Horrible accident..need Some Comfort.

Updated on August 05, 2010
E.A. asks from El Paso, TX
62 answers

is it true you will drop your baby at least once in their lifetime? yesterday my daughter accidentaly fell off her swing i turned away for less than a second and down she went it was terryfying i imediately picked her up she cried a lil i handed her to her daddy cuz i got hysterical and now i feel super bad like im a bad mom i cried all night... plz mommies help me

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So What Happened?

omg thank you so much to everyone who shared their stories with me i now know that yes it will happen and maybe next time ill handle it better my daughter is fine she is being herself and im not so wrrried or guilty andymore, THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE :)

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

yep.
my oldest rolled right off the couch when dad reached for a diaper.

for my 2nd, we've had 2 incidents.
the first one was from a high chair. The leg support was attached to the tray, and I didn't realize that the inlaws hadn't strapped her in. As soon as I lifted the tray off to place it on the table, she slid right down my leg. I started screaming and crying. The second time, the stroller lock released when I walked into the garage, past the car to grab something. baby went down the driveway, across the lawn, toward the bolder filled ditch. I ran as fast as i could. dove for the handle and stopped it 6 inches from the bolder edge, as the babysitter was running towards me. for that one i grabbed my girl and collapsed in the yard crying.

It happens. Even when you are right there.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Yup, my youngest squirmed off the bed and fell on a hardwood floor THREE times in a week when he was an infant -- I was so tired that I kept forgetting he was getting mobile.

Stuff happens. She's fine. Don't feel guilty.

(Hey, did you see the news clip a few weeks ago where the stroller suddenly rolled off the platform and got run over by a subway? How you think that mom felt? The baby was miraculously okay.)

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L.G.

answers from Detroit on

Every baby..kid...falls at LEAST 1 time in their lives!! I have 3 kids, and they ALL have fallen off of, into, or out of something at a very young age.
They all are perfectly fine ( They're now 14,10 and 7) It wouldn't be called life, if accidents never happened! AND just by you writing and asking this question....it shows just how GREAT of a mother you really are <3
Give little Sammy a hug and kiss, and know that accidents happen and everything will be ok :)

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

No idea if it's true or not... but I dropped mine. Carseat flipped off of what it was sitting on when he was a couple months old. He was fine. I nearly lost my mind.

He's also scooched off a bed and a couch when he was more mobile. Smaller drops. And I was more immune since he regularly hurtled himself through the air, onto floors, and into walls.

At SOME point you child falls on their face, you wipe up the blood, send them back onto the playground and a new mom looks at you with "that" look, and you laugh and realize how far you've come.

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A.A.

answers from Columbus on

You're not a bad mom! I have two similar stories:

One: When I was babysitting in high school I put the child on the change table and turned my back for 10 seconds to get a new diaper and he rolled off and fell to the floor. It was a hard lesson (re) learned. I still feel terrible about it 10 years later.

Two: My son was sick with a cold so I propped him up to sleep in his stroller in his room during the night. I didn't strap him in just in case it woke him up. I didn't hear a peep from him all night. I went in to get him in the morning only to find he was sleeping on the floor!

They are hard lessons learned!

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C.N.

answers from Minneapolis on

Let's hope this is the wost thing that ever happens to your daughter and you will be the world's best Mom.

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E.B.

answers from Houston on

OMG! Took me three years to get pregnant. Finally had my son. He was about 6 mos when a friend came to stay with her son. She used the highchair first and slipped the tray back on but didn't latch it. I never took the tray off so did not think about it. Slipped son down into the highchair and walked away. Heard a splat, turned, there he was face down on the tile floor, not moving. My first and only thought was "Sh*t! I killed him. Took three years to get him and now I've killed him and my husband is going to be so mad." My friend, who was on her third child, calmly walked over, picked him up off the floor and of course he screamed and screamed but nothing was the matter beyond he was totally shocked. I had been so paralyzed and so sure he was dead, it never even occurred to me to go pick him up. You are NOT a bad mother and they all fall. Sometimes I think it is amazing any kid survives to adulthood. Good luck and quit beating yourself up.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

My youngest has hit the floor more than a couple of times and he's now a super smart 5 yr old. He fell down my mom's stairs more than a couple of times I just couldn't get to him fast enough.
I fell down the stairs while holding him once. I've had one that I didn't know could roll , roll off the edge of a couch.
I've got ADD and I'm clumsy, it's amazing I've never broken one of my own bones. There's a reason babies have all that fat on um , it's to cushion their fall.
She will be ok , and it prob scared her more than it hurt her.

