework of the properties of his psyche.

In addition, it is worth taking care that the child can prove himself as a leader in a peer group. This is very important for a child with a skin vector and motivates him even more. This can be achieved in various ways.

Encourage the active participation of the child in various activities in which he can show himself with better side. First of all, these are various sports games, competitions, as well as dance competitions. Since the spirit of competition lives in the skin child, participation in sports competitions and competitions is to his liking and only further develops his talents. The skills of the organizer can be shown in the presentations of various projects, the preparation of children's holidays and other events.

Since status is very important for a child with a skin vector, this should be taken care of. Do not forget to evaluate the achievements of the child with useful prizes, because the material support of his successful activity is also very important for the little skinner. It is skin people who like to repeat: “You won’t put thanks in your pocket.”

In addition, changes are important for a child with a skin vector, he loves everything new and advanced. Therefore, if such a child has the most modern tablet or smartphone, the newest program or game, this fills his natural desire for change, and also allows him to arouse the interest of peers in this way.

However, one must be careful with this. Indeed, in potential, a child with a skin vector is an inventor. And in the case of using the fruits of someone else's labor, the child is still only a passive consumer and user. Giving a child with a skin vector the opportunity to get in touch with modern technologies, it is necessary to encourage him to see the essence of these processes taking place in the world today and changing this world. He himself needs to be taught to think logically, to invent, to design. For example, buy a complex designer or drive to an interactive museum of new technologies.

After all, such a child, when he grows up, can become one of the participants in the process of change, inventing something completely new or improving an existing one. In this case, he no longer simply satisfies his needs for novelty, but benefits all people, changing life for the better.

There is a choice

By giving the child the right development in childhood, we provide the foundation for its implementation in adulthood. And in this case, as in the epigraph to this article, after any fall, he will always be able to get up and continue moving forward. And Roly-Vstanka in this case becomes a symbol of perseverance and the will to win, and not fussiness and absurdity.

How best to develop a child with a skin vector, as well as a lot of other interesting and important information about the properties of the psyche of yourself and your loved ones, you can already learn at the first free online lectures on system-vector psychology by Yuri Burlan. You can sign up at the link: http://www.yburlan.ru/training/.

The article was written using the materials of trainings on system-vector psychology by Yuri Burlan

It is almost impossible to find a child who has not fallen. As soon as the baby begins to try to walk, his body, although not completely, is covered with bruises, abrasions, scratches ... Nature took care of the child's body and provided maximum protection for the head from injuries. Most falls do not cause significant harm to the health of the fidget. But there are injuries that are life-threatening for the baby and have serious consequences.

Why Do Children Hit Their Heads Most Often?

Pediatricians state that it is the head that leads in terms of the number of injuries received. Parents react more calmly when a baby injures an arm or leg. But most bruises go to the head.

These statistics have their explanations. So, in children under 5 years of age, the head is relatively heavy and has big sizes compared to other parts of the body. Such physiological feature young children affects the coordination of their movements. Just a slight push is enough for the baby to lose balance and fall headfirst.

Physiological features of the child's brain

The head of a child has a slightly different structure than that of an adult. The bones of the baby's skull are soft and flexible. This means that in a collision with a hard surface, it is difficult to break the skull. During the impact, the elastic bones shift and return to their original position.

Another important feature of the child's brain is its immaturity and high content of cerebrospinal fluid. A child's head is much easier to withstand blows.

Doctors rarely diagnose a traumatic brain injury or when a child has fallen and hit his head. Komarovsky talks a lot about trauma and teaches parents to recognize dangerous symptoms. A well-known pediatrician gives valuable recommendations, tells how to properly provide first aid for various head injuries.

Examination of the child

If the child fell and hit his head, Komarovsky advises not to panic and watch the baby for the next 24 hours. Parents should provide the child with peace and not allow active games. If the first hours after the fall, the little one does not complain about anything and feels good, there is no reason to worry and consult a doctor.

The reaction of the baby to the received blow testifies a lot. With complex head injuries that are accompanied by bleeding or concussion, the child may suddenly become ill, or may not behave as usual. If, after a fall, the baby calmly stood up and smiles, damage to the head and internal organs unlikely.

