'Face Plant' Fall

Updated on July 13, 2011
Z.O. asks from Chicago, IL
18 answers

While my daughter was being 'watched' by her father she had a bad fall while running on a cement driveway. Her face got extremely scraped up and looks horrible. I have taken her to her pediatrican and he assures me that's she's okay, and if I can keep her from picking at the scaps that are forming, she may not have any scars. My daughter will be 4 years old in November, her father has just recently become part of her life. Any advice would be much appreciated.

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So What Happened?

I just want to say thank you to all the mama's out there... I'm a new member of this site and I am so glad I found it and all of you!!! I feel a lot better after having read your responses... I'd like to post a pic, just have to figure out how... again new to the site, and so happy for the quick and helpful support...

Featured Answers

S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Honey, it happens. You need to use a lot of bactriban or neosporin and there is another kind of scar reducing cream you can use. My very beautiful daughter rolled down a very steep and pebbly hill when she was 4 and was sledding. She came out looking terrible. But she healed very nicely and I doubt I did anything special because I was so young and inexperienced back then. She's 24 years old now and quite the beauty.

Don't be too h*** o* him. It can happen to any of us.

3 moms found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter broke her nose when she was 2y/o...took her to the ER and got charged $500 for the Dr. to look up her nose with a light and then explain to us that as long as she can breath they do NOTHING for broken noses at this age, especially not x-rays! And if it was crooked when she got older we could consider a nose job!

Try not to let her pick the scabs. Buy some Vitamin E oil, it's good for minimizing scars and hope for the best!

~Try not to blame the Dad! Kids fall all the time..no matter who was responsible for watching and caring for them!

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More Answers

S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My advice would be to remember that she could very well have face planted with you there, too. Jumping all over him isn't going to facilitate his staying in your daughter's life. (Not that I don't completely understand. I'd want to blast my ex-husband if that happened on his watch, too.)

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I wouldn't be too h*** o* dad about this.
Both of my kids face planted in the driveway with me right there.
Little kids really do tend to run too fast for their feet sometimes.
My daughter was a little older and we were rearranging her closet. She had folding doors. She turned to hand me a shirt and banged her forehead right into the closet door. It stuck out farther than she was anticipating. She got a nice knot and bruise on her head.
These things happen. I'm sure her dad feels bad about it.
It could have just as easily happened with you. And it still might.

I'm sure she'll be just fine.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

A kid can get hurt while you're holding their hand. It happens.
Not sure what you're asking...is it how to get her not to "pick" at the scars? I guess just keep reminding her if you see it happening?

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D.P.

answers from Seattle on

My son fell off the front steps as a toddler while in my husband's care. His face looked like what you are describing. My husband cried longer than my son did.

It happens. She didn't knock out any teeth, she didn't hit a rock and break an eye socket. She's simply scraped up. It might happen next time on your watch - and it will still be an accident. Try not to worry. It's not her dad's fault, or yours, or hers. It's ok, Mama. She'll heal up just fine.

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A.A.

answers from Jackson on

she could have fallen with anyone. Could have been at a friends house, grandparents house. Sounds to me like it was an accident not an on purpose. Try to keep things in perspecitve. I'm sure he didn't push her down. I know "mama bear" is doing most of the talking here...try to tame her.

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A.F.

answers from Fargo on

Your daughter will be fine. The same thing could have happened if she was in your care.

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K.T.

answers from Chicago on

My best friend went over the handle bars of her bike (we were about 8 yo) and literally scraped all of the skin off her face...it was gross and scabbed terrible, but healed well and she didn't have any scaring at all.
I would be more concerned about the fathers response.s If he doesn't care then I would be concerned. But if he is concerned, then give him a break, it could of happened to you. Think about it, if hasn't been around kids he has no idea what to expect.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

My 2 year old was sitting in out driveway in the back of my husband's pick up truck -- with my husband -- and climbed up the side and fell out. I have no idea how this could happen with my husband being right there!!! My son's poor little face was so scraped up. People were shocked when they saw him. Each night I applied Aquaphor, and cannot believe how quickly it healed! Don't know if you've used ever used the product, but it is quite greasy, and that's why I thought applying it at night was best.

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T.T.

answers from Chicago on

it happens. i hope he continues to be a positive influence on your child. anywho open up a vitamin E capsule and rub in the scabs. it should help with scarring and will stop the itch

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter has done that a few times, her first 4th of July that she was walking, she managed to scrape both knees and her forehead, and that was being watched pretty closely by myself and my parents, as well as my husband and his brother. Kids fall, it's normal.

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L.V.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with Amber. My 4 year old has done that quite a few times. My 10 month old has even done it a couple times, and she doesn't even walk yet! Though hers was carpet burn, and not road rash. Little kids hurt themselves all the time. It was probably just an accident. Now, if she start coming home with injuries every time, then I'd worry.

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A.H.

answers from Portland on

It was an accident. Talk to her dad about weighing risks if the driveway was sloped, not to let her run down a sloped area. I usually run with my daughter or hold her hand and run down a slope so she doesn't fall as hard. If it's not sloped, totally ignore that haha.

My daughter "biffs it" all the time because she runs and trips over her own feet. Theres probably 2 seconds in between watching her run and seeing her fall, not much you can do unless you are RIGHT there and have very quick reflexes.

If your nervous about him having her, keep the visits short and maybe meet at a nearby park and just step where she can't see you but can keep an eye (I mention it b/c I don't know your back-story with her father except he hasn't been a part of her life til recently). I agree with another mom that if it constantly happens then you need to worry

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L.S.

answers from Chicago on

Be sure to keep her covered from the sun, too. You can use hats now, but when the scabs fall off, sunscreen! I had surgery and this was the best advice a plastic surgeon gave me. Just remember, despite all the great advice i have read, kids are resilient. Scars fade away and im sure she will be just fine!

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J.C.

answers from Chicago on

Raw honey can minimize the scarring. A friend's son had a bike accident and 1/2 his face was raw and it healed beautifully. I believe there is an over the counter cream called Meraderm that is suppose to help prevent scarring.

The idea of using Vit E is a good one, because when her scrabs are drying they are skrinking and pulling that is why she feels the need to itch.

Take care
J.

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

My son took a face plant on my sister's driveway when he was 14 months old. The doctor prescribed some kind of prescription neosporin type cream and it went away beautifully. Yes, as long as she doesn't pick at the scabs it will go away 100%. My son got a bad scratch on his cheek in daycare and wouldn't stop picking at the scab and that scar is still visible 2 years later.

Good luck!

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C.F.

answers from Chicago on

Now let me start out by saying the same thing happened to my son and I was watching so accidents do happen when you are watching. You sound like you feel that he wasn't watching and he could have been but not close enough to stop the fall. That is what children do, they fall and get scrapes and scares even when we are looking. That is unless you put them in bubble wrap. Now back to the scrapes, use aloe vera gel straight from the plant, you can get a leaf from the produce dept in some grocery stores. I got one from Pete's produce. Also Mederma works but it is costly. That should work and her skin should heal just fine. Then don't blame her dad for not being able to stop an accident. It could have happen while she was with you just as easily. Children run, play and fall all the time and it isn't because we aren't watching them. They even fall when you are holding their hands so relax and know that her Dad was probably watching the whole thing and couldn't get to her in time to stop the fall.

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