hoe long should i leave it

[ethanryan]

my son 18 months has fell about half hour ago and smacked his head off the marble bit of my fire place. he hit his head quite hard, it hasnt bled but he now feels really cold and is askin for bed how long shud u keep them awake after a bang to the head.

ps he isnt normally up this late, my boiler has broke down so he is sleepin down stairs with me by the fire

[Ice.Maiden]

Has the bump come up on his head yet ethanryan? It's always best to see that.
Myself, I'd take him to be checked over at either a hiospital or all-night NHS place.

[ethanryan]

no he has a small lump but nothing serious, he has lost all his colour, rang nhs direct they said there is a 3 hour wait for a doc to ring back- what a joke! he wants to go back to sleep but didnt know how long u have to try and keep them awake

[Petal~flower]

hard to keep the poor mite awake at this time. But normally with a bump on the head, they ask you to keep an eye on the child to make sure he keeps awake.

Can NHS direct not give you any advice over the phone?

[Ice.Maiden]

Oh dear. Can you just hang on there E? Let me ask the girls for you. Maybe your son's just very tired at this time of night, but to be honest, I'd ignore what you were told to do about waiting, and take him to hospital. I know it's not a nice thought at this time of the day, but your son's only young, and it's better to be safe than sorry. Won't be long - x

[ethanryan]

hi petal, no they have to wait for a doc to ring back its stupid, within 3 hours of waitin for advice anything can happen, especially with a small child.

he seems alert, just telling me he is cold. will try and keep him awake for another half hour and if he seems ok let him sleep. poor thing, he rolled off his little camp bed.- would have been ok if he slept on his pillow like most kids but not him he puts his feet on his pillow

[ELVIS68]

Kids normally feel tired after a bang to the head as the adrenalin rush uses up alot of energy and therefore makes them feel sleepy, if he starts to vomit then go to the hospital asap

[Ice.Maiden]

Thanks Petal - I thought that myself, but have never had to use them in a situation like this.

[Ice.Maiden]

Ah - yes, that's true Elvis.

[ELVIS68]

Dr Elvis, if you don`t mind ;o)

[Ice.Maiden]

Now, now! If you were a doctor, I'd know you! x

[ethanryan]

have finally got through to my badger clinic ( out of hours doctor ). youd never believe it has taken me 20 minutes for them to answer the phone.
they said if his temp is ok and he seems alert now, he should ne fine prob just the shock of fallin out the bed and landing with a bang. they have advised me to let him sleep and wake him in an hour, if he is still responding and alert then let him go back to sleep, but if he still seems drowsey and cold to take him to the childrens hospital to be checked

[dabees]

You say he's not normally up this late and he's with you next to the fire. Along with the good advice others have offered, I'd get the fire checked out.

Carbon Monoxide affects children far quicker than adults, if there is a small amount of it leaking, that will explain some of the effects your little lad is experiencing.

Better safe than sorry.

[Ice.Maiden]

Don't have the fire on so that it's too hot and burns either of you. Ethanryan = but make sure he's got enough blankets/quilt or whatever round him to keep him warm.

[bigmamma]

Awww bless him , now you know you are his mum and mums always know best . You say his colour is off so that should be checked out as soon as rather than wait 3 hrs to only talk over the phone. Better to be safe with children and nobody will think you are wasting their time love. Is there a car you can pop him over to A&E ?
Did he lose consciousness when he fell or did he cry straight away ? Has he seemed more lethargic ?
I can't be of much help here though , maybe someone with a little one will be of use. :-) xxx

[ethanryan]

hi dabees, we have been sleeping down stairs for 4 nights now as my boiler isnt being done till monday. think it is to do with the bump on his head as he has been fine up to now good thought though, like you said better safe than sorry, when the boys are ill i never think of things like that

[Ice.Maiden]

Thanks bm - thought with your experience of babies you'd be a good one to ask on here tonight - x

[Minzeez]

Personally, I would definitely take him to A&E, cus even though it's Friday night, there's not a hospital, I should imagine, that wouldn't make a priority of a child, especially one so young.

It might seem late, but never worth leaving. You won't sleep until you know he's ok.

And in my experience, personally and through work, NHS Direct aren't all that. They normally just direct you towards your own GP anyway... Have you tried ringing your own GP, who will either leave an out of hours number on an answering machine, or automatically direct you when you call. This is normally covered by your own GP, or more likely, a locally based dedicated GP out-of-hours service, so would be quicker than waiting for NHS Direct to ring back.

I know what you mean about them sleeping the other way round though...!

Good luck and do let us know what happens.

Minz

[ethanryan]

thsnkyou to all of you, he did cry straight away which is good. my partner is going to take him to be checked over anyway. i dont drive so i will stay with my other son who is lyin on his bed on floor and has slept throught he whole thing. will let you know what they say

[ELVIS68]

I wish my boiler would pack up, costs me a fortune in oil,

Whenever I go out I always switch it off but the missus always text me half hour later saying " tight git" lol