In any case, if the child fell and hit his head, Komarovsky recommends determining the presence of dangerous symptoms. All parents should know them in order to consult a doctor in time and prevent the development of complications and pathologies.

anxiety symptoms

Doctors identify a number of serious signs that can occur if a child has fallen and hit his head. Komarovsky compiled a list of such symptoms:

1. Disturbance of consciousness of any intensity and duration.
2. Inappropriate behaviour.
3. Speech disorder.
4. Increased sleepiness.
5. Severe headaches that appear in the first hours after the fall and persist for a long period of time.
6. Seizures.
7. Repeated bouts of vomiting.
8. Balance imbalance.
9. Vertigo.
10. Different sizes of pupils.
11. Weakness of arms and legs, inability to move them.
12. Dark circles under the eyes.
13. Bleeding or discharge of streaked fluid or from the nose.
14. Sensory disturbances.

These symptoms may appear in children different ages. The presence of at least one indicates the need for immediate medical attention.

Fall off the couch

Young parents often underestimate the capabilities of the baby. They allow themselves to leave the baby on the couch unattended. Already from 4 months the child is actively moving and trying to roll over. At the same time, the baby gradually begins to crawl. At this age, the baby needs an eye and an eye if the parents want to protect the child from injuries and bruises.

Probably, in every family there was a case that, at the age of, say, 6 months, he hit his head. Komarovsky believes that such an event is almost inevitable. All children under 1 year of age often fall out of bed. Toddlers still cannot assess the danger of their actions and roll to the floor in a split second. Even a very attentive mother may not see the fidgety baby, turning away for a bottle.

In children of the first year of life, the brain and central nervous system are actively developing, and the bones of the skull are still not strong enough and loosely connected. This increases the risk of injury from a fall, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Therefore, it is important not to let you fall and hit your head. Komarovsky warns of sad consequences. The baby can get a concussion and even an open head injury.

What to do if the baby fell off the couch

If the child fell off the couch and hit his head, Komarovsky recommends that you immediately take the baby in your arms to calm him down. According to the doctor, in most cases there is no cause for concern. The height of the sofas is about 50 cm or even less. A fall from such a height cannot significantly damage the brain. Usually a child can only be frightened and therefore cry.

Once the baby has calmed down, you should examine it for abrasions, bumps and wounds on the head. It is important to observe his reactions and behavior.

If the child fell off the couch and hit his head, Komarovsky recommends, of course, in the presence of suspicious signs, immediately consult a doctor. What are these signs?

Symptoms of serious injury to infants

The following symptoms indicate that the baby has received a dangerous injury:

1. Loss of consciousness for a short long time immediately after the fall or some time later.
2. The formation of edema at the site of impact, which increases intensively.
3. The presence of bloody discharge from the nose and ears.
4. Abnormal behavior of the baby, which may signal headaches.
5. Vomit.
6. Constant crying.
7. Violations of coordination of movements.

A well-known doctor who described in detail the manifestations when a child fell and hit his head is Komarovsky. The dangerous consequences of such a blow with untimely medical intervention threaten the health of the baby.

Tactics for the treatment of TBI in infants

At the slightest suspicion of a traumatic brain injury, the baby should be hospitalized for examination by neurosurgeons and neuropathologists. To confirm the diagnosis, the following tests and studies are carried out:

1. Ultrasound of the brain.
2. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
3. Electroencephalogram.

When the diagnosis is confirmed, the baby is prescribed appropriate medications, physiotherapy and a special regimen. Properly formulated therapy helps to heal the injury with minimal consequences.

First aid before the arrival of doctors

Most frequently asked question, which all young parents ask: "What to do? The child fell and hit his head." Komarovsky recommends examining the baby and doing the following:

1. If there is a slight bruise, it is enough to apply ice or a cold object to the swelling site. This will reduce swelling.
2. Regardless of the strength of the blow, the baby must be kept calm. If the injury is severe, it is important to keep the child awake until the ambulance arrives. Following this recommendation will also prevent you from missing other symptoms.
3. Put the child on the bed in such a position that the spine and head are at the same level.
4. If there is vomiting, the baby should be laid on its side so that the discharge easily leaves and does not prevent the victim from breathing normally.

These are the main recommendations that will help you navigate the situation and tell you what to do if the child falls and hits his head. Komarovsky, as a pediatrician, forbids taking other actions. During the examination, the doctor will be able to determine the severity of the blow and draw a conclusion about the need for hospitalization.

Possible consequences

The most common and easiest injury is soft tissue contusion. In this case, the brain is not damaged. After a blow, a bump or abrasion may form on the scalp.

With a traumatic brain injury, the consequences can be different. In mild cases, the child recovers completely. If the injury is severe, important brain functions may be impaired.

