Originally published on March 22, 2026. Updated on July 18, 2026.
Few sounds make a caregiver’s heart race quite like hearing a child fall.
Your baby may have rolled from the couch. Your toddler may have run into the corner of a table. Your older child may have fallen from playground equipment or collided with someone during a sport.
In those first few moments, it can be difficult to know what to look for or what to do next.
The reassuring news is that most childhood head injuries are minor. Still, how the injury happened, your child’s age and how they behave afterward all matter. The goal is not to diagnose a head injury yourself. It is to recognize the signs that tell you your child needs emergency help, an urgent medical assessment or careful monitoring at home.
The Canadian Paediatric Society notes that careful assessment is still important because a child’s age, symptoms and the way the injury happened all affect the level of concern.
This article provides general educational information and does not replace an assessment from a qualified healthcare professional. Call 911 when your child has emergency symptoms or whenever you believe their condition may be life-threatening.
Start Here: What to Do Immediately After a Head Injury
Take a breath and approach your child calmly.
Stop the activity
Do not allow your child to continue climbing, playing or participating in sports until you have assessed them.
Check whether they are awake and breathing normally
Call 911 immediately if your child is unconscious, cannot be woken, is not responding normally or is having difficulty breathing.
Begin first aid or CPR if needed and follow the instructions provided by the emergency dispatcher.
Avoid unnecessary movement if you suspect a neck or spine injury
A significant fall, collision or impact can sometimes injure the neck or spine as well as the head.
If your child has severe neck pain, weakness, numbness or difficulty moving, encourage them to remain still and call 911. Do not move them unless they are in immediate danger or movement is necessary to manage their airway.
Look at the whole child
Ask yourself:
Are they looking at me and responding normally?
Are they moving both sides of their body?
Can they stand or walk normally, if they usually walk?
Are they speaking, crying or interacting in their usual way?
Do they seem confused, unusually quiet or increasingly sleepy?
Is there bleeding, swelling or another visible injury?
Stay with your child and continue watching for changes.
Remember what happened
Healthcare professionals may ask:
What time did the injury occur?
How far did your child fall?
What surface did they land on?
Which part of their head or body hit first?
Was the injury witnessed?
Did they lose consciousness, vomit or have a seizure?
Have their symptoms improved, stayed the same or worsened?
You do not need perfect measurements. Share what you saw as clearly as you can.
Call 911 Now If Your Child:
Is unconscious or cannot be woken.
Has a seizure after the injury.
Is having difficulty breathing.
Becomes increasingly confused, agitated or unresponsive.
Develops weakness, numbness or difficulty moving an arm or leg.
Cannot stand or walk normally.
Has severe neck pain or you suspect a serious neck or spine injury.
Has a rapidly worsening condition or appears critically unwell.
Do not leave your child alone while waiting for emergency help.
SickKids’ AboutKidsHealth recommends emergency assessment when a child shows signs of a more serious brain injury, including repeated vomiting, a worsening headache, confusion, difficulty walking, weakness or seizures.
Seek Urgent Medical Assessment If Your Child:
Vomits repeatedly.
Develops a severe or worsening headache.
Becomes increasingly sleepy or behaves very differently from normal.
Has blurred or double vision, unequal pupils or another sudden vision change.
Has blood or clear fluid coming from an ear or the nose after a significant injury.
Has a dent, soft area or possible fracture in the skull.
Has a large or unusual scalp swelling, particularly if they are an infant.
Lost consciousness, even briefly.
Has a bleeding disorder or takes blood-thinning medication.
Was involved in a high-force injury, including a motor vehicle collision, being struck by a vehicle or a significant fall.
Has symptoms that are not improving or are becoming more noticeable.
A fall greater than approximately 90 centimetres, or about twice the child’s height or length, is one factor healthcare professionals may consider. The surface, force, child’s age and symptoms also matter. A lower fall is not automatically harmless, and a higher fall does not automatically mean a serious brain injury occurred.
