“Help, I hurt the baby!”
Imagine this…
It’s your first solo trip to the park with your toddler and infant since the baby was born. You’re proud to have made it here after a sleepless night and chaotic morning with your two little ones. You’re sweating under the hot sun when you decide to take a break from baby-wearing and place the baby safely in their seat while your toddler is playing happily in the sandbox. You have one calm moment before your toddler takes off without warning towards the other side of the park. Without thinking, you grab the infant’s seat and follow behind them. It’s in that moment that you realize, you never strapped the baby into their seat and they’ve now slid forward, lightly bumping their forehead on the plastic handle.
You lure your toddler back into the stroller and soothe your crying infant all while your heart is racing and panic is setting in. Both the toddler and baby seem relatively unimpacted by this event, but you can’t shake the terrible feeling. You call your friend who works with infants and you know won’t judge you, the only words you can get out are “HELP! I HURT THE BABY!”
I have received dozens of these phone calls over my years as a doula, infant-toddler teacher, nanny, and speech-language pathologist. The most common calls involve concerns around minor bumps on the head, such as the example above or the frequent “I bumped my baby’s head on the door frame”.
These concerns are valid as you know babies have delicate skulls and developing nervous systems; but they are also more resilient to these minor mishaps than we often fear.
That’s why I’ve developed the RoCo method for responding to minor incidents.. Think SOOTHE
S - Stay Still: Take a deep breath. Your baby mirrors your nervous system. If you remain grounded, it helps them calm down, too.
O - Observe the “Ouch”: Is there a bump or a scrape? For minor bumps, the general guideline is: if they cry immediately and then settle down with a cuddle, that’s usually a good sign.
O - Offer Comfort: Physical closeness is a powerful pain reliever for newborns; use skin-to-skin, nursing session, pacifier.. whatever typically calms your baby.
T - Treat the Area: Clean scratches with warm water and apply a thin layer of an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly such as Aquaphor. Use a cool, damp cloth on minor bumps.
H - Hour of Monitoring: Keep a close eye on them for the next hour. Are they eating normally? Moving all their limbs? Making the sounds they typically do? If they go back to their “usual self” you’re likely in the clear.
E - Email/Call the Pediatrician: If you’re still not feeling settled, send your pediatrician a quick message - that’s what they're there for!
So, next time you have a minor mishap, think SOOTHE. Also remember to be gentle with yourself, it’s your first time living too.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this blog should not be taken as medical advice. If you are ever concerned about your baby’s health or safety please seek medical attention immediately. Always trust your gut and seek immediate medical attention if you notice loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, or bulging fontanelle (soft spot).
