Children and head injuries

What is a head injury?

Almost all young children will bump their head at some point. Any knock to the head is considered a head injury.

Head injuries are common in children. Children under 3 have the highest rates of head injury. Mild to moderate head injuries are the most common reason for children to go to emergency departments.

This page gives information on head injuries in babies and young children (up to 5 years old). It includes what to look for and when to get help. For information on head injuries in older children and adults, visit the healthdirect head injuries page.

What are the symptoms of a head injury?

Head injuries can vary from mild to severe. Sometimes symptoms can take up to 3 days to appear.

Most head injuries are mild. They may leave a bump, bruise or cut.

Concussions and more severe head injuries may cause other symptoms in your child, such as:

• seizures, double vision or clumsiness
• increased sleepiness or loss of consciousness
• bleeding from their ear or nose
• weakness or tingling in their arms or legs
• vomiting (throwing up) more than once
• severe headache
• not acting normally — being confused, agitated or restless

If your child only vomits once, you should still take them to be checked by your doctor.

What causes a head injury?

Many things can cause a head injury, such as:

• falling onto a surface
• running into an object or another person
• being hit with an object
• being in an accident, such as a bike or car accident

When should I take my child to see a doctor?

You should take your child to the hospital straight away if their head injury is from:

• a high-speed accident like a car accident or skateboarding accident
• being hit by a car when walking or cycling
• falling more than 1 metre before the age of 2 years
• falling more than 1.5 metres after the age of 2 years
• being struck by a high-impact object

If your child has a ground level fall or runs into an object, they don't usually need to go to hospital.

If you are concerned that your child has a head injury, talk to your doctor. Symptoms can sometimes appear several days to weeks after the injury.

How are head injuries in children diagnosed?

To diagnose a head injury, your child's doctor will:

• ask about how and when the injury happened
• ask about your child's symptoms
• perform a physical examination

Your doctor may also order scans, such as a CT scan or MRI scan.

How are head injuries in children treated?

Treatment for your child's head injury will depend on how severe it is, and their symptoms.

After a mild head injury

After a mild head injury, your doctor may give your child some pain relief. They can give you advice on how to care for them at home.

They may watch your child for up to 4 hours to check for symptoms of concussion.

After a moderate to severe head injury

Depending on your child's head injury, they may need more care in hospital. Your doctor may refer your child to a specialist or neurosurgeon.

If your child has lost consciousness, they may need to be given oxygen. They can also be given treatment if they are having seizures.

Your doctor or hospital staff may give your child pain relief medicines and other treatment intravenously (through a drip).

Recovery at home

After a mild head injury your child will need plenty of rest for the first 1 to 2 days.

Recovering from a concussion can take 4 weeks or more. Most concussions will get better over several days. It is likely that your doctor will want your child to rest at home. They should also avoid activities that put them at risk of another injury.

Talk to your doctor about:

• when your child can return to light physical activity
• what activities to avoid, such as contact sports and screentime
• when your child can return to school or childcare

If your child has a headache, you can give them paracetamol every 6 hours.

You don't need to wake your child during the night unless a doctor has told you to do this.

If your child has had a moderate or serious head injury, your doctor will give you advice on how to care for them when at home. Your child may need to follow up with their doctor 1 to 2 weeks after going home from hospital.

What are the complications of head injuries in children?

If your child has a head injury, they may need to rest at home for some time afterwards. This may mean being kept home from school and sport.

A serious head injury can lead to complications such as a skull fracture or brain damage.

It is important to seek medical advice if your child has had a head injury, to avoid complications.

Can head injuries in children be prevented?

You can help prevent your child from having a head injury by:

• ensuring they wear protective equipment while doing sport and activities, such as a helmet
• teaching your child road safety
• ensuring your child wears a seatbelt
• supervising your child around objects they could run into or fall from

Resources and support

You can read more about children and head injuries on the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne website. They also have fact sheets available in languages other than English, such as:

• Head injury – general advice
• Safety – Preventing falls
• Head injury – return to school and sport

You can also visit the Sydney Children's Hospital Network factsheet on Concussion and mild head injury.

The HeadCheck app can help you manage your child's recovery from a concussion at home.

First aid skills help you to know what to do when there is an emergency. You can find out more about first aid here.