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B.C.

answers from Dallas on

Don't worry hun! Almost all of us go through it! When my dd was 11 mos. old she busted her mouth into the fireplace and split her lip open on the inside and she's almost 3 now and just had to get stitches last week b/c she jumped out of the tub. My dd was dropped when she was 2 months old by my older dd. It was scary! It happens. Don't beat yourself up.

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A.M.

answers from Pittsburgh on

it does not make you a bad mom. accidents happen. i used to put my son in the corner of the couch while he napped so i could get things done around the house. he woke up while i was doing dishes and was real quiet i guess he was watching t.v. he was about 5 months old he scooted himself off the couch i heard a thump and him screaming. i came in to the living room to see him lsying on the floor screaming. i picked him up checked for marks and held him till he calmned down. i felt terrible like i didn't deserve to be a mother. but in reality babies and children get hurt. as long as it wasn't serious injuries or on purpose you are not a bad mother. calmn down it's gonna be fine, accidents happen, and we learn from them

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C.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

Been there and done that...my son fell out of his crib around 10-11 months old. He pulled himself up and went head first to the floor, I had turned around to put something on his bureau. I freaked too wouldn't let anyone pick him up until I called the dr. I was screaming at my husband and it too me hours to just to settle down--called a good friend who has a lot of faith and she prayed for him and me and it really helped. As long as your little one is ok you will get thru this...and learn from it too. I know I did! Try to relax and it will be ok.

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K.B.

answers from San Antonio on

relax! you will never be able to keep your eye on your children 24/7- you didn't drop your child - your child fell- it won't be the last time your child falls- let it go. If children don't fall and get hurt and you protect them from everything - life is gonna suck when you are not around.

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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

Most parents have this happen. I dropped both of my children honestly. They've both also fallen as itty bitty ones but nothing serious ever resulted from it *knock on wood.* You're not a horrible mommy and these are those moments that truly test us as parents---next time I don't think you'll turn away without thinking twice.

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A.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

You are NOT a bad mom. All babies fall on their heads now and then. Last week my 17 month old unbuckeled himself, stood up, and flipped out of the cart at Wal-mart on his head. He landed on concrete. I was surrounded by seriously 20 employees and had to fill out papers saying I wouldnt sue wal-mart. It was embarassing. And after a minute of crying, my toddler was fine. (I was paying for my food when this happened) I felt bad but as soon as he stopped crying I felt wayyyy better. It will happen all the time, its part of babies growing up.

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J.J.

answers from Houston on

Chile, I know exactly what you went through. My 4 mos. fell out of my bed because I didn't think she could move as good as she did. I felt SO guilty, I text my mother and told her what happened and told her to come get her grandbaby because I was going to call the police on myself! (lol)...My mother was tickled and sent me a text back and said that was a common thing for a new mama to go thru. She told me that ALL of my siblings plus me have fell on the floor at one point in time or another. She also told me that she was so tickled by my text that she showed EVERYONE at work what I said. But my mom did make me feel better about the situation. The baby was fine, although I think she may have been a wee-bit traumatized because the next night, she kept jumping in her sleep. Ok, maybe I shouldn't have shared that part, but I cried, I prayed, I sought comfort from a very well known source(my mommie, of course) and once I realized my daughter was fine, the guilt went away. It's a part of being a parent, mom. We want to protect our bambinos from EVERYTHING, but you have to know that that's not going to always happen, so just be the best mom you can be, pray for the best and be prepared for the worst(just in case) and you'll be fine. Stop feeling guilty, you are definitely NOT a bad mother, you are simply a mom; just like all the rest of us. Don't feel bad; you're good!

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M.G.

answers from San Antonio on

Mine fell off the bed on the side of her head. I took her to the doctor and of course nothing was wrong. You are not a bad mother. Accidents happen. Even though we think they are really fragile, they are except God made them a little more durable for things like this. If she is acting abnormally then take her to the doctor. Otherwise, don't beat yourself up. They are stronger than we think.

