Bumps, Bruises & Mom Guilt: A First-Time Mom's Survival Guide

Mamas, can we talk about how every piece of furniture in my house has tried to take my toddler out?

George is such a busy guy now and he's constantly on the move. In just the last month he has had a few spills.

The Lip Incident

The worst of them all was one day when he was happily playing. He tripped and bit his lip. It scared me because I was trying to get a good look at the damage but he kept hiding his face in my shoulder. He was bleeding everywhere and I was convinced he had bitten right through his lip.

With the help of a booboo bunny (as we call it in our family) and lots of snuggles, I finally got a look. It wasn't too bad - just a good little cut on his lip, but nothing more. Once he had a chance to calm down, George was back to normal, playing away.

George vs. the Coffee Table

Less than an hour later, he fell again - this time headfirst into the coffee table. I didn't even see it happen; I was making his lunch. All I heard was the hit, followed by the cry right after. I rushed over and there it was: a bump already blooming on his head.

I felt so bad for him. Twice in one day, and not little trips - these felt like big ones. I kept a watchful eye on him for the rest of the afternoon, looking for anything that might be off. But after some cuddles and his booboo bunny he was back to normal - his goofy little self, as if nothing had happened. 

My Rules of Thumb

Toddlers take a tumble from time to time. They're so active and still learning how to use their limbs. Here's what I run through my head when George takes a spill:

1. Did he cry right away?
2. Is he back to playing after getting comfort?
3. Is he acting normally later?

Of course, these aren’t a substitute for medical advice. If something feels off or I’m worried about him, I’d rather check in with his doctor or paediatrician.

If he's his normal self, I don't worry too much - I can see that he's doing just fine. I do keep a closer eye on him for the rest of the day, just to ensure that there are no lingering issues.

My Bruise Kit

Here's everything I keep on hand in my little booboo kit; if you wanted to make one yourself.

• Bandages
• Elastic Bands
• Clean cloths
• Polysporin 
• Alcohol swabs (cleaning tweezers or wiping skin around cut)
• Tylenol (Following dosing chart for age and weight, or ask your pharmacist)

For a bruise specifically, I take the elastic and clean cloth, grab ice from my freezer, wrap it in the cloth, and secure it with the elastic. That's what makes our booboo bunny. We hold it on the affected area on and off for the next hour, or however long it's needed. Part of the magic is that it distracts him while it works.

When My Gut Says to Call the Doctor

Now, I'm not a medical professional, so please use your own discretion for your own child - you know them best. And if you have any worries at all, always check in with your doctor or paediatrician.

For me, I'd be concerned if I noticed that he wasn't acting normally - especially if he seemed unusually drowsy, overly tired, confused, or difficult to settle. If his bruise or injury didn't seem right, I'd want to get it checked out.

And if he had concerning symptoms after hitting his head, such as repeated vomiting, loss of consciousness, a seizure, worsening headache, unusual behaviour, or difficulty waking, I'd seek medical attention right away.

When it comes to our little ones, I'd rather be overly cautious than wish I had been.

The Mom Guilt

Nothing can truly prepare you for the guilt you feel when your little one takes a tumble and you couldn't stop it. I've been there more times than I care to admit, and that guilt hits every single time.

So I try to remind myself: bumps and bruises are going to happen. And if there's one thing I can pass along to another mom, it's this - bumps and bruises don't make you a bad mom. They mean your child is out exploring, learning, growing, and doing exactly as they should be. 

And sometimes, apparently, that means taking on the coffee table.