With severe brain damage, the prognosis for the development of disorders is unpredictable. The completeness of recovery depends on the tactics of treatment, the medications used, compliance with the doctor's recommendations, the severity of the injury, the gender and age of the baby, and the state of his health.

One of the most famous pediatricians who urges parents to respond quickly when a child falls and hits his head is Komarovsky. The consequences of this type of injury can be life-threatening. Timely provision medical care helps prevent complications.

How to protect your child from falling

If at 3 months the child fell and hit his head, Komarovsky in this case blames the parents. Many injuries could have been avoided if the baby was completely safe. Babies most often fall off changing tables. Therefore, it is better to swaddle the baby and carry out hygiene procedures on the sofa or use a table with high sides. At the same time, one of the adults must be near the child.

In addition, near the surface on which the baby will lie, you can lay a carpet. It softens a possible fall. Some parents even put pillows or blankets on the floor.

1. Do not leave your baby alone on or on the couch. If there is a need to leave the room for a few seconds, it is better to put the child in his crib or stroller.
2. Being near the baby, you should hold it with your hand. Often, babies fall to the floor in the presence of their mother.
3. Try not to leave the baby alone in the room for a long time. A six-month-old baby may already be trying to sit up and try to get out of the crib.

Increased attention from parents is also required during walks. A small and curious fidget can easily fall out of the cradle. The desire of the baby to sit is a signal that it is time to transplant him into stroller. The seat belts allow you to securely fasten an active child and thus protect him from falling to the ground.

Special modern devices can protect the baby from head injuries when moving around the apartment - overlays for sharp corners, rubberized rugs. It is very important that your baby's indoor shoes have non-slip soles. For children under one year old, socks with “brakes” are produced that reduce slipping.

If the baby fell off the swing

Another dangerous place where young children are often injured is playground. A lot of children accumulate on the hill, who can not only fall themselves, but also push each other. Even in kindergarten It happens that the child fell from the swing and hit his head. Komarovsky considers playgrounds to be a place of increased danger, requiring constant monitoring of children.

To prevent serious injuries, pediatricians advise parents of preschoolers to always be close to the child on the playground and support the baby with his hands when he climbs high structures. When the child has already learned to ride on his own, one of the adults should still be watching him and be at a distance of several meters. So it will be possible to quickly respond to the desire of the baby to make a dangerous movement, the results of which can be disastrous.

Falls on playgrounds are more dangerous. All swings and slides are made of metal, which has an increased risk of injury. And if you take into account the concrete surface of the site, then you should not be surprised by the fact that the risk of severe damage to the head is quite high.

Navigation

In childhood, any baby often falls and beats on hard surfaces. Due to the structural features of the body, a significant part of the injuries occur in the head. In most cases, this is not accompanied by adverse effects. Still, parents are advised to know what to look out for if a child hits their head and when to seek medical attention. It is important to understand that if the baby stumbles in the bathroom and hits the tile or falls down the hill, this is much more dangerous than falling on the carpet or colliding with the cabinet door. Particular attention should be paid to cases of damage to the back of the head or temporal region, situations where a heavy object has fallen on the child's head.

What are the consequences if a child hits his head

Regardless of whether the baby fell off the bed on his back or hit his forehead on the edge of the table, he must be shown to the doctor.

Symptoms of head injuries are obvious or hidden, and sometimes they are not present at all. Even the unusual activity of the crumbs may indicate a serious problem that requires professional intervention. Complications of head injuries can occur days, weeks, and even years after the injury.

How dangerous are headbutts in young children?

A head injury in a child under the age of one is usually not dangerous. In this period the brain of the baby is maximally protected by nature. Due to the relative softness of the skull bones, the dynamism of the sutures between them, and the shock-absorbing properties of the cerebrospinal fluid, serious damage is practically excluded. When a newborn is injured, he may not even notice it. Children over the age of six months after a blow, they begin to scream and cry violently, but most often this is a reaction not to pain, but to an unexpected movement in space. If a few minutes after hitting, the child calms down and continues to behave as usual, this is a very good sign.

Although there is no reason to panic in most situations, it is better not to take risks and visit a doctor. He will assess the patient's condition, check his reflexes. AND month old baby, and the older baby after the injury in any case needs rest. You should not put him to bed, but at least for 1-2 hours you need to give up excessive activity, eliminate the impact on children's body bright lights and loud sounds. Despite the degree of protection of the brain in the first year of life, everything possible must be done so that the crumbs have to hit their heads as little as possible.

