Baby fell off bed - GP reported to Health visitor

Hi Sophie

We've moved your thread into our drop-in clinic - baby and child health, so you can get the advice and support you need.

Thank you Chelle!

Hello Sophie

My name is Tracey and I am a Netmums Health Visitor. I am sorry you have both had such a shock and you are feeling like you do.

You did everything right and followed the advice you were given at the time. You did what you were advised to keep your LO safe.

The advice your GP have given is also correct and this is another possible line of advice you could of followed had you been given it at that time too.

We never know when babies will roll, so it is always wise to have every caution in place when leaving them unattended - even if just for a second! You have been left feeling very guilty over what has happened, and this is the biggest punishment you will always give yourself as a loving Mummy. What you will also take from this, is a lot of learning which is a good thing.

Please do not think that based on this one event that anyone will cast a cloud over your parenting. Accidents happen, and we learn from them well.

Your HV may well call you, which is very normal and standard procedure. Take time with your HV when they call to ask for their support too as you are also feeling upset about the whole thing.

I do hope this puts your mind at rest and makes you feel less worried.

Best wishes to you and your LO

Tracey HV

Thank you Tracey, I really appreciate your words. I ended up speaking to my HV, she was lovely and really reassuring. She said it happens and was only going to note our call but I asked if she could come round one day to help me baby proof the house - which has made me feel more at ease.

i also took my DD to the doctor who was too so lovely and said she was perfectly healthy and had nothing to worry about. This has been a massive learning curve for me and will be like a hawke with her from now on!

Thank you again, Sophie x

Oh doll, I don’t know a single mum who’s baby hasn’t accidentally rolled off the bed or sofa. Sometimes that’s how you realise that they can roll! This definitely doesn’t make you the worst mum in the world-accidents happen and you called for advise. Kids generally bounce! At 8m baby proofing would def be a good idea but forgive yourself xx

Hi honestly you have nothing to worry about they move around at that age and these things happen its always a shock! My 5th son fell over the back of the sofa we had put it across the patio doors cause he kept trying to open the door and he climbed onto the sofa was jumping while holding the back of it then bang he was down straight between the sofa and the doors onto the step on the inside!! He's now 9 it scared the life out of you but you can't have eyes on them all the time your not a bad mother it happens to the best of us xx

My friend was changing his 6 month old on a changing table. Turned away slightly to get the new nappy whilst keeping one hand on the baby who promptly managed to wriggle out and roll off onto a wooden floor and broke his leg. Ended up in hospital in traction - they had a visit from a social worker because the medical professionals have to flag it but nothing further ever happened. (The baby in question is now a strapping 18 year old!)

Try not to worry too much.

This happens a lot us mums haven't got eyes in the back of our head ! My son rolled off the bed and banged his head I had to be interviewed by the police at the hospital on how this happened I was frightened no need to be these are the ppl that HAVE to check as there are so many children abused that's gone under the radar as an accident and rightly so ! Just remember most of these ppl have kids themselves and I'm sure your health visitor will understand you won't be the first or the last.

The fact that you were panicking/concerned/terrified about this says it all…. You’re an awesome mummy doing an amazing job! Your little girl is lucky to have you, don’t forget that! Xxx

p.s. If every kid who had an accident was taken away then every kid in the country would be in care, things happen but you are not a ***** mum! Stay strong & take care of yourself fellow mummy! Xxxx

How is there a netmums health visitor???? I’ve seen mine once in 6 months…. Single mum, first child, cried my eyes out on the one & only visit from mine, why isn’t there this support in real life & only online?? I’ve never felt more alone!

Please don't be too hard on yourself. We've all been there. When my son was 9 months old, I left him asleep on my double bed. He was never a crawler, and hadn't taken first steps. I heard giggling from my room, went into bedroom to find him standing up on the bed holding onto the wall. He then proceeded to walk across the bed laughing. 😂. Could very easily have fallen off. He's 27 now.

Oh honey, please stop beating yourself up about this. Find me a Mom anywhere that hasn’t had an incident that wasn’t their fault but has still made them feel like the worst parent ever regardless.

I’m a Paediatric nurse, and let me tell you, bumps and lumps due to babies doing the unexpected in lightning quick fashion is a very regular occurrence. I’ve even had babies in that have rolled from the centre of a king sized bed at just a couple of weeks old. They shouldn’t be able to move them selves that far right? Well, they can and they do!

It is protocol that any ‘head injuries’ (I use this term to mean anything from the smallest bump) in a child under 1 year of age are always passed on to the child’s Health a visitor. This is not a reflection on you as a parent or because we think that the child is at risk from harm. It is merely a safety precaution. You will most likely get a call from your HV, he/she may even arrange to do a quick home visit, but please trust me when I say that it isn’t about judging you and it most certainly isn’t about removing your baby from your care! This should have been explained to you fully by your GP so that you were completely aware of why it was being done and the likely outcome, and I feel this was an oversight on his part.

As I said, we have all been where you are for one reason or another and I’m so sorry that you weren’t fully informed and explained to in order to alleviate any fears and to prevent you from panicking.

Everything you did was right. You checked baby over immediately, you observed her closely for any untoward signs and symptoms of a head injury, you telephoned 111 and followed their advice, and ultimately you visited your GP anyway to make doubly sure all was okay.

Your baby is fit and well, no harm has occurred, and she is safe. Let both the fear and the guilt go. Being a parent is a huge learning curve that never flattens out. I’m still learning and my eldest is 28! Unfortunately, some of these lessons are learned in more difficult ways than others but all that matters is that we have learned said lesson. We all make mistakes, and we will all continue to do so.

Take a deep breath, make yourself a cuppa, and then enjoy having big snuggles and spending time with your little one.

you got this Mamma. X

i’ve had 5 kids and everyone has rolled off something i don’t know a single kid that hasn’t don’t beat yourself up about it honestly.

Try not to worry - i think they are just covering themselves and being over cautious. It's happened to to best of us, my baby fell off the bed when she was 6 months old. At most I think they will just want to offer you some support. X