The brain - the holy of holies of the body - seems to be firmly protected by the bones of the skull. But it is the cranium that most often causes brain damage during trauma. As you know, between the bones of the skull and the brain there are meninges and a special liquid - cerebrospinal fluid, which additionally protects the brain. During a head impact, the brain continues to move by inertia, that is, it moves inside the cranium, sharply bumping into the bones of the skull. Liquor extinguishes this movement, but not always. And with a severe injury, if there is a fracture of the bones of the skull, fragments of bones can damage the brain. nine0005

Baby Skull is an even more fragile and vulnerable design. Children are much more likely to suffer brain injury from head impact than adults. Especially in the first year of life, when the bones of the skull have not yet fused and are easily displaced upon impact.

As adults, it is our duty to know where danger lies in store for a child. Falling to the floor from the changing table or falling out of the stroller is a "hobby" for babies. Older children master the world, testing it for strength with their own forehead. A young traveler does not even need sharp corners - he will literally fill a bump out of the blue. And it's good if a bump. And when the baby grows up and starts running, it is not known who grabs his head more often - a frightened mother to death or he himself. nine0005

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely protect a child from injuries. If your child rarely falls - are you trembling over him too much? According to the excellent pediatrician Benjamin Spock, "it will save his bones, but ruin his character."

How can you and I, if not protect the baby, then at least reduce the risk of head injury?

Babies up to a year old

Babies most often roll onto the floor from changing tables, so you need to swaddle your baby not on the table, but, for example, on the sofa. He is lower. Also, to cushion a possible fall, place a rug under the table or next to the sofa. nine0005

Three more simple tips:

• never take your eyes off your baby while swaddling;
• try to hold it with your hand;
• if you need to leave (for a bottle, or pick up the phone, or open the door), take the baby with you. Otherwise, he can at any moment roll over from his back to his stomach (it is better not to think about the consequences of such an acrobatic etude).

You have to watch the baby even when he lies quietly in his crib. However, lies - it's half the battle. As soon as he starts to sit down, keep your eyes peeled. If your fidget has already mastered the art of sitting, urgently get a low, stroller. And necessarily mobile, that is, one in which the child can sit and lie down. It is more difficult for him to get out of such a stroller, and it is safer to fall. nine0005

The kid has grown up

Special socks with "brakes" (these are rubberized inserts in the sole of the sock that reduce slipping) can protect the child from falling in the apartment. They are especially useful in an apartment with a parquet floor. Lay rugs in the places of the baby’s usual routes (but so that they lie tightly and do not slip on the floor). For the first time, wrap sharp corners of furniture, door jambs with some kind of dense matter. Remove chairs and other furniture from windows - this will keep an inquisitive little man from wanting to climb onto the windowsill or, scary to think, open the window. nine0005

But what if...

If an accident happens and the child falls and hits his head, the main thing is not to panic, not to find out who is to blame. All attention to the baby. Your task is to quickly find out how serious the injury is. How to do it?

The mildest injury - contusion of the soft tissues of the head (not to be confused with a contusion of the brain!). In this case, the brain does not suffer in any way. There may be a small abrasion or bump at the site of impact. The child, having sobbed for 10-20 minutes, calms down and behaves as usual. In this case, you can not consult a doctor. nine0005

At concussion of the brain everything is much more serious: there may be a short-term loss of consciousness, vomiting begins (in children under 3 months - repeated), the skin turns pale, cold sweat comes out. The child is lethargic, drowsy, refuses to eat; those who are older and capable of some information about themselves complain of headaches, tinnitus.

An even more severe injury - brain contusion. In this case, immediately after the injury, a long blackout of consciousness is possible (sometimes it is absent for more than an hour). In especially severe cases, respiratory and cardiac disorders occur. nine0005

In case of fracture of the skull , in addition to the general serious condition of the child, there may be an outflow of blood or a clear liquid (liquor) from the nose or ear, bruises form around the eyes (symptom of glasses). It is very important to know that with skull fractures, symptoms do not appear immediately, but several hours after the injury.

Therefore, rule number one - after a bruise (injury) to the head, you must super-attentively monitor the child's condition. Any doubt that "everything is in order" is a reason for immediate medical attention. If there are signs of concussion or brain injury, the doctor is called immediately. nine0005

What can be done

If there is no obvious damage to the bones of the skull, a cloth moistened with cold water or ice in a rag should be applied to the impact site. This will reduce pain, stop tissue swelling and bleeding.

Bleeding can also be stopped in this way - by applying a dense piece of dry matter (tampon) to the wound. If it becomes saturated with blood, put a second one on top of the first tampon. Attention! If bleeding continues after 15 minutes, call your doctor immediately.

After any head injury the child needs rest , but do not let him fall asleep for an hour otherwise you will not understand how bad his condition is. Wake up the baby at night. If he does not answer simple questions, or he has impaired coordination of movements, or vomiting is repeated, call a doctor urgently.

Pay attention to the pupils: their unequal size indicates severe brain damage. If you suspect a serious injury, and the baby fell asleep, do not wait until he wakes up: call a doctor. nine0005

If the child is knocked unconscious by a blow to the head and you have already called an ambulance, lay the child on its side so that the vomit does not get into the airways. If you suspect that, in addition to the brain, the spine has suffered (when falling from a height on the head or on the back), you must turn the child very carefully and so that the body and head are on the same axis: this will help avoid additional injury.

Still, the most important thing that is required of you if your child is injured is to remain calm. Too much depends on the adequacy of your reactions - the health of a small person depends. nine0005

Material provided by the magazine "Family Doctor"

Softness on the skull of a newborn, 8 (eight) letters

Crossword question

Answer for the clue "Softness on the skull of a newborn", 8 (eight) letters:
fontanel

Alternative questions in crossword puzzles for the word spring

Soft, non-ossified area of ​​the skull of a newborn

Spring springing from the ground

In English it is called “fontanelle” because it pulsates

(reduced) spring

French teacher. Nobel Peace Prize (1927, together with L. Kvidde)

Temechko baby

Definition of the word fontanel in dictionaries

Wikipedia The meaning of the word in the Wikipedia dictionary nine0035 Rodnichok is a village in the Balashovsky district of the Saratov region. The administrative center of the Rodnichkovskoye rural settlement.

Dictionary of medical terms The meaning of the word in the dictionary Dictionary of medical terms
non-ossified area of ​​the cranial vault.

New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova. nine0008 The meaning of the word in the dictionary New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova.
m. Soft, non-ossified part of the skull of a newborn. m. Decrease to noun: spring (1). Lask. to noun: spring (1).