I am writing this post as a warning to all parents. It doesn’t matter how old you are, how much money you earn, how many children you have or how safe you think your house is. If you put a hot drink anywhere that a baby could possibly reach, even if you think they can’t, you are putting your baby at risk.
This weekend was definitely one of our worst ever. Sunday I spent the evening first trying to cool down the scalded arm of my 11 month old. Then driving him to A&E screaming in his carseat. Followed by having to pin him down so the doctors and nurses could check him over and dress his wound.
Yes we have had our fair share of A&E visits, ambulance rides, kids with broken bits, skin needing stitches, concussions, dislocated joints even the odd nail in the foot and those days were awful too. But none of those things were our fault. Sunday evening was our fault.
We are always extra, extra careful with hot drinks and there was only a split second of misjudgement but that was enough for O to grab hold of my cup of tea, a freshly made one, and scald his hand and arm.
Even though O has never been able to reach back on the arm of our sofa my cup usually gets put on the table to cool a little just in case. This time my cup was right next to me on the arm, it had been there less than 30 seconds. Another few seconds and I would have realised and moved it. It was already too late. O grabbed at it and it tipped down over him.
As soon as I heard his scream I went into First Aider auto pilot mode.
I grabbed him, ran to the kitchen and ran the cold tap over his arm to cool his pyjamas and vest before we quickly took them off. I then stood there with him wrapped in just a towel for over 20 minutes to take the heat out of his arm. To calm him down I was standing on my tippy toes so he could nurse on and off. This really helped. I also gave him Ibuprofen to ease the pain.
Even though he screamed all the way there, it wasn’t until I was actually turning into the hospital car park that it finally sank in what had happened and I had to choke back the tears. We were lucky to go straight in to A&E and as soon as the nurse asked what happened the flood gates opened and I could barely get my words out.
Initially they used a dressing that smelled like tea tree oil, this seemed to help a lot and even though he was still upset he wasn’t screaming so badly. When the doctor took this off after about 10 minutes she looked at his arm and said it was looking really good considering. I think it could have been much worse but a few things helped save him. He had a long sleeve vest and long sleeved pyjamas on, both were quite fitted. We also don’t have a kettle but one of those hot water dispensers. The drinks aren’t quite as hot and seem to cool down quicker than kettle water.
The final dressing was a few layers thick, there was a really oily mesh first, then some padding before being wrapped in bandage. It took four of us to hold him still and dress his arm, let’s just say he was less than impressed! We were told to get the bandage removed no later than Tuesday.
It was already way past his bedtime when we left so he fell asleep quite quickly and even though he cried with pain he stayed asleep most of the night. He has also slept much more during the day. I guess his body is trying to get over the shock.
I have to honest here, I really didn’t want to write this post in case I was judged to be a bad mother, but I have shared so much with you all about our lives, it made me feel like I was hiding some shameful secret if I didn’t. But I also needed to get this out there, I wanted you all to think about where you put your hot drinks. Are they really as safe as they could be?
We’ve been having children for 13 years. O is our fifth child and the first one this has ever happened to, never even had a near miss before. The doctor in A&E said they see it all the time so I guess we pushed our luck too far and it finally ran out.
babylegs – not just for legs!
Have you had this, or something similar happen in your family? I hope I have made you all make a little risk assessment about where you keep your hot drinks x
DannyUK says
June 13, 2014 at 1:11 pmWhat a horrible thing to happen! It definitely doesn’t make you a bad parent, accidents happen. It just makes you unlucky. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly when the bandages come off. Thanks for sharing. #FamilyFriday
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:20 pmThank you, his arm is looking so much better than I had hoped
Emma T (@ETusty) says
June 13, 2014 at 2:02 pmLucky you reacted so quickly and prevented it being as bad as it might have.
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:22 pmThank you, I’m just so grateful that I actually knew what to do.
Louisa says
June 13, 2014 at 4:13 pmIt is scary how many hazards are around the house that we don’t immediately notice. I trapped my little ones fingers in the door yesterday and I felt just awful. Your post is a timely reminder that we can never be too careful, don’t be too hard on yourself xx #binkylinky
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:25 pmyes, we think home is the safest place to be yet so many accidents happen there every year!
Mummy's Blog says
June 13, 2014 at 5:06 pmFirstly, no-one will think you are a bad mother, it was just an unfortunate accident, it could have happened to anyone. I hope he is feeling better, bless him.
A friend of my husband recommended a travel mug to us, which has a lid and a button you have to press on the outside to actually drink from it. It was quite expensive, but useful when you have little ones. Sending you hugs xx
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:27 pmThank you, he’s doing great. Everyone has been so kind about it, I figured it could go either way really!