Head injury symptoms

Newborns are constantly under the supervision of their parents, the degree of their activity is strongly
limited. This allows you to control the baby and notice all cases of injury. When an older child falls and hits his head, it can escape the attention of adults. Sometimes children get so carried away that they simply forget to talk about their trauma. A bump from a blow to the head is not the only evidence of an accident. There are several points that should alert and become a prerequisite for a visit to the doctor.

If a child hits his head, this can manifest itself in different ways:

• a hematoma appears - it looks like a bruise or bump, can cause inconvenience to a small patient or be almost invisible;
• there are traces of dissection - in some cases it is a small scratch, in others - a deep and bleeding cut;
• there are no external consequences, but there are changes in the behavior and condition of the baby - impaired coordination of movements, mood swings, nausea and vomiting, different pupillary reactions, drowsiness and much more.

The baby can fall on the carpet and not react in any way to the situation, and the consequences will be serious. It is better not to risk his health and at the first opportunity to visit a doctor who will exclude any possibility of complications.

Consequences of a bruise

The impact on the floor or other hard surface can result in open and closed wounds. In the first case, there is a violation of the integrity skin, bone damage may occur. Closed injuries are diagnosed when there is no blood on the surface of the affected area. Contrary to popular belief, the latter scenario is not always the least dangerous.

The consequences of an injury are as follows:

• damage to the skin and subcutaneous tissue - it can be a bruise, bump, dissection. Bruising of the soft tissues of the head without bleeding usually has no consequences. The presence of an open wound requires its immediate treatment in order to prevent infection;
• concussion - in infants it is extremely rare due to natural protective mechanisms. The condition has a characteristic clinical picture and requires medical attention;
• a brain contusion is a serious injury that may be accompanied by a brief loss of consciousness. A child does not necessarily have a headache after a blow. The development of the condition is indicated by the sallow complexion of the patient, darkening of the skin around the eyes, the appearance of blood from the ears or nose, changes in facial expressions, deterioration of speech;
• brain compression is another dangerous state, which develops against the background of compression inside the cranium. Accompanied by profuse and repeated vomiting. Periods of "enlightenment", when the baby behaves as usual, are replaced by moments of loss of consciousness.

The presence of one of the consequences does not exclude the presence of the others. A cut or bump on a child’s head after a fall does not mean that everything worked out. If the patient has impaired consciousness, problems with coordination, or a fever, it is urgent to call a doctor.

How does a bump appear in a child

With a head injury, the vessels that are in soft tissues, burst. Blood collects in the thickness of the skin, and a hematoma forms. It can be slightly soft or very dense, in different sizes and colors.

On the frontal part of the head the thickest capillary network, therefore, the largest and most voluminous cones are formed in this area. At the same time, they are considered the most harmless, because. the frontal bone is the strongest of the components of the cranium. Such formations most often resolve themselves, without negative consequences for the body.

concussion

It is observed after the child hit his head hard, and the place of the bruise does not matter. This is the simplest of all traumatic brain injuries. It is characterized by a short-term loss of consciousness immediately after the impact or some time after it.

Learn more about how to recognize concussion symptoms in

The clinical picture is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, vomiting. Due to the mobility of the skull bones and cushioning, concussion in newborns is extremely rare. In this case, a sign of injury is the restless crying and crying of the baby. The baby may refuse food, often burp, act up for no reason.

The brain after the blow that led to the concussion does not suffer. It only temporarily disrupts the functioning of a number of cells, which leads to the listed consequences. After 2-3 days, the patient's condition returns to normal, but with this injury, bed rest and rest are still indicated for 7-10 days.

What to do if a child hits his head

Head injuries in childhood are almost inevitable, so adults need to know how to respond to them. There is no need to panic, it is necessary to act quickly, clearly and in accordance with the specifics of the situation. If possible, it is better to immediately call a doctor or an ambulance, which will exclude the possibility of a negative development of events.

First aid in the absence of visible damage

First you need to establish what and what part of the skull the baby hit, to assess his general condition. The affected area begins to swell very quickly, it is necessary to apply cold to it. It can be a handkerchief soaked in cold water, a bottle of drink from the refrigerator, frozen food wrapped in a cloth. The compress is kept for 5 minutes.

After a blow, children often begin real tantrums. In most cases, first aid for hitting the head comes down to calming the child. Loud screaming is not an indicator severe pain, most often it is the result of fright. It is important for parents to remain calm themselves, this will allow them to quickly find out all the circumstances of the accident and begin to provide assistance. After the baby has calmed down, it is necessary to limit his activity for 1-2 days. If the baby fell asleep soon after the injury, he should be woken up every three hours and asked simple questions to exclude a change in consciousness against the background of serious injuries.

