You asked

My toddler is getting bumped and bruised a lot more these days. What can I do?

It’s a fact that as children become more independent, and more adventurous, they will have more minor spills and bruises. Unless the injury is serious, there’s not much you need to do, but here are a few ideas on how to deal with the tears that accompany little accidents.

Don’t point it out to your child. If he or she isn’t crying, don’t even mention the incident.
If your toddler has a minor fall or bump, and cries, pick him or her up, give them a hug, and then put them right back where they were. Most kids will happily continue with what they were doing, before the tears have even dried!

If your child has a minor cut, let him or her put their own plaster on it. That way, they feel involved and empowered, and they forget about the minor injury!

Distract your child. Whether it’s a song as you apply disinfectant, or counting while you apply an ice pack, giving your child something else to think about can be a great way to relieve the tension after a minor injury.

Keep a stock of child friendly first aid supplies – colourful plasters, or a ice pack in a kid friendly design will go a long way to taking the sting out of minor accidents.

If your child is in a little pain, paracetamol or ibuprofen will usually take the edge off, but if you’re at all concerned, or you notice your child behaving strangely, be sure to refer to your doctor.

More questions

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