I have never seen a travel mug with a button like that. I shall have to do a bit of googling for it xx
Denise (mum on a mission for a better life) says
June 13, 2014 at 6:11 pmWhat a horrible accident to happen, but it was an accident so try not to be so hard on yourself. Sounds like you did everything right to help him, I would be useless, I would just panic! Sending big hugs to you both 🙂 #BinkyLinky
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:30 pmThank you. My husband was in a right panic, maybe that helped keep me grounded? I was in floods when I got home from the hospital!
Making Memories in the Chaos says
June 13, 2014 at 6:58 pmOh bless you! I’m sure you were just gutted. You reacted so well, I would have been useless! Useful reminder to watch my own cuppa and not just take it for granted that it will be ok. #FamilyFriday
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:34 pmThank you. This is why I knew I had to write this, to make people aware that it can happen so quickly. You think they can’t reach something, then one day out of the blue they can!
Twinmumanddad (@Twinmumanddad) says
June 13, 2014 at 9:12 pmYou’re not a bad mother. I remember when my twins were babies. One was crying in the cot, the other crying in my arms. Without thinking I put the one in my arms on the sofa to tend to the one in the cot and I heard a thud. She’d fallen off the sofa. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was always so careful, but it was just that split second in a moment of panic and it just happened. Luckily she was ok, but I felt terrible. Thanks for linking up to the #binkylinky
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:38 pmThank you. In the baby days with my twins I was so tired clear thinking was not a regular occurrence!
@katgrant30 (Bumps & Grind) says
June 13, 2014 at 10:03 pmAw, what a scary experience! Such an easy thing to happen, could have been any of us, so don’t blame yourself or feel bad… Sounds like you did some fab first aid! I’ve been meaning to do a first aid course…
#PoCoLo
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:41 pmThank you. I truly recommend every parent should do one! I’m just grateful I had to do a paediatric first aid course as part of my job.
Mummy Whiskers says
June 13, 2014 at 11:37 pmOh bless you and O, accidents happen to the best of us and it sounds like you were amazing in how you reacted. O will heal and probably won’t remember either x #BinkyLinky
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:43 pmThank you. It’s scary how quick these things can happen. His arm is doing great, it’s starting to peel a lot now, it looks like his hand has a sun tan!
Sarah Knott (@KnottBumpAndUs) says
June 14, 2014 at 12:57 amAw bless you, don’t feel bad, accidents happen! He looks like a little dude with superman over his dressing and I’m sure he’ll have forgotten already, kids are resilient little lovelies 🙂 Thanks for sharing and highlighting how easy things like this can happen no matter how careful you are xx
#binkylinky
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:48 pmThank you. He’s perfectly fine in himself now, not needing painkillers or anything. Really doesn’t like me putting the aloe vera gel on him though! I really needed to write this and tell people so they would be more aware. I hope all of the people who have read this will just take a second to think about their actions. x
Laura K says
June 14, 2014 at 8:01 amI think it’s really brave of you to share this post. We all worry about being judged but I’m sure each and every one of us reading this knows it could easily happen to any of us. I think your post will have made everyone more vigilant and by posting this you could save another child from going through it. I hope you’ve all got over the shock and that your wee one gets better soon. Great post, one that will definitely stick in my mind!x
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:52 pmThank you, this is exactly what I wanted to happen, for people just to take a second and think if what they are doing really is safe. I was so scared of hitting that publish button, I knew it could go either way really! I’m just so grateful that everyone has been so kind. O is doing great now, I am still leaving my tea cup slap bang in the middle of the dining table for now! x
~Merlinda~ (@pixiedusk) says
June 14, 2014 at 8:01 amAwww this is sadness but its an accident. My son usually got hurt on my watch and this makes me feel guilty. We are attending this bible study and we are in a room and I felt safe to let him roam around when he just went to me crying and blood dripping on his face. Hie forehead hit a nail. So to the e.r we go. =( #pocolo
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:54 pmThank you, accidents do happen and with the way he climbs I’m sure it will be the first of many with him! That is awful about your son’s head, I hope he was okay? Did they check the room over and make it safe after that?
Becky says
June 14, 2014 at 8:56 amThere things really do happen. My son drunk a bottle of calpol a couple of months a go! Don’t beat yourself up! He looks happy enough now 🙂 no lasting damage I think it’s important for mums to be honest about the bad as well as the good, we’re only human! #binkylinky
mami2five says
June 14, 2014 at 11:58 pmOh no, I hope he was okay? I remember catching my twins passing a calpol bottle back and forth between them when they were about two, luckily there was less than half in it and they were sharing! apart from the teething grumps he’s doing great now thanks.