When to See a Doctor After a Baby Falls

If a child hits the back of the head or temple, this requires the mandatory consultation of a professional. In the first case, there is a high probability of brain damage, in the second there is a danger of violating the integrity of the bones of the skull. There is no need to go to the hospital after every accident, but after a strong blow it is better to do it, even in the absence of external signs damage.

Indications for a visit to the doctor or calling an ambulance:

• weakness, dizziness, drowsiness;
• the appearance on the impact surface is not a bump, but a dent;
• nausea and vomiting;
• prolonged crying, anxiety and strong arousal of the patient;
• pallor, cyanosis of the lips, heavy breathing;
• enlarged pupils, their different sizes, strabismus;
• baby's lethargy, speech problems;
• bleeding from the nose or ears;
• large hematoma;
• numbness of the limbs;
• even short-term loss of consciousness;
• memory loss, double vision.

Which doctor to see for an injury depends on the type of injury. If this is a dissection or a frightening lump, you can visit a surgeon. The specialist will treat the affected area and check the patient for neurological disorders. When it is necessary to exclude the possibility of brain damage, it is better to immediately go to a neurologist.

Medical treatment

Head injuries leading to brain damage require specific therapy. It is strictly forbidden to independently give the baby medication to relieve headaches after a blow. Drugs are selected by the doctor based on the diagnosis. Their action can be aimed at reducing swelling, relieving pain or inflammation, preventing neurological symptoms, and eliminating nausea and vomiting. Parents can only use hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate the wound before dressing it.

Medications to get rid of bumps

To accelerate the resorption of the bumps, you can use folk methods and pharmaceutical drugs. A good effect is the surface treatment with a mixture of iodine and medical alcohol - the drugs are taken in equal amounts. Also in the pharmacy you can buy gels "Troxevasin", "Rescuer" or "Troxerutin", heparin ointment.

Plants that help with bruises

If the injury was received by a child during outdoor recreation or in the country, and there was no first-aid kit at hand, natural medicines can be used. With bruises, juice obtained from fresh green onions will help. The liquid is applied directly to the sore spot or used to prepare a compress. Plantain leaves are applied to the places of scratches, abrasions or small cuts. Only first they need to be slightly kneaded so that they start up the juice. Wormwood has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Fresh grass is crushed, mixed with water to a state of slurry and applied to hematomas.

Head injuries are dangerous not only in the acute period. Their negative effects can manifest themselves months and years after the impact. Even if the child does not have the above symptoms, it is worth visiting a doctor to make sure there are no risks to his health. At a minimum, you should observe the behavior of the baby for 2-3 days and evaluate the quality of his sleep. Any concerns should be reported to a specialist.

Weight

sleeping badly

daytime sleep

Tantrums

Children are inquisitive and restless, and therefore no one succeeds in completely avoiding injuries, falls and bruises. In the process of learning about the world, babies fall quite often. But if a fall on the ass or back does not cause panic attacks in parents, then the situation changes dramatically if the child hits his head. Reputable pediatrician, author of numerous books and articles on children's health Evgeny Komarovsky tells why such falls are dangerous and when you need to start worrying.

Features of child physiology

The head of a small child is designed in such a way that it is relatively large compared to the rest of the body, so babies most often, losing balance, fall on their head. But there is also a positive: the child's brain is quite reliably protected from injuries when falling. If Small child fell off the couch upside down, then the greatest injury (psychological properties) was received by his parents, and not himself. The bones of the baby's skull are very soft, and the "fontanelle" and dynamic "seams" between the bones of the skull provide them with mobility. The larger the fontanel, says Yevgeny Komarovsky, the less likely it is to get injured when falling upside down. In addition, nature has come up with another shock-absorbing mechanism - a large number of cerebrospinal fluid.

If a child at 6-7 months, when he becomes more mobile, rolled over unsuccessfully and fell off the sofa or changing table, you should not immediately panic. The kid, of course, will scream heart-rendingly. But parents should understand that he is crying not from terrible pain, but more from fright caused by a sharp movement in space. If after half an hour the baby smiles, walks and leads his usual way of life, nothing has changed in his behavior, then there are no reasons for alarm, examination by doctors, says Komarovsky.

Most often, children under one year old begin to beat their heads when they master the first steps. This usually happens after 8-9 months. That is why it is important that the baby first learn to crawl, and only then stand and walk.

