When it comes to broken bones, babies are rather lucky, their bones are very pliable so in many cases what seems like a broken bone is just a bad sprain. If the suspected area only swells a little and the baby doesn’t seem like he’s in too much pain then you can treat the injury yourself. Just place an ice pack over the area for 20 minutes four times a day for two days.  If the swelling goes down and things seem to improve, then it is only a sprain, but if the area continues to swell up then you may have a break and should go see a doctor.  If you aren’t sure how bad the injury is then check with your doctor just in case.

If you suspect a break and these signs are present then your baby probably broke a bone:

• Swelling and bruising at the site of injury
• A snapping sound
• Stiffness
• Severe pain at one particular spot
• Tenderness at the site when touched
• Limbs that look “bent out of shape”
• Pain that gets worse when movement is involved
• And (in children that can walk and stand) inability or unwillingness to walk/stand.
• Limping

If your baby has suffered a serious break, for example the bone has pierced the skin or you fear neck, back, skull of pelvis breaks/injury then get them emergency medical help right away!  If the bone has pierced the skin then the baby has what is called an open fracture.  These are the worst kinds of breaks because of bleeding and the high risk on infection.

• Do not wash the wound, or touch it for any reason.
• Call 911 Immediately!!
• To lower the risk of infection, cover the area (gently) with a steril piece of gauze of a diaper.
• Do not give your baby anything to eat or drink!

If you think your baby has a broken bone, and it is not a serious break (skull, neck, back, pelvis) then you may administer the following aid before bringing them to an ER.

• Keep your baby as calm as possible to avoid them doing more damage to the injured area.
• Immobilize the area by making a makeshift splint.  This can be done using a ruler and a few strips of cloth, or other variations on that.  See the broken bones page for more in depth info on splints.
• Do not give your baby anything to eat or drink, as it may delay medical treatment.
• Never attempt to straighten the bone yourself, you will make the injury worse.

The following symptoms may indicate shock and/or internal bleeding.  If you see any of these, or any chest, head, or abdomen wounds call 911 and get to the nearest ER.

• Clammy of bluish skin
• An abnormal pulse (weak, rapid, or some other irregularity)
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Confusion or loss of consciousness
• Rapid or shallow breathing

If you can’t get help right away, you may give the child an over the counter pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.  You should also follow the ICES approach:

• ICE- decreases swelling and pain.  If you don’t have an ice pack, a bag of frozen veggies will do just fine.  (20 min, 4 times a day)
• COMPRESSION- decreases swelling.  After icing the injury, wrap the affected limb in an elastic or cloth bandage.  You want the bandage snug rather than tight, and should be able to fit one finger between the bandage and the skin.  Check the bandage frequently, if the injury continues to swell it could become uncomfortable. 
• ELEVATION- decreases pain and swelling.  If you can, raise the affected limb about 6 inches above the baby’s heart.  Place a pillow or folded blanket under the raised limb for comfort.
• SUPPORT- create a split, again ruler and cloth, or a large handkerchief to make a sling. This step is most important for occasions when a trip to the ER will take over two hours, and severe injuries.