DD Fell and I Feel Terrible

MuckDiva

We were at my parent's tonight for dinner and nothing is baby proofed.  The house is a split level and DD was with me while I helped my mom clean up.  She and I were talking and I turned my back for a moment and DD feel down 3 steps.  I saw her laying at the bottom and screamed.  She was crying, no blood, and no cuts but her face is a bit red.  I was and still am a mess.  I never, never, never turn my back to her to the point of people teasing me.  DH was mad at me but has since calmed down.  DD was fine after I calmed her down and she ate her cookie but the vision of her at the bottom of the steps is haunting me still.  I keep weeping even though I know she is fine.  I'm not fine.  I was so scared.

All of this happened 10 mins after my sister announced that she is pg (her second) and she got all upset and had to leave the room.

I just feel like if I get it out on here then it will be cathartic and I can move on.

iteachk

((Hugs))

It really is okay.  I'm pretty sure she's already forgotten, and you should too. 

#1_BadgeBunny

something similar happened to DD.  it was before i had ever allowed her to climb the steps so i never thought she could climb them. one day we were in the kitchen and i did the same thing i turned to do something  and she was off and gone.  I thought she went into the dining room so i walked that way and i heard a thud and scream.  I also vomited the second i heard it.  She was in what i imagine the same position you LO was.  I gather she only fell 3 or so steps bc she was literally only gone for 2 seconds. 

I called DH and he yelled at me, but also calmed down.  I felt AWFUL for days.  I called my mom and she listened which helped but i felt sick for some time! DD was fine but like you i will never get that image or feeling out of my head. 

Be thankful it was only a few steps and she is fine.  Im not saying what happened was ok but it happens! I was at a friends today with the twins alone and nothing was baby proofed.  it was a nightmare.  I finally convinced them to block the stairs but its not easy.  we do the best we can. 

I hope knowing its not just you helps you move on?

a003vp

My DD fell down backwards on some cement steps and I just caught her at the bottom, she cried a bit but wanted to climb the steps again.. Why wasn't your DH or Grandpa watching DD? I don't think he has anything to be mad at since he wasn't help watching her (Like he should!).

Happy Christmas! 

erbear

My kid looks like she was on a prizefight. Seriously, she has fallen and hit her head at least four times since we've been here. She's fine and I'm sure yours is too. Toddlers fall.

dragon_chica

Your DH was seriously mad at you?  For what?  For being human?  I highly doubt he will go through this parenting journey keeping DD completely unscathed.  Every child has an accident here or there especially when they're early walkers.  Shiit, I was following DD around last night at my cousin's house and she still managed to slip and fall down one step and did a serious face plant.  Not once did DH get mad, yell, or blame it on me because he knows accidents happen.  And I was even watching her FFS!  You should NOT blame yourself or make yourself feel even more awful because you "got in trouble."  I think that's absolutely ridiculous that your DH got mad.  You should be upset at DH for reacting the way he did.  It's always unnerving when your child hurts themselves but unless you were clearly being negligent (which it doesn't sound like you were) then he has no right to take it out on you.  I hope he's not one to blame you for things that are out of your control.  Because you know this was out of your control.  You can't always be hovering and it's not healthy for you and DD to be a helicopter parent.

shellybell15

dragon_chica:

Your DH was seriously mad at you?  For what?  For being human?  I highly doubt he will go through this parenting journey keeping DD completely unscathed.  Every child has an accident here or there especially when they're early walkers.  Shiit, I was following DD around last night at my cousin's house and she still managed to slip and fall down one step and did a serious face plant.  Not once did DH get mad, yell, or blame it on me because he knows accidents happen.  And I was even watching her FFS!  You should NOT blame yourself or make yourself feel even more awful because you "got in trouble."  I think that's absolutely ridiculous that your DH got mad.  You should be upset at DH for reacting the way he did.  It's always unnerving when your child hurts themselves but unless you were clearly being negligent (which it doesn't sound like you were) then he has no right to take it out on you.  I hope he's not one to blame you for things that are out of your control.  Because you know this was out of your control.  You can't always be hovering and it's not healthy for you and DD to be a helicopter parent.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

2-Step

My DS fell down 5 stairs when I was standing directly behind him. I know exactly how you feel, I replay that moment in my head all the time. He was standing at the top of the stairs and I was about to pick him up to go down and he threw a ball down the stairs and tumbled after it, it happened so fast I couldn't catch him. He rolled down the stairs, bounced around and landed at the bottom and cried for about 1 minute max. I was horrified. Just seeing his little body bumping down those stairs, I felt like time stopped.Luckily our stairs are short and carpeted with really thick padding so it was a fairly soft landing.

I'm sure you DD will be just fine. I try to tell myself this stuff happens and will continue to happen all of thier/our lives. They'll fall off their bike and we'll kick ourselves for taking off the training wheels, they'll break their arm and we'll kick ourselves for letting them play on the jungle gym, even if we are standing right there behind them, sometimes they WILL fall. Every mother I know has a story somewhat like this. It sucks, but your DH should not be mad at you for it. It sounds like you are a great mom. You do your best to protect them, but things happen.

AtlJuneBride

It was icy here about a week ago and I slipped and fell down a flight of outside steps while holding DD.  We fell down at least 10 stairs and DD hit her head on a stair rail and got a huge knot.  She was okay but I was a mess.  I felt horrible!  I cried for a good 30 minutes afterwards, but DD only cried for a minute.  But, the good news is that she didn't even bruise and she's completely fine.  Once I told friends/co-workers what happened, it seems like ever parent has a story like that.  It's bound to happen, that's why kids are so resiliant.

Now, the fact that your DH got mad at you is completely unacceptable.   Your DD has 2 parents, and the fact that your DH wasn't supervising her is as much on him as you.  Plus, it's not that big of a deal and everyone is fine.  I am sure you feel worse than he could ever make you feel.  In that situation, he should really be consoling you, not yelling at you.  That was a jerk move on his part.

Echowysp

Don't feel bad.  Kids will fall, no matter how careful you are. 

CPJM

DD fell off a chair this evening, she was fine, cried for 30 seconds and then carried on with what she was doing.  I was right in front of her but couldn't get her in time.  Kids fall, you didn't do anything wrong - don't beat yourself up ok.

Glad your baby is ok