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) says
June 14, 2014 at 8:59 pmaww honey what a scary experience, you poor thing, but it was an accident and could happen to anyone so don’t be too hard on yourself! xx #familyfriday
mami2five says
June 15, 2014 at 12:02 amThank you. I think us mums are destined to be racked with guilt for every little thing we do wrong. I’m just so grateful I knew what I was doing. x
Tarana Khan says
June 14, 2014 at 9:23 pmI hope he’s doing better, the little guy. Thank you for sharing this at the risk of being judged and labelled. Hugs to you, and don’t beat yourself up for an unintentional mistake. Hugs! #FamilyFriday
mami2five says
June 15, 2014 at 10:10 pmThank you, he’s really on the mend now x
TwinsplusTwo says
June 14, 2014 at 9:36 pmI had a school friend very badly scarred by a cup of tea when aged 5 – she had multiple skin grafts. So sorry this happened to you. xx
mami2five says
June 15, 2014 at 12:05 amOh my, your poor friend, that must have been awful. I am even more grateful that he has come out of it so lightly. x
BakedPotato Mummy says
June 14, 2014 at 10:51 pmWhat a terrible accident! Please don’t be too hard on yourself. Accidents do happen and it doesn’t make you a bad mother. When Potato was 6 months old, he managed to roll off the top of his changing unit, through my arms and to the floor, hitting his face on the way down. I was in A&E before I even thought about it. I was still in my slippers and apron! Thankfully he was fine and had a lot of fun flirting with the nurses!
Thanks for linking up with #BinkyLinky
mami2five says
June 15, 2014 at 12:11 amThank you, yes accidents happen so fast its scary! I bet that was an awful sensation to see him dropping through your arms, this is one reason I am grateful I can only change nappies on my lap!
Laughing Owl says
June 14, 2014 at 11:35 pmThanks for sharing. I’m very conscious that Little Owl is most likely to get badly hurt when I’m at my most relaxed… so easy to do… and well done to you for going into first aid mode even though it was your baby xx
mami2five says
June 15, 2014 at 10:23 pmThank you, I’m surprised at myself to be honest! I’m just grateful I knew what had to be done!
Sarah Christie says
June 16, 2014 at 3:37 pmAh poor baby O, hope he is starting to feel better. These awful things happen, it doesn’t make us bad parents it was a freak accident, its just a good job you reactive quickly and effectively x
mami2five says
June 19, 2014 at 10:53 pmThank you, yes he is well and truly on the mend now 🙂
Loving life with little ones says
June 19, 2014 at 10:09 pmOh hun these accidents happen, thanks for giving us all a reminder that they can happen to anyone. my husband once tried to make a cup of coffee with our eldest sitting on the worktop,a good 2 feet away she nudged him and the water just spilt everywhere and onto her bottom a tiny bit, she was fine with a little cold water but didn’t I lay into him afterwards!! #binkylinky
mami2five says
June 19, 2014 at 10:55 pmThanks, this is exactly why I wanted to let everyone know. People are quick to judge, but like you said, this really can happen to anyone!
Stacey Guilliatt (Nobody Said It Was Easy) says
June 20, 2014 at 10:19 pmOh bless! These things happen, you are not a bad mother at all. Like you said, it only take a second. Hope he recovers soon x #FamilyFriday
mami2five says
June 22, 2014 at 10:30 pmThank you, it has healed so much better than I expected it too x
debsrandomwritings says
June 22, 2014 at 12:50 pmI’ve read the second post first, but your post just proves you are only human. It was also a brave one to write as you were expecting to be judged. People need to take a good hard look at themselves before passing judgement on others and it’s good to see all the positive comments you got.
As parents we try our best to keep our family safe, but sometimes we make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up about it as I bet it’s an accident that won’t be happening again.
PS – tea doesn’t brew in cold water, so that is not an option!
mami2five says
June 22, 2014 at 10:39 pmHe’s lucky we have one of those hot water dispensers instead of a kettle as the water isn’t quite so hot. If only I drank squash lol
ERF Mama says
June 22, 2014 at 10:22 pmHorrible horrible horrible when it happens! I’m glad he’s OK.
My eldest pulled a sauspan with hot water over he’s arm when he was little. It wasn’t boiling hot luckily as it had been taken off the thing, but still awful hot. He also ended up in are and I got the phone call. He was at he’s dad’s when it happened. 🙁 He got 2nd degree burns and sone 1st, but you can’t see it today (he’s all most 10).
mami2five says
June 22, 2014 at 10:44 pmHow awful it must have been getting that phone call. I’m glad he hasn’t been scarred for life x