The Touch Test Every Parent Should Do After A Head Bump

Would you know when to get a head bump checked?Head bumps are inevitable with kids – but not all bumps are created equal. Tiny Hearts Education, which runs baby and child first aid courses, shared an insightful post on Instagram asking parents which type of head bump – a firm or soft one – they should worry about more. And the answer might surprise you. In the post, the first aid pros said a firm bump, like a hard-boiled egg, is “actually less concerning” because it typically means “blood is pooling outside the skull”. But a soft bump – which the experts liken to touching a mushy peach, avocado or “boggy mass” – can be a “red flag”, they added, as it could signal bleeding under the scalp and “can sometimes be linked to a skull fracture”.Writing in the caption, the health experts said: “If the bump feels soft and squishy, trust your gut and get it checked. It could be a sign of a more serious injury.”In response to the post, parents shared their own head bump horror stories. One recalled: “We had the soft bump and it was one of the scariest days of my life. Luckily there was no fracture, but the whole hospital was on their toes.”Another said: “My daughter tripped and fell and hit her head at daycare and it was the biggest goose egg I’ve ever seen. We took her to the paediatrician where they said ‘oh good it’s convex and hard! It’ll be ok!’”What does a GP think?Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, told HuffPost UK the distinction made in the post is “broadly accurate” and a “soft, boggy swelling following a head injury can sometimes indicate a more significant underlying injury, such as a haematoma, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like drowsiness, vomiting, confusion or a history of loss of consciousness”.“In contrast, a firm, well-defined ‘egg’ on the head is often a more superficial bruise and less concerning in isolation,” she said.But context is key. “Factors such as the mechanism of injury, age of the patient (especially in very young children or older adults), and associated symptoms are all important in determining the need for further assessment,” she said. When is it OK to just monitor the situation?“For minor bumps to the head, if the person is alert, behaving normally, and not showing signs of serious injury, simple home care is often sufficient,” said Dr Wylie.The NHS advises if a child cries immediately after a head injury and returns to their normal self in a short time, “they can be managed at home”.“They may be pale or quieter than normal for the first couple of hours after a head injury – this is normal,” said NHS Inform. Parents should observe their children closely for the next couple of days (including overnight), checking they respond normally.You should try to let your child rest and give them pain relief if they need it. Dr Wylie advises against using ibuprofen in the very early phase “if there’s any risk of bleeding”.It might also help to hold an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas), wrapped in a towel, to the area they’ve hit to bring down swelling. If you’re worried about your child or are unsure if you need to take them to hospital, call NHS 111.Red flag signs after a head injuryNHS UK and NHS Inform say any of the below would warrant a trip to A&E:your child is under 1 year old and has a bruise, swelling or cut that’s larger than 5cm on their headthey are confused or were ‘knocked out’ for any length of timethey vomited they have seizuresthey have a persistent or worsening headache that is not helped by painkillersthey have visual disturbancesthey are showing unusual behaviour – like being very irritable, crying or being easily distracted more than usualthey are unusually drowsythey have a blood clotting disorder or take medication to prevent blood clotsthey have memory loss they’ve previously had brain surgerythey have a large bruise or wound to the head or facethey have a black eyethey have bruising behind their earsthey have blood or clear fluid coming from their ears or nosethe injury wasn’t accidental – ie. someone else has hurt them on purpose.Dr Wylie concluded: “When in doubt, it’s always safer to err on the side of caution and consult a healthcare professional.”Related...I'm A Doctor – Don't Miss These Dehydration Red Flags In ChildrenDisabled Children And Families At 'Breaking Point' Over Lack Of SupportSigns Of Heatstroke In Children And Babies – And 4 Steps To Treat It

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