Head injuries in children

Head injuries in children

Following a head injury, your child should be kept under observation for the next 24 hours.  If you are concerned that they are developing a problem, please seek advice from any of  the following:

• Your General Practitioner (GP)
• The Emergency Department

When your child is sleeping you should check them before you go to bed to ensure:

• They are breathing normally
• They are sleeping in a normal posture
• They make the expected response when you rouse them gently, (for example, pulling up sheets, cuddling teddy bear)

Some extra advice to help your child get well:

• DO ensure your child gets plenty of rest and avoids noisy, boisterous play.
• DO NOT give your child any tranquilisers, sedatives or sleeping tablets unless prescribed by a doctor who knows your child has had a head injury.
• DO NOT allow your child to play any contact sports (for example, football) for at least three weeks without talking to your GP first.
• DO NOT allow your child to operate machinery whilst experiencing any of the above symptoms.

Things you shouldn’t worry about:

Your child may feel some other symptoms over the next few days which should disappear in the next two weeks.

These include:

• Mild headache
• Feeling sick (without vomiting)
• Dizziness
• Irritability or bad temper
• Problems concentrating or problems sleeping

If you feel concerned about any of these symptoms, or they do not go away after two weeks, you should take your child to see your GP.

If you need this information in another language or format, please e-mail:

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