After a Hospital Stay for Head Injury: How to Care for Your Child

While your child was in the hospital, the health care team may have given intravenous (IV) fluids and pain medicines. After a head injury, kids and teens can vomit, feel sick to the stomach, or have dizziness. This usually lasts a short time and kids feel better quickly. Your child may have swelling around the injured area because of some bleeding under the skin. At home, continue to check your child for any new symptoms.

• For swelling of the scalp, apply an ice pack or instant cold pack (wrapped in a washcloth or sock) to the injured area for 15–20 minutes every 3–4 hours during the next 24 hours when your child is awake.

• If your child has a headache, pain medicine may help:

  • You can give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand) for pain if your health care provider says it's OK. Do not give ibuprofen (such as Advil® or Motrin®) unless the health care provider tells you it's OK.

• Offer your child a normal diet.

• If your child has a cut on the head, follow the instructions for washing your child's hair and/or changing the bandages.

• Make follow-up appointments as recommended by the health care team.

Your child:

• becomes very sleepy

• complains of dizziness

• becomes restless or confused

• complains of head or neck pain and stiffness

• vomits more than once

Your child:

• develops a severe or worsening headache

• isn't speaking clearly

• is stumbling or not walking normally

If your child is hard to wake up, passes out, or has a seizure, call 911.

How can we help protect our child from head injuries? One of the most important ways you can help prevent your child from getting a head injury is by reinforcing the use of helmets at all times. This includes when your child plays sports, rides a bike, or is roller skating, skateboarding, or skiing.

Only buy helmets that meet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards. As your child grows, make sure to check the fit of the helmet.

What can we do for our child at home? At home, make sure your child takes it easy and rests when needed. Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Wait until the health care provider says it's OK before your child returns to rough play or sports.