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E.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

My older son is a year and a half and always falling and getting hurt. He fell twice when he was less than three months old. once i had fallen asleep on the couch while feeding him (i was just that tired) and he slid off my lap onto the floor. I woke up as he was slipping and freaked out. I called his dad immediately and cried on the phone to him. The second time not more than a month later i placed him on the couch with his feet to the back of the couch so he wouldn't roll off (lol) instead he kicks the back of the couch and flips off backward onto the floor. Luckily for both of these i had a super low couch so it wasn't a bad fall. I felt terrible tho. Nothing has happened so far with my second son but he's only two weeks old. Of course the scariest thing when my son was a newborn was the dog i had just adopted. I was told she was a good well trained dog. She was the most hyper smallish dog I've ever seen since.i didn't want to get rid of her (i figured i could train her) but I would not allow her in the room with the baby so i would use a baby gate to keep her out of the living room and would close my door at night. when the baby was sleeping i went to use the bathroom and come back into the living room to see the dog jumping back and forth less than an inch over my infant in the pack and play. I almost had a heart attack. She had jumped the gate and climbed the pack and play. Needless to say i found a new home for her within a week. Nothing ever scared me as much as that dog did. not even when he fell.

It happens to everyone. She will be fine.

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R.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

Things like this happen to every mother! When my child was about 6 mths and started crawling, we co-sleep. I was still asleep when she crawled off and hit the window pain on the way down. It freaked me out. She had cuts and a big welp on her head. But she stopped crying when I picked her up, so hopefully it didn't hurt all that bad. But for me, it killed me so!

Don't worry you're a good mommy. And she won't remember it, but we will!

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J.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Mom, it happens to all of us at least once and we all feel awful and may even cry. Mine happened when our baby rolled off the bed at about 5-6 mo old and she had not rolled b4 on her own. She fell on to the hard-wood floor with a thud shen I stood up to get something off a dresser rt across the room. I was sure she was damaged for life and felt just like you did. We just watched her very closely for the next 24 hrs after checking her over thoroughly immediatley afterwards and showered her with hugs and kisses. She is a happy healthy teen now and I still recall the day so clearly. It just taught me that you have to keep your eyes on them all the time when they are so young. Hugs 2U Mom

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L.B.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Your actions as a mother are normal, so is your reaction however if you freak out every time your child falls or gets hurt all you are doing is upsetting your child. Your child will react to you fright and will freak out also. Falls, cuts, bruises, broken fingers toes etc are all things that will happen in her life, Why make them into something that is to worry about and upset her. That is the same as telling her that every time she see's the Dr. her will hurt her you just do not do this because it is not true. Let her have her cry and make like it is not any thing real bad and go on she will get up and just keep going, you might dust her off and ask if she was trying to fly like a fairy or superman ???? That might help make it something to laugh about....

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R.D.

answers from Richmond on

I truly enjoyed reading all the responses you've gotten... reminds me of when I was in your shoes freaking out! That freak out mode will pass, soon, when your child gets a bump or bruise, you'll shrug your shoulders and tell them to shake it off. Anything can happen in a split second. My daughter was climbing out of her crib by 9 months... when my 2nd baby came, my 1st was 'helping' her out of the crib (meaning, pushing the poor child up and out)... yep. You'll learn that 'quiet children' = 'misbehaving children'... do you know how many poison control stickers I have from the times my kids have eaten really dumb stuff?! BTW, for future reference, dog food will NOT harm your child. Once you get past the horror of babies falling... it will be eatings stuff. Just wait. I neverrr thought I'd be 'that mom', and used to tell my girlfriends with kids doing naughty stuff that they must not have been paying attention... HONEY, IT HAPPENS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!! You'll be able to laugh about this later :) Best wishes!

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D.C.

answers from San Antonio on

This happened twice to me with my daughter. First time, I was carrying her to bed as an infant and went to step over a box in the doorway. I actually dropped her from my arms about a foot off the ground so that I could catch myself and not fall on her! She was swaddled and not hurt. The second time I was changing her in her crib and had the rail down. She was learning to pull herself up to stand and each time I turned to throw away her diaper, she would use the rail to help stand up. I would see her and tell her to sit down. She sat down. I turned away. She stood. I told her to sit, she sat. I turned away quickly and threw away the diaper. Before the diaper hit the bottom, she had stood up and flipped head first out of her bed, and landed on her back. I screamed, saw she wasn't moving and ran to get my husband. I was afraid to move her. He is a police officer so he knew how not to move her and how to check her. She started to cry and then rolled over on her own. She was fine! I cried all day, too. While it's not fun, it's probably gonna happen in some form.

If you were a bad mom, you wouldn't be worried. You're doing fine. Hugs!

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L.B.

answers from Austin on

I don't know if this will help... but you just received MOM OF THE YEAR AWARD!!! That's what my friends and I call it when you are standing right in front of your children watching them get hurt. It has to be the kind of thing that when someone asks you where were you, you can say "I was 2 feet away watching it happen". There are times when I receive the award daily! Getting hit by a swing, going under water and needing to be pulled up, falling off the couch, getting scratched by the cat.... You get the idea. The good news, despite my constant award winning status, my oldest is now 6 and looking pretty good!

