My Kiddo is Hurt

Per the AAP, "minor" looks like this:¹²

• Your child is alert and responsive — awake, knows you, reacts normally
• Crying from pain or fright stops within about 10 minutes
• They're acting like themselves — moving normally, playing, eating
• None of the warning signs in the goose-egg question below

All four true? Typically a minor injury — ice it, love them up, and keep an eye out for 24 hours. Anything beyond a light bump still merits a call to your child's doctor.¹²

First, breathe — then look at your child, not the height of the fall. According to the AAP, if your child remains alert and responsive, the injury is typically mild and requires no tests or X-rays; crying from pain or fright lasting no longer than about 10 minutes fits the minor picture. Apply a cold compress for about 20 minutes for swelling, and for anything beyond a light bump the AAP's advice is simple: "call your child's doctor."¹²

Then keep watch. The AAP advises: "Stay with your child for the first 24 hours," checking every 2–3 hours that they move normally and respond to you.¹²

The classic toddler collision — same rulebook. Per the AAP: alert and responsive with brief tears (about 10 minutes or less) points to a minor injury. A cold compress for about 20 minutes helps the swelling. Use only acetaminophen for pain unless the doctor approves otherwise. And anything beyond a light bump merits a call to your child's doctor.¹² Then watch for the warning signs in the next question over the following 24 hours.

The bump itself isn't the alarm bell — your child's behavior is. Ice it (cold compress, about 20 minutes), then monitor for the AAP's serious warning signs:¹²

• "A constant headache, particularly one that gets worse"
• "Slurred speech or confusion"
• "Vomiting more than 2 or 3 times"
• "Difficulty waking up or excessive sleepiness"
• "Unequal size of the pupils"
• "Convulsions (seizures)"
• "Weakness of arms or legs"

Any of those — call the doctor right away.¹²