Your child had a fall or bump or blow to the head and has a mild head injury. They may have a small bump, bruise, or swelling on the scalp.

Most children with a mild head injury recover fully within a few days. Watch your child closely over the next few days for any symptoms such as feeling sick to the stomach, vomiting, headache, dizziness, or changes in behavior since these can be signs of a more serious head injury.

• If your child has a bump on their head you can put ice wrapped in a cloth on the bump for 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times a day. Don't put ice directly on the skin.
• Your child can eat their usual diet. If they vomit, give them clear liquids (such as water or broth) and call your healthcare provider.
• Let your child rest as needed. If your healthcare provider tells you to check your child while they are sleeping:
  • Go to your child every few hours.
  • Touch them gently and make sure they wake up enough to respond to you (open eyes, move, or say something).
  • Make sure that their breathing and skin color look normal.
• Check with your healthcare provider:
  • If it’s OK to give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) for pain. Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often.
  • Before giving your child any other medicines
  • If it’s OK for your child to do all of their usual activities, including driving a car
  • When to follow up

Your child:

• Is very cranky
• Has changes in eating or sleep patterns
• Has a headache or feels dizzy
• Feels sick to their stomach or vomits
• Isn’t acting like themselves or responding to you in their usual way

You know your child best. If something doesn’t feel right or they have symptoms that bother you, call your healthcare provider or take your child to the ER.

Your child:

• Is hard to wake up
• Vomits again and again
• Has a seizure (unusual jerking movements)
• Has a very bad or worsening headache
• Isn't speaking or walking as usual

Does a bump on the scalp (called a “goose egg”) mean that there is swelling of the brain? No, a bump or swelling of the scalp does not mean there is any swelling of the brain. The skull bone separates the scalp from the brain and protects it from injury. The bump should slowly improve over a few days.

Does my child have a concussion (brain injury)? At this time, your healthcare provider does not feel that your child has a concussion. Symptoms of a concussion might happen right after the head injury or develop over hours to days later. They can include:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Vision changes
• Feeling sick to the stomach and/or vomiting
• Trouble walking and talking
• Feeling sluggish

Call your healthcare provider if your child has any of these symptoms.

How can I prevent head injuries in kids and teens? Here are some important ways to help keep your child safe:

• Make sure your child wears a properly fitting helmet for riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard; playing sports; and skiing.
• Talk to coaches to make sure that all teams your kids play on have rules to lower the risk of head injuries such as limits on tackling (football) or heading the ball (soccer). Also make sure that the coach will take your child out of play if a head injury happens.
• Always use the right booster seat or seatbelt for your child’s age and size.
• Choose playgrounds with soft surfaces like mulch or rubber.