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K.I.

answers from Spokane on

We have a "California Split" type house which essentially means that our upstairs living room over looks the entry way landing and stairs, it is separated by a railing...I have raised 5 kids in this same house and we have always worried about the kids climbing over the rail and are diligent about not placing the couch or other furniture next to it, so that the kids could never stand and fall over it...my youngest (and only girl!) walked at 8 months and one day I was standing in the kitchen at the top of the stairs and watched as she slid right thru the rails and fell about 7 ft onto the hard marble entry way!!! I was FREAKED...I ran to her as fast as I could and was afraid to actually look at how she landed, I was completely sure she had broken herself, somewhere, somehow...but thankfully she was absolutely fine! Scared the begeezeys out of me for MONTHS! I still get sick thinking about it!
~We now have a completely new rail system!

Then one time she (yes, same child) was running and fell right into the fireplace and gave herself a goose-egg the size of a golf ball...that made for a scary ride to the ER (and a HUGE BILL) but she was perfectly fine...no real damage done!

Then about 2 months later, my big ol' dog knocked her (you would think that as Mom/Auntie to 6 boys I would be telling tales about them, but nope! The girl has all the scary stories) into the corner of a wall and she broke her nose! That was VERY scary AND UGLY, immediately huge and swollen and purple...but thankfully Daddy was home that time and as it turns out, as long as your toddler/baby can breathe the ER will do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, no x-rays, no nothing for a broken nose? I did not know that??? That was another scary ride to the ER and another HUGE BILL too!
*She will probably be getting a nose job for her 16th b-day...the DR.'s say you have to wait till about that age to correct any damage, which sadly she does have but its really only noticeable to us and our family...no one else seems to notice OR they all have been uber polite as to not say anything:)

Moral of my story: Kids fall! Accidents happen...try not to beat yourself up too much (easier said than done, I know) because trust me, you will be forever stressed and nervous about "falls and injuries" from this day forward...for FOREVER!

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A.R.

answers from Houston on

you are human and normal and this kind of thing happens. My 16 month old is very active and has fallen more than once and bumped her head. DO not beat yourself up about it. :-)

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J.G.

answers from Cincinnati on

This just happened to me yesterday! I was terrified. I was sure that I was going to have child protective services called on me, and I was terrified to tell anyone that it happened. She was on my bed, and I went to use the restroom, and then I heard her crying. Not the normal, mommy how dare you leave me alone cry, but the cry telling me that something just happened. I ran out of the bathroom (pants not even pulled up yet), and I saw her on the floor. I dropped to the ground and grabbed my face because I was so scared. I couldn't even bring myself to touch her for a moment. As soon as I picked her up, she was fine. I called the doctor, just to be sure, and they said that it sounded like she was fine. I finally mustered up the courage to tell my mom about it, and she laughed at me. Totally surprising. She said to me, "do you have any idea how many times all of you kids have fallen off of things?". She then proceeded to tell me a story about how my 22 year old brother fell onto concrete when he was 3 months old. He's a little odd, haha, but he's totally fine. He just graduated from college and helps my dad run the family business, so I'd say that it didn't scar him too badly.

It's ok! Don't beat yourself up, we just need to be a little more careful now that they're starting to move around more. Hugs :o)

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R.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I slept with my babies in our bed until they wanted out...for my first daughter, it was about 6 months, and then it was because I was ready for my space back...but when she was about 2 months old I was nursing her and fell asleep. She fell off the bed. She cried, and I picked her up and consoled her. I didnt want my husband to be mad, so I didn't wake him up to tell him she fell. She was okay, even though I felt horrible for months!! He told me about 2 years ago that he knew she fell!! But he knew she was okay and didn't want to make me feel worse. You are NOT a bad mother at all. It's an accident because you didn't mean to do it!! If she is okay, there is nothing to worry about. You're a good mommy...otherwise you wouldn't be so concerned. Go hug your baby and know that it's okay :).

