Hand Bruise (Child)

Home care

Follow these guidelines when caring for your child at home:

• Your child’s healthcare provider may prescribe medicines for pain and inflammation. Follow all instructions for giving these to your child.

• Have your child rest the hand. You may need to restrict their activities for a few days.

• Raise (elevate) your child's hand to help ease swelling.

  • For children 1 year and older: When sitting or lying down, have your child raise the hand above the level of their heart as often as possible. Pillows can be used to elevate their bruised hand.  

  • For babies younger than 12 months: A baby who's awake and observed can be placed on their noninjured side with the bruised hand elevated. If your baby falls asleep, move them to a flat, firm surface. Never use pillows for sleep or put your baby to sleep on their stomach or side. Babies younger than 12 months should sleep on a flat surface on their back. Don't use car seats, strollers, swings, baby carriers, or baby slings for sleep. If your baby falls asleep in one of these, move them to a flat, firm surface as soon as you can.

• Use cold to help reduce swelling and pain. For babies and toddlers, wet a clean cloth with cold water, then wring it out. For older children, use a cold pack. Or make an ice pack by putting ice cubes in a plastic bag that seats at the top. Wrap the bag in a thin, dry cloth.  Apply the cold source to the bruised area for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat this a few times a day while your child is awake. Do this for 1 or 2 days, or as instructed.

• When the swelling has gone away, start using warm compresses. This is a clean cloth that’s damp with warm water. Apply this to the area for 10 minutes, a few times a day. Always check the cloth temperature on your arm first. This is to prevent scalding or burns.

• If your child was given a wrap, follow instructions for how to use it and when to remove it.

• Follow any other instructions you were given.

• Keep in mind that bruising may take a few weeks to go away.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your child’s healthcare provider as advised.

Special note to parents

Healthcare providers are trained to see injuries such as this in young children as a sign of possible abuse. You may be asked questions about how your child was injured. Providers are required by law to ask you these questions. This is done to protect your child. Please try to be patient.

When to get medical advice

Call your child's healthcare provider right away if your child has any of these:

• Bruising that gets worse

• Pain or swelling that doesn't get better or that gets worse

• Numbness or tingling in the injured hand

• The injured hand feels cold or looks very pale