Did your toddler break a leg or an arm? My sympathies! Toddler broken leg recovery is tough, and nothing can prepare you for this.
When my 2-year old broke her leg on a slide, I certainly wasn’t prepared. Now that we’re on the other side of it and she’s healed, it’s so easy to see what I could have done differently, or what I should have known.
So here are 7 main things you need to know to help you get through this with your sanity intact.
Remember: it shall pass. And you will learn from it. And you will become stronger and better for it. But first things first…
7 Tips For Your Toddler Broken Leg Recovery
1. Brace yourself.
The first 48 hours are the worst. That’s when the bone is most tender and your little one might have a hard time getting comfortable, especially when sleeping.
They will cry A LOT. They will try to move or get up. They will reach out to you, as if asking to make it stop. You will probably cry with them. I did.
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – it’s rough, but you just have to remember that this is the hardest part, it will get easier with every passing day.
2. Do a cast right away.
We rushed my daughter to the nearest ER where they put a splint on her. The doctor sounded very casual about the fact that splint isn’t cast; it doesn’t support the bone the same way.
Every little movement can cause terrible pain, so you want the broken bone to be as stable as possible. The cast supports the bone better than the splint so it’s not as painful.
As soon as we did the cast (on the second day) she hardly ever complained about the leg.
3. Keep the leg elevated.
It’s most comfortable and it helps the circulation. This has to do with the fact that there is a possibility of swelling in the first few days. Keeping the leg elevated helps the fluids to circulate freely.
The rule of thumb is to keep the leg slightly above the heart.
4. Feed before the pain meds.
You’re gonna be prescribed pain meds. Most likely, mild painkillers like Children’s Tylenol and Children’s Motrin (although I heard that in some states they give kids with broken limbs morphine).
And most likely, you’re only gonna use them a lot in the first 3-4 days (and only occasionally after). That’s how it was for us.
Just remember that most painkillers are rough on the stomach, especially Ibuprofen (Children’s Motrin), so make sure they eat something first.
5. Give them plenty of water and light fiber-rich food.
You don’t want your little one to be constipated on top of everything. My little girl had terrible constipation the first 2 weeks she was in a cast, and that’s something that took us completely by surprise.
The pain meds, the lack of movement, the stress – all these factors can contribute to a sudden difficulty going, so keep that in mind from the start.
6. Keep them entertained.
I know it’s hard to keep a toddler off their feet all day. So help keep their minds (or hands) occupied.
Drawing, reading books, playing with their favorite toys, putting stickers on things are just some of the activities you can offer your recovering munchkin.
And cartoons, of course! Lots of cartoons cause you’ll feel too guilty saying “no” to them 🙂 Besides, this is no time to worry about too much screen time. Whatever works!
7. Be patient.
Healing takes time. Don’t expect it to get better overnight. But here’s the silver lining: children do heal faster than adults!
A broken leg, for example, takes only 1 month to heal, while an adult would have to wear a cast for 2-3 months.
Plus, the bone can actually heal completely! Provided that the growth plates aren’t injured, your little one will make a full recovery!
And soon enough they will be running around again, making your heart stop every time they trip or fall 🙂
I hope this blog post was of some comfort to you. If nothing else, know that you’re not alone! And who knows, maybe one day you’re gonna laugh about this. Not any time soon, but one day!
Lana is a San Diego-based copywriter, blogger, book author, and WAHM. Her super powers are sarcasm and making chocolate disappear. When she’s not working on her blogs or completing her doctorate in psychology, Lana enjoys crime mysteries, travel, and, regrettably, reality TV.