Today was one of those days that every parent fears. We had just gotten home from playing at the park and it was right before lunch time.
I was walking up our wood stairs carrying Harper (with her back to me) and I tripped and fell forward. I tried my hardest to protect her as we lunged forward, but it all happened so fast and her face hit the step.
I panicked. I felt the force of the fall and I knew it wasn’t good. I picked her up and immediately knew she had hit her mouth because the area between her nose and mouth was already red and then she started to bleed/cry and I was absolutely terrified.
We were able to stop the bleeding and I frantically placed a call to our dentist’s emergency line. I talked her through what happened and she instructed me on how to examine Harper’s mouth and teeth and what to look for (bleeding at the gums, loose teeth, etc). Harper was crying, screaming (rightfully so) and exhausted from playing at the park. We were able to look inside her mouth just long enough to check that no teeth were loose and that her gums weren’t injured or bleeding. Our dentist told us to give her some Tylenol and watch her closely.
It appeared that her teeth had cut the inside of her lip when she fell. She was so tired that we laid her on a blanket on the couch and I sat with her and watched her sleep. Her lip began to swell more and more and the area between her nose and lips was already starting the beginnings of what is sure to turn into a black and blue mess. My poor baby 🙁
To my total surprise, when she woke up about an hour later, she was smiling and acting totally normally, as if nothing had happened. Her lip was so swollen and her upper lip looked so battered, I couldn’t believe it. I gave her some yogurt and fruit to see if she would eat and she did.
She continued to act normally for the rest of the day/evening and we noticed that the swelling on the outside of her lip began to subside. The inside of her top lip is still pretty red and swollen (I will spare you the photos I texted to the dentist). The dentist told me that the bruises and swelling will likely take a couple of weeks to completely subside. She called me later in the day and texted with me which was so reassuring. Above and beyond for sure.
I’m so glad Harper is okay, but I have just been beating myself up about what happened. I know it was an accident, but I feel so terrible that a) it happened and b) how much worse it could have been. I just feel so awful that I caused her so much pain and discomfort.
I’m so glad that we saw a pediatric dentist about a month ago for Harper’s first check-up. I got a card in the mail from our insurance company right after Harper’s first birthday saying that I should make her a dental appointment. It seemed really early to do that, (because she only has like 8 teeth), but I asked around and was recommended a local practice.
We had such a fantastic experience there. Our first appointment was more about discussion and education- what is our current brushing routine? does she drink juice or eat candy, etc? It was more of a conversation about how to prevent cavities and how to brush correctly to encourage your child to develop a good oral hygiene routine.
After the initial talk with the dental hygienist, we went to meet the dentist and she actually looked at Harper’s teeth, did a very quick cleaning (as Harper screamed) and reiterated the importance of twice-daily brushing.
At the time, she also reminded me that she is on call 24/7 for dental emergencies. I remember her saying that and the moment I turned Harper around after we fell today and saw the blood coming out of her mouth, I knew who to call.
Anyway, I guess my point is that even if it seems silly to take a 1 or 2 year old to the dentist, it’s a good idea to have conversations about oral health early (and get tips on how to encourage kids to enjoy brushing—we’re still working on it). It’s also wonderful to have a pediatric dentist to call in the case of a dental emergency. Ours even offered to come into her office to see Harper tomorrow if things started to look worse. It saddens me to realize things could have been much worse— but it would have been incredible to have immediate access to a pediatric dentist to perform and exam and do x-rays, etc.
I’m still very shaken up by what happened and with time, I’ll have to forgive myself. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend…here’s to a better tommorow…
If you are local, I cannot more highly recommend Pinnacle Pediatric Dentistry. This isn’t a sponsored post, just a PSA that this can happen to anyone, no matter how careful you are and having access to a dentist for your child is very comforting when something like this happens.
I can't even tell you how glad I am you shared this!! I'm a hygienist in a pediatric office and it shocks me every day how any little ones have never been to the dentist! So glad you had a great experience and great doc! So glad your little miss is ok and healthy! My guy had a similar experience when learning to walk, good to know what to do!!
I don't think it was commonplace until more recently. I was shocked when we got the card from our insurance company, but they I remembered seeing some literature on taking your child to the dentist when they sprout their first tooth (which I thought was a little much personally). I was really happy with the education I recieved at the dentist's office. We really struggle with getting Harper to tolerate brushing, so the tips they provided were really good.
Aww! Poor girl! But what a trooper – still all smiles! I am personally so torn about the pediatric dentist thing. I was going to take K around her 1st birthday because some of my mom group friends did. But J asked some foremost dental experts (he uses them personally and for work as experts), and all the dentists in the office said don't do it. And that if we did, we'd just get charged for unnecessary preventative treatments. I asked another dentist, and she said she never took her daughter either or did any treatments. So seeing a comment like Brittany's puts some fear and mom guilt into the equation again…
xx Viv at JoieDeViv
Thanks for your comment 🙂 our pediatrician was on board with a dental visit and our insurance covered it so we felt we were making a good decision. Moreso, I really wanted to be part of an established practice so that I could have someone to call in the rare instance that something like this would happen. I LOVED going to the dentist as a kid (I still do, total weirdo) and I think starting kids young just fosters an understanding that dental care is important and also educates parents on proper brushing technique. Having said that, I think every parent should consult their pediatrician and see what they suggest and go with what feels best for your child 🙂 have a great weekend!
