It’s a parent’s worst nightmare: their toddler has broken their arm. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Here is all the information you’ll need to handle this situation calmly and effectively. So, don’t panic and remember that the most important thing is to look after your child and do what’s best for them.
First-aid instructions
When your kid approaches you crying in pain because they’ve hurt themselves while playing, your first instinct might be to panic or become angry. But this isn’t going to help anyone so you must remain calm and composed.
If this happens, reassure your child that they’re going to be okay. Tell them everything is going to be fine and that you are there for them. If they seem particularly upset, try to distract them from the pain by playing a game or talking about something else.
However, if your child is older and able to understand you, explain to them the situation calmly and clearly. You can also show them their arm, or remove any clothing covering it for a better look if your child is particularly young and would get scared seeing their arm.
Next, assess the damage to your child’s arm. Are there any significant deformities, like an out-of-place limb? If there is any deformity, you’ll need to splint the arm with something rigid like a board, piece of wood, or rolled-up magazine. Then tie the splint with something sturdy like bandages. But if there is no deformity, you don’t need to splint the arm and can just apply a sling or a makeshift one with a shirt.
Keep your child calm
Unfortunately, broken bones are common injuries among children, especially toddlers who are just learning to walk. When they hurt themselves, you must handle the situation calmly and carefully so your child doesn’t get too stressed out about their injury.
If your kid is old enough to understand you, explain the situation calmly and clearly to them, so they don’t get any unnecessary or inaccurate ideas about their arm. If your child is too young to understand, you can distract them with games or toys, so they don’t focus on the fact that they hurt themselves.
Make sure your child is comfortable
If your toddler’s arm is broken, they’ll probably be in a lot of pain and discomfort. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to relieve their suffering. For instance, you can help keep their arm still by gently holding their hand against their chest. This will also make them feel safer and more protected.
You can also give your child over-the-counter pain relievers if they have a fever or are in too much pain to sleep. If their fever is high, you can give them acetaminophen (paracetamol). If they’re in too much pain to sleep, you can give them ibuprofen.
In the meantime, make sure that your child is comfortable and well-fed. If your little one’s usual food is too messy to eat with one arm, you can make them some soft, nutritious food that’s easy to eat. You can also give them a drink, so they don’t get dehydrated and tired from the pain.
Seek medical attention
After assessing the damage, you must bring your child to the urgent care center to have their arm looked at by a professional. There might be some serious damage that you won’t see, but the doctors will.
Sometimes, even if the damage doesn’t seem too severe, it’s still worth bringing your child to get an x-ray. This is because sometimes a bone can look like it’s back in place even if it’s still broken. So, if the arm seems to be moving fine, an x-ray can tell you if there are still any broken bones. And if the bone is broken but seems to be back in place, the doctor can put it back in the right place.
It’s also important that you take them to see a doctor even if their arm is fine and nothing seems to be wrong with it. Because other injuries can be caused by a fall or accident, like concussions and bone fractures in other areas of the body. So even if your kid seems to be perfectly fine, there might still be some damage that you can’t see and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
No matter how your child breaks their arm, it’s important to remain calm and provide them with the necessary support. This way, your kid won’t be scared or hurt any more than they have to. Plus, it’s important to assure them that you’re there to support them through this frightening experience.