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B.C.

answers from Joplin on

If any momma out there says that she has "never" had an "accident" happen she's either a liar, or it hasn't happened to her yet...we are just human! And that is why they are called accidents and not on purposes! I will never forget when my daughter was only 6 months old, we were at a friends wedding and we were staying in a hotel and I asked my hubby to watch the baby...I was changing, next thing I know I see her out of the corner of my eye roll off the bed...it Looked awful, she cried of course, but over all she was fine ( I have teased him about to this day, she will be 10 in October!) Babies are incredibly resilient = ) Don't feel bad! I could probably come up with more examples for you since I have 3 kiddo's = ) In fact....here's another for you that was technically "My fault" my youngest Alex is a climber and has been since before he could walk...we had one of those huge DVD towers in the livingroom...and I am feeling pretty confident that the livingroom is baby proofed ( he was less than 2) he tried to climb the dvd tower, ended up with the entire tower crashing down on him...level headed me ( lol) I probably hurt him worse from pulling him out from under it I was so scared...and he didn't even cry...I think he was more shocked! It is just one of those rites of passages for us momma's and sure it is natural to feel a little guilty....but don't hang onto it...it happens to the best of all momma's one time or another...we can't be all places at once, there is no such thing as 100% baby proof, and we certainly can't forsee the future....we do the best we can = ) Hang in there!

J.B.

answers from Houston on

I know everyone has told you, but it does happen! Don't feel bad girl, you are good mom. Hey you had your lil girl out on the swings instead of in front of the TV which is more than I can say for myself some days!!! Let it go, she is fine, and all is well. Guilt makes a bad friend, just give yourself a break. Girl, we had my son at a fair when he was two, he was in this bounce house, my husband took his eyes off my son for a second to take a bag of chips from me, in that split second, my son jumped out of the house and ran to anther big bounce thing. No-one saw him and there were well over 1,000 people there. I was hysterical. We couldn't find him for like five minutes. It was the worst, when we did find him I had to give him to my husband too, I was so overcome. BUT I had to forgive myself and move on. I am a great mom and things happen, but I truly thank God for his angels watching over our kids!!!!! Hang in there and be good to yourself, your daughter holds nothing against you, you don't need to either!!! Hugs:)

M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Well i know what your going thru i have left my 7 1/2 mos old daughter in the bed one day as i went to wash her bottles i heard a bang on the carpet floor i went running to my room she had fallen off the bed, i felt so miserable, unresponsible and guilty. My friend told me accidents happen and sometimes we can prevent them but some we cant. In total she has fallen 2 times but everytime she has i have taken her to the doctor for a check-up, everything is ok!!! I thank god for everything. Dont punish yourself just as long as she's responsive and happy after a few hours its ok!!! Good luck!!!

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

Relax!
I would always say (jokingly) "he's a boy- he bounces!"

But seriously- your baby is probably okay if they are not vomiting or lethargic. This will not be their first accident (and it WAS an accident). You need to relax as the little buggers feed off your anxiety.

Good Luck and stop beating yourself up!

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B.J.

answers from College Station on

We all make mistakes, we all panic over them. If you are really worried, please speak with your pediatrician.

But do know that as we read this, we thought "oh sweetie. This is not a horrible accident, just one of those things that happen."

Best wishes!

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L.B.

answers from San Antonio on

You are not a bad mommy. Once my son fell off the picture platform at Wal-Mart. I cried for days and still get chills thinking about it. They're kids...and as long as no bones were broken, she is fine...

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D.A.

answers from Houston on

Well I didn't really drop her, but to me its all the same. this may cheer you up...There I was in the Pedi's office for her 2 wk visit (1st-time mom) waiting for the Dr. to enter. I was holding her in my arms and pacing when I decided to sit down. Well the closest chair to me was the Dr.'s rolling stool. As soon as my legs hit the back of the chair the chair rolled from under me. Needless to say my maternal instinct took over and the only thing that actually ending up on the floor was my back side. Post-pregnancy bottoms and strong arms really came into play..(LOL). Then there was the tumble from the bed, when I thought she was sound asleep and not mobile. That was my worst baby falling incident, but she was a trooper.She is a very happy 3-yr now turning 4 this Sept. and doesn't remember a thing. Don't beat yourself up. Even the best of moms have little hiccups with parenting. You are stilll a great mom. If your sweetie wasn't injured, forgive yourself and move on. Hope this helps...

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H.S.

answers from Detroit on

Don't feel bad, all kids fall at some point; I'm honestly amazed my son hasn't broken something by now; he jumps off EVERYTHING ... when I was six and my brother was a few months old, we came in from grocery shopping and my mom's shoe had come untied and she tripped on the lace as she stepped into the house and fell; she lost her grip on my brother and he went scattering across the floor and didn't stop until he hit the refrigerator (about 4 steps for an adult). He had a nice sized bruise, but was fine, just shaken. Don't think you're a bad mom, you aren't.

