Bump on the Head? When to Take Your Child to the Doctor

Kids fall down - some of them fall down a lot. A bump on the head is one of those painful yet common childhood experiences that can happen at any age and can be pretty scary stuff for parents. Do you grab an ice pack or the car keys and rush straight to the emergency room?

Pediatrician Lauren Brave, M.D., who works in the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Pediatric Urgent Care Center, treats this common injury frequently. She wrote an informative Q&A that offers advice on how a parent can assess the severity of a head injury and what to do. She also addresses what symptoms to watch for in the hours and days after a head injury, and when your child can get back to their normal, playful activities.