What should I do if my child hit their head and has a bump?
Applies to age: 6–60 months
In short
After a head injury, a child may have symptoms for up to 2 weeks. Loss of consciousness, seizures or a fall from a great height are reasons to call 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) or 112 (the emergency number in Poland).
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Most head injuries are not serious, but with any symptoms it is important to get medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Most head injuries are not serious, but it's important to get medical help for any symptoms.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
What you can do now
All claims: international norm
- In the first days after the injury, you can regularly apply a cold compress wrapped in a cloth to the injured spot for a short time to reduce swelling.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel to the area regularly for short periods in the first few days to bring down any swelling
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A child after a mild head injury should rest; they do not have to be kept awake by force if they are tired.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
rest and avoid stress – you or your child do not need to stay awake if you're tired
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- After a mild head injury, an adult should stay with the child for at least the first 24 hours.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
make sure an adult stays with you or your child for at least the first 24 hours
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
How long it usually lasts:
- After a mild head injury, symptoms may last up to 2 weeks.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
You might have symptoms for up to 2 weeks after a head injury.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- A bruise, swelling or large cut on the head of a child under 1 year old needs immediate medical help (this applies to younger children from the 6–12 month window).
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a bruise, swelling or large cut on their head and they are under 1 year old
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- If head injury symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
symptoms of a head injury last more than 2 weeks
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Loss of consciousness without regaining awareness after a head injury needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has been knocked out and has not woken up
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A child who cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open after a head injury needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Seizures after a head injury need immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a fit (seizure)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A fall from a height of more than 1 meter or down more than 5 stairs that ends with a blow to the head needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has fallen from a height of more than 1 metre or 5 stairs
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Clear fluid coming from the ears or nose after a head injury needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has clear fluid coming from their ears or nose
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- New numbness or weakness in any part of the body after a head injury needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has new numbness or weakness in any part of their body
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A change in behavior after a head injury, such as greater irritability, distraction or loss of interest in the surroundings, needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
their behaviour has changed, like being more irritable or distracted, or losing interest in things around them
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- If life is in danger, call 999 or 112.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Jeśli potrzebujesz natychmiastowej pomocy, bo zagrożone jest Twoje lub czyjeś życie, możesz zadzwonić na jeden z dwóch numerów ratunkowych: 999 lub 112.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Loss of consciousness is one of the situations in which an emergency medical team (ZRM) is called.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
utrata przytomności
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Impaired consciousness is one of the situations in which an emergency medical team is called.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
zaburzenia świadomości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Seizures are one of the situations in which an emergency medical team is called.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
drgawki
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- A fall from a great height is one of the situations in which an emergency medical team is called.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
upadek z dużej wysokości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- Vomiting after a recent head injury needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
are being sick (vomiting)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- At night, on weekends and holidays, outside the hours of the primary care (POZ) clinic, you can go to the nearest night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) clinic.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
W nocy, w weekendy i święta, czyli poza godzinami pracy podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej, możesz udać się do najbliższego punktu NiŚOZ (nocnej i świątecznej opieki zdrowotnej).
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
At night and on holidays:
- At night, on weekends and holidays, outside the hours of the POZ clinic, you can go to the nearest NiŚOZ clinic.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
W nocy, w weekendy i święta, czyli poza godzinami pracy podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej, możesz udać się do najbliższego punktu NiŚOZ (nocnej i świątecznej opieki zdrowotnej).
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- If life is in danger, call 999 or 112.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Jeśli potrzebujesz natychmiastowej pomocy, bo zagrożone jest Twoje lub czyjeś życie, możesz zadzwonić na jeden z dwóch numerów ratunkowych: 999 lub 112.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.