When symptoms are significant but your child is awake and stable, go to the nearest emergency department or follow instructions from your provincial health advice line. Call 911 if your child deteriorates, cannot be transported safely or develops emergency warning signs.
Babies and Young Toddlers Need a Closer Look
Babies and young children cannot always tell us that their head hurts or that they feel dizzy.
Instead, watch for:
Unusual or persistent irritability.
A high-pitched cry or difficulty settling.
Reduced interest in feeding or nursing.
Vomiting.
Moving more slowly or seeming unsteady.
Sleeping much more or less than usual.
Loss of a recently learned skill.
Less interest in toys, play or interaction.
Behaviour that feels noticeably different from normal.
Assessment can be more challenging in children younger than two, particularly infants, so it is appropriate to have a lower threshold for contacting your healthcare provider, calling 811 or seeking an in-person assessment.
Parachute Canada explains that young children may show concussion symptoms through changes in behaviour, feeding, sleep, play or recently learned skills rather than being able to describe a headache or dizziness.
When Monitoring at Home May Be Appropriate
Home monitoring may be reasonable when:
The injury involved a minor bump or fall.
Your child remained awake.
They are breathing normally.
They are moving and interacting normally.
They have no concerning symptoms.
Their behaviour is returning to normal.
A healthcare professional or provincial health advice line has confirmed that home monitoring is appropriate when you were unsure.
Continue watching your child closely for the next 24 to 48 hours because concussion symptoms can change or become more noticeable after the initial injury.
Watch for changes in:
Alertness and behaviour.
Walking, balance and coordination.
Speech and communication.
Feeding, appetite or interest in drinking.
Headache or signs of head pain.
Nausea or vomiting.
Vision.
Sleep patterns.
Interest in normal activities.
Seek medical advice if a new symptom appears, a symptom worsens or your child is not gradually returning toward their normal self.
Why Can a Head Bump Look So Large?
The scalp has a rich blood supply. After a bump, blood and fluid can collect beneath the skin and create a noticeable “goose egg.”
The size of the swelling does not tell us by itself whether the brain has been injured. Healthcare professionals consider the swelling together with the child’s age, the location of the swelling, the way the injury occurred and the symptoms that followed.
You can apply a cool compress wrapped in a thin cloth for approximately 10 to 20 minutes at a time if your child will tolerate it. Never place ice directly against their skin.
Does Crying Mean My Child Is Okay?
Children may cry after a fall because they are frightened, surprised, embarrassed, in pain or looking for comfort.
Crying immediately tells us that your child was awake and responding at that moment. It does not rule out a concussion or another injury.
Comfort your child and allow them time to settle. Then continue watching how they move, communicate and behave.
Your calm voice and presence can help your child feel safe while you complete your assessment.
Can My Child Sleep After a Head Injury?
In many cases, yes.
Sleep does not make a minor head injury or concussion worse. Rest is an important part of recovery.
A child who has been appropriately assessed and is safe to recover at home does not usually need to be kept awake or routinely woken throughout the night. Follow any specific instructions given by the healthcare professional who assessed your child.
Before allowing your child to sleep, make sure they are responding normally and do not have symptoms that require urgent medical attention.
Call 911 if your child is unusually difficult to wake, cannot be woken or has a significant change in responsiveness.
When a child has not been medically assessed and has symptoms such as vomiting, confusion, worsening headache or unusual drowsiness, seek medical advice rather than assuming they simply need sleep.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head, neck or body that temporarily changes how the brain functions.
A concussion can happen without a direct hit to the head, and most children with concussions do not lose consciousness.
Symptoms may include:
Headache or pressure in the head.
Dizziness.
Nausea or vomiting.
Balance or coordination difficulties.
Blurred vision.
Sensitivity to light or sound.
Difficulty concentrating or remembering.
Feeling foggy or slowed down.
Fatigue.
Irritability, sadness or other mood changes.
Changes in sleep.
Symptoms may begin immediately or develop later.
