Page 84 - GreenBook

F. Falls:

The following information has been presented by the American Academy of
Pediatrics in their Injury Prevention Program.

1. Birth to 6 months: As a newborn your baby will wiggle and move and push
against things with his/her feet. Even these very first movements can result
in a fall. As your baby grows, he/she will suddenly be able to roll over. DO
NOT LEAVE YOUR BABY ALONE ON HIGH PLACES such as changing
tables, beds, sofas, or chairs. If left unprotected, he/she will fall. Very young
infants will occasionally turn over by accident, therefore do not feel that it is
safe to leave them alone on a changing table etc.

Infant seats and car seats should only be placed on the floor and not on
tables or chairs. A bouncing, wiggling infant can move enough to cause the
seat to fall. Older siblings have been known to accidentally knock a seat
over trying to play with the baby.
Call us if your child under six months of age faiis.

2. 7 to 12 months: With your child's new abilities at this age he/she will fall
over and over again. Protect your child from injury by keeping him/her off of
high places and out of rooms where he/she might hurt himself/herself. Use
gates on stairways and doors. Remove sharp edged furniture from the
room your child is in.

Call us after any head injury if your child is stunned or knocked out, can't
move his/her arms or legs, vomits more than twice or is irritable or lethargic.

3. 1 to 2 years: Even though your child is perfecting his/her walking skills,
falls will still occur. Your child is now beginning to climb, jump and run as
well. A chair left next to a kitchen counter or table, or one that your child
moves there himself, allows him to climb to dangerously high places.

Lock the doors to any dangerous areas. Use gates on stairways and
window guards above the first floor. Screens are not designed to prevent a
child from falling from an upper story window. Pad or remove sharp edged
furniture from the areas where your child plays.

4. 2 to 4 years: You will not be able to prevent many of the falls your
preschooler will take. With his inexhaustible energy, speed and growing
motor skills your child is able to get himself/herself into an endless variety of
dangers at home and in the neighborhood. Your child is now able to throw a
ball, jump, run, pedal a tricycle and move at lightning speed.
Your child may fall off play equipment and bikes, out of windows, down
stairs, and off everything he/she climbs onto.

Lock the doors to any dangerous areas. Use gates on stairways and
window guards above the first floor. Fence the play yard.

If your child has a serious fall, call us.

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