Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Bumps and Bruises

By: Christine Cox (aka Choosy Mom)

Crawlers, scooters and walkers all have one thing in common – bumps and bruises. My toddler has experienced both! As little ones are trying out their new skills, they are bound to run into things, fall and scrape a knee, bruise an elbow or bump heads. As parents, it is our job to try to keep them safe from accidents as well as know what to do when they occur.

To help prevent children from getting hurt, there are some simple things we can do every day as
choosy parents. First is a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, dairy and protein to help strengthen our little ones so they can overcome their injury in the moment, and grow up to be healthy and strong. And even though children are “stretchy” and “extra bendy,” it is best to try to stretch before an afternoon on the playground. Have your child reach arms high to the sky and then touch their toes, or sit and stretch.

We should also make sure our children are wearing appropriate clothing and shoes for their activity. I know that I am amazed at how fast my toddler is growing, so it is a priority of mine to make sure that she is wearing clothing and shoes that fit her correctly, especially when we are going to be running around.

If your child should fall and get hurt, it is best for parents to stay calm. I am not a fan of blood. If I see blood, I get fainty, but I try and stay strong for my toddler so that she doesn’t get scared. I always let my little one know she is going to be OK. Kisses always make everything better, but so does a First Aid kit and Band-Aids.

If your toddler gets seriously injured, always contact 911 or head straight to the emergency room. Kisses can’t fix broken bones but they sure do help boo-boos!

For more tips on how to keep your children safe, visit the CDC’s website! And for directions on how to make a fun boo-boo buddy, click here!

About the Author: Christine Cox is the blog master for Choosy Kids. She has always had a passion for writing and is honored to contribute her work to this blog. Most of her writing inspiration comes from her daughter, Capri, who is fun-loving and full of energy. Click here to learn more about Christine.

37 comments :

  1. I have a fearless 9 month old son. The thought of him hurting himself is giving me anxiety. I couldn't imagine when he's walking. I'm in for a lot of bumps & bruises ahead.

    Young Love Mommy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just prepare yourself! Keep a First Aid kit in the car along with extra clothing and shoes. You and your little one will survive those minor bumps and bruises :)

      Delete
  2. The Boo Boo buddy brings back so many memories when my kiddos were younger:) They still need a Boo Boo Bunny he is just a tad bit bigger

    ReplyDelete
  3. I never even thought to have my kids stretch before playing. That is such a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very good post! I love how you said you get dainty at the sight of blood. I do too! We've had several injuries over the years with 4 and your tips are excellent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kids are bound to get hurt. It is just a matter of caring for the injury that is important. Kisses are good too!!!

      Delete
  5. My daughter is in the tail end of this phase, now shes into the climbing eek! Your right stay calm and have healthy bodies and they recover a lot faster!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Climbing is great exercise but super stressful for parents. Just stay near to catch her but let her explore her new talent :)

      Delete
  6. Great post. I am curious about what the "right" shoes are. I know a boy who is late to walk and falls down all the time. We were wondering if different shoes would help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi it's Christine: I always found shoes with harder soles and ankle support to work best. I had an early walker which made finding those things a little harder. Stride rite was a one stop shop for shoes for us plus they have the markers on the inside of the shoe so you know where their toes are. Good luck!!

      Delete
  7. Good tips! There's nothing worse than seeing your child hurt. Worst feeling for a parent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is almost a helpless feeling depending on the injury. Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  8. Hehehe I have a fearless 2 yr old! And of course she wakes up with a mysterious mark on her face this morning when she has her 2x2 class picture today.... Ahhhhh.... Lol
    ....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It never fails that they get a mark the day before or day of pictures!!! Good luck with those today :)

      Delete
  9. We have four almost 4 year-old children. It is impossible to prevent every bruise and scrape, but I agree that how I react to their injury has a big impact on them. We have encouraged them to 'dust themselves off' from the toddler age so that they do not become alarmed when they fall down. They realize that they can continue to play and enjoy themselves (and hugs and cuddles are provided when needed).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed that you can't let your kids be afraid of getting hurt. Dust it off is a great way to keep them playing.

      Delete
  10. I love the boo boo bunny. I still have my oldest daughters 1st boo boo bunny and it still comes in handy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thinking think they are handy until our kids move out...right? :)

      Delete
    2. Wow wow typos! *I'm thinking they...

      Delete
  11. With a house full of 3 active boys, we are full of bumps and bruises. My you,best has hemophilia so there's several extra layers added to keeping him safe. Its hard when they don't see danger the way we do and just wanna have fun. I do my part to keep them as bump free as possible while still letting them enjoy life, and then when we get boo boos, I kiss them and take care of them and we keep going! We've had a handful of really bad scary ones...but as much as I want to bubble wrap thwn all, I can't! So we do what we can and try to enjoy the ride! ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really wish we could bubble wrap the kids. No worries then!!! (Maybe just for trick-or-treat if not everyday?!?)

      Delete
  12. This is very true! no matter how many times my little ones get hurt, it never gets easier as a parent! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blood is blood in my book. It doesn't change and neither do my thoughts on it! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  13. Great advice. We try to stay calm unless it's a major fall or bump, which in return allows our kids to brush it off and say "I'm OK".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think teaching your kids to say they are OK is great! At least you'll know when they aren't ok :) thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  14. Nice post. My daughter is all over the place and bumping into almost everything. Stretching before playground fun is such a good idea. It makes so much difference. When I go for a run without stretching (that happens when I am totally lost in wonderland), my legs really hurt but stretching them before hand helps a lot. Thanks for sharing these good advice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stretching is great for all ages!! Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  15. I have kids who think they can do anything and won't get hurt, which most of the time is true.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah yes...the invincible kids!!!! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  16. Great tips! I have a three year old girl and bumps and bruises are a part of our daily lives. But I definitely try to protect her (from herself!) the best I can.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean! Half the time kids are just tripping over their own feet!!

      Delete
  17. As a toddler-boy-momma...great post!! I love this stage where kisses and homemade "boo boo spray" can fix almost anything. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Choosy's Blog Archive