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

The health care team carefully watched your child in the hospital. If your child wasn't able to drink enough or was vomiting, the health care team may have given intravenous (IV) fluids or special medicines. Your child is feeling better and eating and drinking, and can be cared for at home. Continue to check your child for any new symptoms.

• If your child still has swelling on the head, 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 is fussy or seems to have head discomfort, a medicine may help. Use these medicines exactly as directed:

  • acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand)

  • OR

  • ibuprofen (such as Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Don't give to babies under 6 months old.

• 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:

• won't stop crying or is very fussy

• becomes very sleepy

• becomes restless or seems confused

• seems to have head or neck pain that doesn't improve with pain medicine

• isn't moving the neck normally

• vomits

Your child:

• vomits more than once

• is speaking less clearly than normal

• is stumbling or not walking normally

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

Can my child go back to usual activities now? No, wait a week before you let your child go back to doing usual activities. Your child should avoid playground equipment, riding toys, or other play requiring balance or that could result in a fall for at least 1 week.

How can I help prevent head injuries? To help protect your child from head injuries:

• Use a child safety seat that is best for your child's age, weight, and height.

• Put a safety gate at the top and the bottom of stairs.

• Keep stairs free of clutter.

• Make sure that your child is not alone on a high surface like a bed or sofa.

• When using a high chair, strap your child in with the safety harness.