Preventing Accidental Falls in Children

Accidental falls can result in serious injuries — from skull fractures, brain bleeds and facial fractures — to broken extremity bones. From 2021 to 2023, Le Bonheur treated 1,797 children injured from an accidental fall. Many of these children were left unattended and fell from stairs, jungle gyms, grocery carts, dressers, tables or countertops.

Le Bonheur’s Trauma Program Director Anissa Revels, MSN, RN has some tips to help prevent accidental falls:

• Never leave a baby or toddler unattended
• Put protection gates around stairs and balconies
  • Avoid accordion-style gates because a child’s head could get caught in the gate.
  • Look for a gate with openings no bigger than 2.3 in. (5.8 cm.)
• Make sure windows have screens and are locked
• Appropriately strap children in shopping carts, high chairs and changing tables
• Do not leave a baby in a car seat, bumbo, bouncy device, etc. on top of countertops, dressers or tables for any period of time
• Remove hazards from your home that might cause a fall
• Don’t allow your child to climb on high furniture
• Install bed rail guards
  • Make sure openings in rails are small enough to prevent a child from getting trapped

Other falling hazards your child may encounter include:

• Playground equipment
• Trampolines
• Tricycles