Of course, a child who hit his head requires more careful attention from the parents. It is advisable to provide the baby with peace, do not let him run a lot, play outdoor active games, shout loudly. The first day will show if the baby has an injury . For this, parents need to be aware of the symptoms of head injuries.

Traumatic brain injury

It does not matter the age and gender of the child, the height from which he fell head down, the size of the bruise or bump on his forehead, and the presence or absence of abrasions and blood. All mothers and fathers should know that in all situations associated with the presence of a head injury, the child needs qualified medical care.

The presence of an injury can be suspected if the child has clouding of consciousness, loss of consciousness of any duration and frequency. Observation is very important, as parents who know the peculiarities of their child's behavior will be able to notice changes in his behavior in time. Any inadequate changes may indicate a possible head injury.

If the child stops falling asleep normally, or, conversely, sleeps unusually long, he has a headache, and it does not go away even an hour and a half after the fall, you should seek qualified medical help.

A characteristic symptom of a head injury is vomiting, especially if it is repeated. The child may become shaky and unsure gait, dizziness, convulsions, there may be noticeable incoordination, weakness of the arms, legs, inability to move one or two paired limbs at once. In all these cases, it is imperative to call an "ambulance".

Discharge from the nose and ears, whether they are bloody, bloody, or clear and colorless, is a definite reason to assume an injury.

Also, symptoms of injuries can be various disorders of the functioning of the sense organs.(hearing loss, visual impairment, complete, or perhaps partial lack of response to tactile contact). The child may begin to complain that he is cold or hot. Yevgeny Komarovsky advises paying attention to each of these symptoms.

concussion

This is a fairly simple traumatic brain injury in which the child may lose consciousness, but such a loss will be short-term (no more than 5 minutes), nausea, dizziness are possible. The brain is not damaged, but a concussion temporarily disrupts some brain cell functions. Dr. Komarovsky claims that this is the easiest consequence of a fall on the head, because after a couple of days the brain functions return to normal and the child's condition returns to normal.

brain contusion

This is an injury in which the membranes of the brain are directly damaged, as well as its deeper structures with the formation of a hematoma and the occurrence of edema. How long the state of unconsciousness lasts affects the degree of injury, it can be mild, moderate or severe. In the first degree, the symptoms are similar to a concussion, only the unconscious state in a child can last more than 5 minutes. Medium severity injury is characterized by the duration of fainting from 10-15 minutes to an hour or a little more. In severe form, consciousness may be absent for several hours or several weeks.

Brain compression

This is an extremely dangerous condition when, as a result of a head injury, compression occurs inside the skull. With such a pathology, vomiting occurs, which has a protracted and repeated character. Periods of loss of consciousness are replaced by the so-called "light" periods, when the child behaves normally, without showing any signs of a brain disorder. Such periods can last up to 48 hours.

First aid

If the child fell, hit his head and there was a cut in the skin or hair, while the child did not lose consciousness. and a day later there is no sign of injury, there is no need to take him to the doctor, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. It is enough to treat the wound with an antiseptic, apply ice to the site of the external injury. With an extensive wound (more than 7 mm), you should go to the emergency room, the child will have several sutures, and this treatment can be considered complete.

If the wound is open (with an open craniocerebral injury), in no case should you put pressure on it to stop the bleeding. Mom should put ice around the edges of the wound before the doctor arrives.

If the child fell, hit the back of the head or forehead on the floor, and the parents immediately or several hours later found signs of injury in the child, the child should be laid down and the hospital should be called. To establish the type of injury, its nature and severity is the task of doctors.

If the head injury is severe, the child is unconscious, he is not breathing, the child needs to be resuscitated before the arrival of the ambulance. The child should be put on his back, fix his head, carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation, after the baby comes to his senses, he should not be allowed to move, drink and talk until the doctors arrive.

Consequences

With craniocerebral injuries, vital centers and parts of the brain suffer. If the child is not provided with timely medical care, the changes that are caused by bruising or compression may be irreversible. Severe injury can result in death.

If a child hits his head while away from his parents, for example, in a health summer camp or boarding school, parents, for objective reasons, cannot observe the behavior and condition of the child for 24 hours after the impact. In this situation, one should be sympathetic to the fact that doctors and educators of a children's institution "reinsure themselves" and immediately send your child to the hospital. According to Komarovsky, in 99% of cases, such hospitalization is required not in order to treat the child, but in order to have someone to observe him.