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

So many things happen! Even experienced grandmas do stuff like that... when my grandson was just a few weeks old, my DD and her fiance' (now hubby) got a new washer and dryer. The washer and dryer were being delivered, and I was holding the baby.... I turned to do something, and THUNKED his poor head against the doorframe! Oh my gosh, I felt so horrible!

Yes, he screamed and screamed, and I was afraid I'd really hurt him, but he was just fine.

So many things happen that we can't prevent... we can be just one step behind them, and they can fall and get a black eye (happened with my son, #4, when I was gone for the weekend, and daddy was taking care of the kids....) Another time, my two youngest were playing in a bucket, (age 3 1/2 and 1 1/2) just a few feet away from us both, when one fell, and cut her forehead... amazing what can happen to a child, even when we are right there!

Babies can be incredibly durable, as you will soon find out.

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C.B.

answers from Austin on

Babies roll off beds, get bumped by the person carrying them, and have all kinds of accidents. This is normal, we've all done something like it, and we all feel terrible when it happens. Please don't let yourself get so worked up over that. Your baby has many bumps ahead of her, and you have to be her comfort. She'll be fine and you will too. If you were a bad mom you would have just shrugged this off. You're a good and caring mom. Relax as much as you can and give yourself a break.

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S.O.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I forgot to buckle my son in his stroller one time and he got really excited about something and slipped through the opening and almost onto the floor. He was perfectly fine, I had actually just about stopped the stroller right before he did this so I wasn't in danger of running over him or anything. He probably wouldn't have cried at all except I was so worried and made such a big deal about it that it ended up making him cry :) It was very embarassing especially since I was with my friend at the time (woops). The important thing is, we make these mistakes and if all that happens is they cry a little bit, you learn a lesson and move on. If the same thing happens again, well, then maybe it's time to re-evaluate things.

Don't worry so much!

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L.P.

answers from Houston on

My youngest daughter rolled right off the bed with both her daddy and me sitting there. We both thought the other was going to catch her. She was just starting to move around and the bed was high off the floor.
It does happen, so try not to be too h*** o* yourself.

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L.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

Accidents happen, even to the most hyper-vigilent of parents. I pride myself on being super safety concious and my husband has a babyproofing business but that hasn't stopped our son from jumping on the couch he was 3 (while my back was turned), falling off and splitting his lip (split lips bleed a lot by the way). Or our daughter, who was 2 at the time, taking a tumble down half of our stairs leading upstairs. We had the baby safety gates open and were allowing her to go up and down the stairs while we were right there but, by the time she lost her footing, we couldn't react fast enough to stop the tumble.

I hope this helps you feel a little bit better about what happened yesterday. Please take care and I hope you and your daughter feel better soon.

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S.H.

answers from Las Vegas on

First of all don't beat yourself up. Sometimes it happens. My grandson slipped off of my chest while we were both sleeping, he was less than a month old. He cried for just a second or two. Thank goodness he wasn't hurt. But it did scare me and him. My Daughter once, while strapped in her carrier, flipped herself off the couch. I came into the living room and there she was, upside down just talking away like thats how she was supposed to have been the whole time! So remember, s__t happens, but beating yourself up isn't going to help. Just remember they grow up so fast and begin to explore just as fast. So make sure shes tucked in wherever it is your laying her so it doesn't happen again. Relax and enjoy her!
S. in Vegas

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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

They are amazingly resisliant. I've made more mistakes with my kids than I can count. Raising children, in my opinion, is one of the most humbling experiences possible. Just be easy on yourself. You are human and you will make mistakes.

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A.B.

answers from New York on

God we've all had this happen. My son fell off my bed onto a hardwood floor at least 4 times before he was 10 months old. Each time I was hysterical, thinking I had secured him. The guilt was unbearable. My GF left her baby in her car seat on the roof of her car as she was unlocking the car. She was so sleep deprived as the baby was 6 weeks old she forgot the baby was on the roof and drove a full block before screaming people were waving to get her attention. When she realized what they were saying she stopped the car and the car seat fell off the roof. Baby fine, her traumatized for weeks. Your ok, it happens and you have to let it go we have plenty of years to come to feel guilty about what we have "done" to our kids (lol) Stay strong.

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C.S.

answers from Houston on

Accidents happen. Don't worry. We all have clutsy accidents... the main thing is she's ok and won't even remember it.

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D.C.

answers from College Station on

Oh, I am so glad you were there to pick her up from her fall!!!

Yes it was terrifying. But putting such guilt on yourself puts a separation between you and your daughter. Embrace her and tell her how happy you are that she is okay. She may not understand the words but she will hear the sincerity in your voice and gestures! Everything will be okay!