What to Do If You Suspect a Concussion
Remove your child from the activity immediately. Current Canadian paediatric guidance recommends 24 to 48 hours of relative rest, followed by a gradual increase in physical, cognitive and social activity that does not significantly worsen symptoms.
A child with a suspected concussion should not return to sport or another higher-risk activity on the same day. They should receive a medical assessment as soon as possible.
After a concussion, current guidance generally recommends:
Relative rest for the first 24 to 48 hours. Reduce activities that significantly worsen symptoms, but complete isolation, prolonged bed rest and avoiding all normal activity are not recommended.
A gradual return to everyday activities and school. Your child does not need to be completely symptom-free before beginning a supported return to learning.
A staged return to physical activity and sport. Higher-risk activities must wait until your child has progressed through the appropriate steps and received any required medical clearance.
Ongoing follow-up when symptoms persist. Contact your healthcare provider when symptoms are not improving, interfere significantly with daily life or continue longer than expected.
Common Falls Caregivers Worry About
My baby rolled off the bed or couch
These falls are common, but the appropriate response depends on your baby’s age, the height of the fall, the surface, the part of the body that landed first and how your baby behaves afterward.
Monitor feeding, movement, alertness and behaviour. Contact your healthcare provider or provincial health advice line when you are uncertain, particularly for a young infant or when symptoms appear.
My toddler hit their head on the edge of a table
These bumps often cause bruising or scalp swelling.
Check for bleeding, apply a wrapped cool compress and observe your toddler’s movement, speech, balance and behaviour. Seek care if concerning symptoms appear.
My child fell down the stairs
A fall down the stairs can involve repeated impacts and may be more difficult to assess than a simple fall from standing height.
Consider the number of stairs, the surface, whether your child landed on their head or neck and how they are behaving. Contact a healthcare professional or 811 when you are uncertain.
My child hit their head during sports
Remove them from the activity immediately.
Do not allow a child with possible concussion symptoms to return to the game or practice that day. Arrange a medical assessment and continue monitoring for delayed symptoms.
Helping Prevent Serious Head Injuries
We cannot prevent every tumble, nor should children be discouraged from moving, climbing and developing new skills.
We can reduce the likelihood of more serious injuries by:
Using the correct car seat or booster seat for every trip.
Using properly fitted, certified helmets for cycling, scootering, skating, skiing and other activities where helmets are recommended.
Remembering that helmets help prevent serious head and skull injuries but cannot prevent every concussion.
Anchoring dressers, bookshelves and televisions.
Installing appropriate safety gates near stairs.
Choosing playgrounds with well-maintained equipment and impact-absorbing surfaces.
Keeping young children within appropriate reach and supervision.
Creating age-appropriate opportunities for active and adventurous play.
The goal is not to remove every risk. It is to remove preventable hazards while giving children safe opportunities to learn and explore.
Key Takeaways
✔️ Most childhood head injuries are minor, but a child’s symptoms and behaviour matter more than the appearance of the bump alone.
✔️ Call 911 for unconsciousness, seizures, breathing problems, severe neurological changes or suspected serious neck or spine injuries.
✔️ Seek urgent assessment for repeated vomiting, worsening headache, increasing drowsiness, vision changes or other concerning symptoms.
✔️ Babies and toddlers may show concussion symptoms through changes in feeding, behaviour, movement or recently learned skills.
✔️ Sleep is generally safe after an assessed minor head injury. Being difficult to wake is not.
✔️ A child with a suspected concussion should stop the activity, receive a medical assessment and return to school and sport gradually.
✔️ When something does not feel right, contact your healthcare provider, provincial health advice line or emergency services.
Continue Learning
Continue building your family’s safety toolkit with these trusted resources from Bump + Baby Matters.
Infant & Child CPR + Choking Classes
Falls from Beds, Couches, and Tables: The Everyday Accidents
Risky Play for Children: Benefits, Examples, and How to Support It Safely
Anchoring Furniture to Prevent Tip-Overs
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