Baby and adult hands

Babies and toddlers – bumps to the head

Infants and young children often bump their heads – spot the signs and symptoms for this age group.

This advice is not designed to replace a clinical assessment by a doctor or other health professional.  If your baby or toddler has sustained a head injury and you think they may have a concussion and you have not already sought a medical review, please contact your GP or 111, or in an emergency dial 999.

On this page: 

Signs and symptoms

What happens if there is another head injury?

A concussion can happen at any age. Accidents can happen and as babies and toddlers learn to crawl, walk, run and play a little more roughly with toys, it is quite common for them to have a few bumps to the head. Babies and toddlers are at an age where they don’t fully understand the concept of risk or danger.  

When we hear the word concussion, sports injuries may come to mind. However, concussion can result from many kinds of accidents.

Common causes in babies and toddlers include: 

•    falls from beds  
•    bumping into something or being hit by something  
•    being dropped from a carer’s arms.  

It can be more difficult to spot signs of concussion in babies and younger children as they may not be able to tell you how they feel. 

I just turned around to get a nappy and some wipes and when I turned back my baby was slipping off the bed. It happened so quickly, in slow motion, but I couldn’t do anything. Although he soon settled, I took him to A&E just to make sure. He was absolutely fine but I spent the rest of the day paranoid and inspecting him for injury."

Signs and symptoms  

Some of these symptoms may not be relevant as children develop skills at different ages, but keep an eye on the symptoms that do apply, looking for any unusual changes.

When to go back to the hospital Emergency Department or call 999

Go back to the hospital Emergency Department or call 999 if your baby/toddler develops any of these symptoms:

  • Unconsciousness or reduced consciousness (struggling to keep eyes open or stay awake)
  • Difficulty waking them up
  • Loss of balance or problems walking (if previously able to walk)
  • Problems with understanding or speaking (dependent on age)
  • Weakness in arms or legs
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures (also called convulsions or fits)
  • Blood or fluid from ears, mouth or nose
  • Bruise, swelling or laceration of more than 5cm on the head (in babies under 1 year old)

Call 111 or visit A&E if you think a baby or toddler has had a significant injury to the head or they are showing symptoms listed.

Symptoms that are not usually concerning:

You may notice some of these symptoms over the next few days, and they are not normally anything to worry about. Some of these symptoms may not be relevant as babies and toddlers develop skills at different ages. However, keep an eye on the symptoms that do apply, looking for any unusual changes.

    Contact your GP or 111 if any of these symptoms continue for more than two weeks, or if you are concerned about any of these symptoms in the first few days after the head injury:

  • Feeling sick (but not being sick)
  • Dizziness – may present as unsteadiness or difficulties with balance 
  • More tired than normal
  • Changes in feeding or reduced appetite
  • Irritability or more difficult to console 
  • Changes in sleep pattern
  • Headaches – may present as baby/toddler rubbing their head
  • Reduced interest in people or objects

For the first 24 hours, only let your child play quietly with low activity. This means no running, fast action, rough play, or play that includes quick starts and stops or jarring motions.

Call 111 or visit your local Emergency Department if you think your baby or toddler has sustained a significant head injury or you are concerned and feel they need urgent medical attention. 

How you can help your baby/toddler's recovery

Make sure they are supervised by an adult for at least 24 hours after the injury and inform any other caregivers about the concussion, such as nursery staff or grandparents. 

Give your child plenty of time to rest and only do activities that don’t make their symptoms worse.  

Try to provide a calm and quiet environment, limiting the amount of screen time, music, noise, and movement around them.

Pain relief, such as Calpol, can be used to treat a headache in the first few days after the injury.  

Gradually return to normal activities, but if symptoms get worse, reduce activity to a level that was manageable.  

What happens if there is another head injury?  

The risk of sustaining a concussion is four times greater in children with a previous concussion compared with those with no history of concussion. A repeat concussion can lead to more severe signs and symptoms, a longer recovery time, and the child's movements and actions may be reduced.

If your child has a second head injury seek urgent medical attention and make sure you mention previous head injuries.

Seek Medical Advice

If your child has a head injury we recommend seeking medical advice as soon as possible after the injury (call 111, your GP or in an emergency 999).

Explore our site

Bumps happen

Explore our Bumps Happen information

Most head injuries are not serious but bumps do happen. Find your way around our information - we share the signs to look out for, and steps to take, in case your child has had a concussion.

Amelia

Contact our specialists

Looking for further advice and support? If your child’s symptoms persist longer than six weeks and you would like support from one of our specialists, contact our virtual ABI team.