Of course you will get her checked by the doctor if anything seems out of the ordinary.

I hope the best for you!

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L.G.

answers from Austin on

You're only a bad momma if you don't learn from these accidents. Be prepared, there will be more little accidents. As long as your child knows that you are there for her when bad things happen, she will be fine.

Here's a great saying, "Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child." Your daughter needs to learn there will be obstacles all along her path. You will not be able to spare her from all of life's difficulties.

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Ahhh I remember it like yesterday. The day my baby turned 6 months, my boyfriend strapped her (or thought he did) into her swing. All of a sudden she was screaming. Either he didn't fasten the belt all the way or she kicked out of it, because one of her legs was still strapped in and the other wasn't. Here my baby was head on the floor, body in mid air, one leg kicking around and the other twisted, still strapped in the swing.
I freaked out. Thinking she dislocated her hip, or had a concussion. All he could so was apologize to her, tears swelled up in his eyes quicker then I had ever seen, while I was checking her little body out. The worst part was when she fell her head must have hit the leg of the swing and it gave her a horrible bruise. It seriously looked like I had punched her on the side of her head, and it didn't go away for almost a month. We packed the swing away shortly after that.
Don't feel bad, the majority of us go through some traumatic event with our kids at one point in their lives (if not more). I could tell you the horror stories my inlaws have told me about my boyfriend. Just count your blessings your little one is fine. Big hugs! =)

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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

it happens, the baby is fine. Forgive yourself---moms are just human beings that make mistakes and accidents will happen. Its normal to feel bad, but you are not a bad mom. This won't be the last time baby gets hurt, just take a deep breath and move on. Hugs to you. I can't tell you how many times accidentally banged my little one's head---she is 100% fine and I consider myself a great mother =) Your performance as a mother is not based on a few incidents that occur throughout the years.

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R.L.

answers from Houston on

Oh honey wait until the baby start walking lol!

Yes I think we've all experienced this. As an infant my son rolled right off the couch, but he was just fine! They are tougher than they look!

On a side note, once my son started walking he used to break his falls with his face, not his hands. So he always seemed to have a black eye, and he was so quick. He's 9 now and just fine!

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D.M.

answers from Houston on

Oh, honey! Don't feel so bad! Accidents do happen and you shouldn't feel guilty.
My son fell out of his outdoor swing that was tied to a limb that broke. he was swinging pretty high at the time. Hubby, my inlaws & I were all out there watching him. My hubby had pulled pretty h*** o* the swing to check it before we put the little guy in it, but I guess the motion of the swing broke it. He was just fine- no bruises even. I don't think he would have even cared if we hadn't freaked out (hubby's very dramatic, and it already had startled me).
My sis crawled out the two-story window at our apt into some boxwood hedges below when she was 2. And at that same apt, she tipped my playpen over so I went tumbling down the cement stairs. Though my friends sometimes say otherwise, we're both just fine. ;o)

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

when my daughter was a baby she threw herself out of her bouncy chair onto the hardwood floor in the kitchen. It was scary as heck, but she's fine. You arent a bad mom.

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F.L.

answers from Houston on

You are not a bad mom at all. My son fell off the bed when he was a couple of months old. I felt really bad just like you do and like I was a bad mom. But really you are not and neither was I. Accidents will happen no matter how vigilent you are...Now my son is 15 and taller than me and doing just fine. All you can do is try your best to protect your children and leave the rest up to whatever divine presence you believe in:-)

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A.C.

answers from New York on

Stop it! I dropped both my boys more than once! My oldest fell off the couch--he is a down's syndrome baby (he is 27 years old now), but I left him on the sofa to get his bottle and when I returned he was gone! found him on the floor smiling and playing with his fingers --something he still does today. My little one is 7 years old and he feel a few times too--once mom was watching him and she turned around to get the baby wipes and down he went off the bed. The second time his brother was holding him and the baby was squirming wanted to be put down on the floor and when we told the oldest to put him down he just opened is arms and let him drop. Baby didn't cry or anything, but it petrified me. Don't over punish yourself all babies fall it's part of growing up. We usually say in my culture that babies fall as part of the growing up process. No worries unless she is physically hurt she will never remember the fall and if you have been consistent in meeting her needs she will not feel like you let her down. So just console her next time and don't you turn into a "hysterical" mom. She will love you no matter what but you must be consistent with your love, discipline, and attention. Best of luck to you.