I took my daughter at 1 year, and it was more of a look to see if there are any abnormalities with teeth/gums and like Veronika said to get tips for brushing. I have 100% dental coverage, but even if I didn't I think I would take her, better to be aware of any potential problems and you could always refuse any preventative treatments if you think they are unnecessary. P.S. Glad your daughter is OK… and don't beat yourself up, this could happen to anyone!
It's always scary when things like that happen. It's especially hard with the first child. The more children you have you will know these things happen and kids are resilient and over it fast. Things that freaked me out with the first child don't make me blink with the others. 🙂 Sorry you had a bad day. You are right about having a pediatric dentist!
I'm so sorry this happened ,but grateful to hear it wasn't too bad. I can relate. When my son Cole was 3 he lost his balance and banged his front tooth on the coffee table at my parents house. He hit it so hard the tooth came right out. Thank god there was no damage to the surrounding area or cut lip, etc. It couldn't have been prevented and they took him right into the dentist. It broke my heart when I found out. I was just leaving work and when I saw him for the first time(after the appt) he greeted me with a big smile and news that the tooth fairy would be coming… It makes me sick to my stomach to think that his accident could have been worse. The table had round edges but is made if heavy wood. My parents felt a lot of guilt over it and the poor guy will be missing a tooth until the new one grows in. They did x rays to determine that the adult tooth was not damaged so that was a relief. I hope miss Harper heals up quickly. These things happen. Thanks for sharing.
I'm so sorry that happened! I felt sick reading it! Glad it wasn't more serious.
This happened when my little one was about Harper's age as well. Her lip looked just like that and I was so scared and guilty for it happening. All was well though. I actually just posted about our pediatric dentist experience and what we went through over on my blog!
I've been contemplating taking Ellie to the dentist. Now I feel the nessicity of it. I'm so sorry that Harper bumped her lip – Ellie fell on the wood floors in iur house and got a slight lip cut and she was not happy luckily all swelling and signs subsided after 2 hours and she was a happy girl. I will be checking around for a dentist in our area!
It is probably pretty hard to get through toddlerhood without a few cuts and bruises.
I'm so sorry this happened to Harper, but thank you for posting this. Just today, my husband was carrying our daughter up the stairs and he tripped and they both went down. She was facing him, so she hit the back of her head. I still feel sick thinking about it (though she seems totally fine). It's good to be reminded that accidents happen. Feel better, Harper!
Awww poor Harper and poor you! Please don't beat yourself up over this! It could happen to any of us. She still looks happy and you were great to call the dentist right away to get advice. My LO is 14 months and have been debating taking her to a dentist just yet but I think I will now…just to have that peace of mind if something were to happen.
I've been reading your blog for awhile but have never commented. I'm so sorry this happened. Something similar happened to me with my daughter when she was 2 but it was only over 1 step. Honestly, I feel once they start walking, it is better to just let them crawl/walk up the stairs with you behind them b/c 1) they can and it's good for them to do it anyway, 2) they are just too heavy to be carrying up the stairs, and 3) it's safer. Hope you and your daughter are feeling better.
Hi Karla! We do usually have Harper go up the stairs herself, but those are our carpeted stairs and she goes up them like a champ. This has definitely made me reconsider and just have her go up our wood stairs too. I also no longer wear shoes if I am carrying her up the stairs as I know my flip flops caused me to trip as they got caught in the step.
Thanks for responding! And I just wanted to add, you know there really is no "right" or "wrong" way to do things. There have been times and I'm sure many more times, where I'll be sitting right there and my daughter will miss a step or trip and fall – there is no way to prevent 100% of falls. No way… it will happen, right in front of your face and right next to you. So I know how you feel, you feel like you are punched in the gut but don't feel bad, these things happen. You look like you are a really good mom, keep up the good work. 🙂
Poor Harper and poor Mama!! I'm sorry you had to go through this. Thank you for sharing the pediatric dentist advice… it's been in the back of my mind for my 16 month old, but I've never done anything about it. I'm definitely going to ask my friends for recommendations in my area. Thanks!
So scary! Sorry that happened to you guys. It always sucks to be the one to accidentally injure your child. 🙁 Glad she is doing better and try not to beat yourself up about it. These things happen…
Very good info! We love our dentist!
So glad she's ok! What a horrible scare! I think that's just what we're in for in the toddler years though- Aubrey is constantly giving me heart palpitations, I think she scares me more than herself sometimes. We have wood stairs in our home and I've been trying to get her used to walking up and down them while holding my hand. She wants to hold the trailing but can't reach it well enough yet. Stairs are SO scary.
Poor Harper, Thank god she is not suffering from major pain. Such incidents may happen anywhere / anytime. So we have to take some precautions and be ready for it. We always carry number of children dentist newmarket, so it help us to get emergency appointment or other advise.
I had no idea that you're supposed to take your child to the dentist for cleanings and checkups at such an early age! It is definitely a good idea to get regular checkups not only to prevent issues like gum disease, but also to get your child in the habit of going to the dentist. Helping kids develop good teeth brushing habits is important so they stay happy and healthy.
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