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J.B.

answers from Denver on

You are super ok, hun!! My daughter rolled off my bed once. I was beside myself!! It'll pass and unless she blacked out and was hard to revived (concussion) I guarantee you she is perfectly ok and no worse for the wear!

Don't worry yourself- you are a good mom.

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C.M.

answers from Chicago on

I dropped my daughter on her head 2 days before her first birthday...literally on her head. We were at our beach house with hardwood floors and I had her on the bed and I stooped down with one hand on her for literally a second and off she went crawling and dove onto the ground. I felt HORRIBLE, she had a huge bruise on her head, but she was fine. Don't worry about it, it happens. It could be worse...my best friend had her 2nd baby and ONE WEEK later, her 2 year old daughter was playing on her brand new swing set and went to go down the slide and fell off and broke her arm! Imagine having a one week old and a 2 year old in a cast...in JUNE and had to stay inside all summer! This is nothing, you will go thru many more little accidents, unfortunately!!

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A.F.

answers from McAllen on

My daughter rolled off a bed at six weeks. We didn't know that she could roll yet. She graduated top of her class and now has two university degrees. You do the best you can.

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T.N.

answers from Phoenix on

My daughter's carseat was vibrated off the washing machine onto the tile with her in it when she was 2 months old (I was right there putting my son's shoes on so we could head out the door) and she screamed like I've never heard a baby scream before and she wouldn't stop, even when I tried pacifying her with my breast. We rushed to the pediatric ER and her head swelled twice it's size and was all red. I couldn't even look at her face, it scared me so bad. I thought she was going to die or be brain damaged and I cried the whole way there. While we were there waiting, I held her close and told her how much I loved her and how sorry I was. I'm about to cry just remembering. My husband was out of town, as were my parents and sister and I couldn't get ahold of anyone so I was all alone. She had an MRI that showed slight bleeding on the brain, but she has had follow-ups since and she's fine.

She's 3 now and adorable and I often think about that incident, and how I thought I'd lose her and how grateful I am that it turned out the way it did. Others aren't so lucky. But the point is, we all mess up. Some people have told me about dropping their babies, their babies rolling off of couches, etc. It feels horrible to let our children get hurt when it's our job to protect them, but we are human and not perfect, make mistakes, have accidents and lack judgment sometimes. Be as careful and cautious as you can, but we have to forgive ourselves and allow ourselves to be human.

And a year ago my son (4 yrs old at the time) was at my MIL's house and fell out her second story window and landed on his head on the rocks and went to the ER and was/is fine. He just had a cut. That was super scary, too. Kids bodies are super flexible and resilient.

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

It happens to us all. I dropped my oldest once in the bathtub...he was wet and very slippery. One of the boys was upset and squirming on the way up to take a nap, when he was about 2, and we both fell down the stairs when he moved suddenly. Felt horrible about that one too.
My husband was play wrestling with one of the boys once when they were about 6 and they pulled free and whacked their head on the coffee table. ouch. I was so ticked at my husband, 'til I saw how bad he felt and then I realized I had accidents with the kids, too.
Kids are very tough! Thank God---He thought of that!

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D.O.

answers from Houston on

As horrible as it was I bet your daughter is fine now. Just watch closer next time. Everyone makes mistakes and things happen that we dont ever think could happen. You are NOT a bad mother! No way. Just try to relax and go on with your baby. One time I walked thru a door way cradleing my baby in my arms and bumped her head on the door frame. Ouch. I actually cried more than the baby. Called my pedi and He assured me she was fine and that babies are not glass. so say your sorry and have a super life.

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D.R.

answers from New York on

awww cut yourself some slack.... i know its awful,,,, pretty much every time my kids got hurt i was within arms reach. it sucks. and every time it happens and they are ok i say thank you to Gd for letting me learn another lesson the easy way.

C.T.

answers from Detroit on

girl yes! if not all the way drop them almost drop them. and you might even walk through a door way and make mistake and bump their head on the doorway! we all fell bad when we do it but its a mistake! couldn't understand why they were on brittany spears almost tripped on her pants and dropped her baby. it may happen to the best of it. so don't feel bad. you are not the first and damn for sure won't be the last! FEEL BETTER!

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V.M.

answers from Lafayette on

oh you poor thing. Of course your not a poor thing and you didn't drop her remember that. Yes all babies will have their falls and bruises. My little girl fell off the couch while I was in the bathroom. I know it was stupid why leave her there right? Well she was left there so many times and I had something in my eye but anyway she was fine. I felt horrible and still do to this day. Don't make yourself sick over it though and it might happen again.

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