Infant Concussion—Signs And Care | Red Flags Fast Check

A head bump in a baby can feel scary because infants can’t describe pain, dizziness, or confusion. Most minor knocks end up fine, yet the first day matters, and the “tell” is often a change in behavior. This article gives a practical way to watch your baby, spot danger signs, and know what to do next.

Infant Concussion—Signs And Care After Common Falls

In infants, a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a hit or sudden jolt. It can follow a fall from a couch, a drop from a caregiver’s arms, a stroller tip, or a hard bump into furniture. Sometimes there’s a bruise or swelling. Sometimes the scalp looks normal. Either way, your baby’s alertness, feeding, and movement are the clues that count most.

If you suspect abuse, or the story of the injury doesn’t add up, seek urgent medical care right away.

Fast red flags you should treat as urgent

Go to emergency care right away if any red flag appears. This list aligns with pediatric head-injury guidance and the CDC Heads Up concussion signs and symptoms, adapted to what those signs look like in babies.

What you notice	What it can look like in babies	What to do
Hard to wake	Won’t fully rouse for feeds, limp when picked up, hard to keep awake	Seek emergency care now
Repeated vomiting	More than spit-up, keeps vomiting, can’t keep feeds down	Seek urgent medical care
Seizure-like activity	Rhythmic jerking, stiffening, staring with poor response	Call emergency services
Breathing or color change	Pauses, blue/gray lips, labored breathing	Call emergency services
Inconsolable crying	Can’t be soothed, shrill cry, crying ramps up over time	Seek emergency care
Feeding refusal	Won’t nurse or bottle-feed, too sleepy to coordinate sucking	Get same-day evaluation
Unequal pupils	One pupil larger than the other, eyes not tracking normally	Seek emergency care now
Weakness or new floppy limb	One side less active, unusual limpness, new poor balance	Seek emergency care now
Skull or soft-spot concern	Bulging soft spot, a “step” in the skull, swelling that keeps growing	Seek urgent medical care

What a concussion can look like in an infant

Concussion symptoms in babies show up through behavior and routine. The big idea is “new for your child.” One odd nap can be nothing. A pattern of changes is what grabs your attention.

Signs can include extra fussiness, less interest in faces or toys, trouble settling, or a baby who startles more easily. Some become more sensitive to bright light or loud sounds. Sleep can shift toward longer naps or frequent waking. Mild nausea can show up as gagging, poor appetite, or a few vomits that stop.

If your baby cries right after the bump, then feeds well, tracks your face, moves normally, and acts like themselves, that’s reassuring. Keep watching anyway, since symptoms can lag.

First steps in the first 10 minutes

You don’t need special gear. You need a calm check and clear notes.

• Check breathing and color. If either seems off, get emergency help.
• Stop bleeding. Use gentle pressure with a clean cloth.
• Look at the head and face. Note swelling, bruising, or a cut.
• Check alertness. Do they track you, settle when held, and move both sides?
• Write down what happened. Height, surface, and what part of the head hit.

Don’t shake your baby to “wake them up.” If they’re hard to rouse, treat it as a red flag and seek care.

Infant concussion signs and care plan for the first 48 hours

For many babies, the safest plan is simple observation with a low threshold to get checked. Most serious problems show up early, yet watching through 48 hours catches delayed changes.

How to observe without losing your mind

Pick one adult to watch for a stretch, when possible. Set phone reminders for check-ins. Keep a short log: feeds, naps, vomiting, unusual crying, and anything that felt “off.” If you end up at urgent care, that timeline makes the visit smoother. If you can, record brief clips of odd behavior to show at the visit later.

Sleep: letting a baby rest vs. worrying about sleepiness

It’s OK to let your baby sleep if they seem normal and you can rouse them in their usual way for feeds or a diaper change. The concern is a baby who gets harder to wake, wakes but seems limp, or can’t coordinate feeding. That’s when you go in.

Feeding and hydration checks

Hydration is a practical signal. Wet diapers at the usual pace and a baby who can feed are reassuring. A baby who refuses feeds, vomits repeatedly, or can’t stay awake long enough to eat should be evaluated the same day.

After vomiting, offer smaller, more frequent feeds. Don’t force large amounts at once.

Spit-up after a feed is common and can confuse the picture. Vomiting tied to a head injury often looks different: it’s forceful, happens without a recent feed, or repeats in a short window. If you’re seeing more than your baby’s usual pattern, treat it seriously and call or go in. Also watch the lump itself. A firm “goose egg” on the forehead can happen with a simple bump. A swelling that feels soft and squishy, spreads, or sits on the side or back of the head is a better reason to be seen.

When to call your pediatrician vs. when to go in

Go in right away for any red flag in the first table. Also go in if the fall was from a higher height, onto a hard surface, or your baby is under 12 months and you’re uneasy about how they’re acting.

If your baby seems normal after a minor bump, calling your pediatrician’s office can still be useful. They can tell you what to watch based on your child’s age and medical history. The AAP HealthyChildren concussion advice for babies and toddlers also describes what clinicians look for and what home watching can include. If you call your office, share three things: your baby’s age, the height and surface of the fall, and what has changed since.

What a medical visit may look like

Clinicians start with the details of the fall, then check vital signs, alertness, eye response, and movement. With infants, they also assess the fontanelle and scalp swelling. Imaging like a CT scan is not automatic. It’s used when risk factors are present, since CT involves radiation. In many cases, clinicians choose a period of observation in the emergency department to see if symptoms change.

If your baby has a bleeding disorder, takes blood-thinning medication, has a shunt, or has other complex medical needs, mention it early since it can change how clinicians assess risk.

Home care after a minor head injury

If a clinician says home observation is OK, keep routines calm and familiar. Offer regular feeds, allow rest, and stick to quieter play if your baby seems bothered by light or noise.

For discomfort, use only medicines you already use for your baby, and follow label directions for age and weight. Avoid aspirin in children unless a clinician directs it. A cold pack wrapped in cloth can reduce swelling for short periods.

Signs that can show up later

Some concussion symptoms build over hours. Watch for irritability that’s new for your baby, sleep that feels “off” in a way you can’t explain, or a sudden drop in feeding interest. Also watch movement milestones: less rolling, less reaching, or using one side less than the other.

If symptoms last past two weeks, schedule a follow-up visit. Many kids recover sooner, yet lingering sleep disruption or fussiness can happen and deserves a check.

How to lower the chance of a second hit

After a scare, many parents spot the same handful of “fall traps.” Tightening those spots is often the easiest win.

• Change table habits. Keep one hand on your baby, or change on the floor.
• Always buckle. Carriers, bouncers, high chairs, strollers.
• Mind the couch and bed. Babies can roll earlier than you expect.
• Stroller balance. Avoid hanging heavy bags on handles.

Quick log you can copy to your notes app

This takes 30 seconds and saves guesswork later:

• Time of injury + what happened
• First cry: yes/no, how long
• Feeds: time + amount + kept down
• Naps: start/end, easy to wake: yes/no
• Vomiting: time + how many
• Mood: normal/fussy/inconsolable
• Movement: normal/less use of one side

Time window	What to check	What changes mean “go in”
0–2 hours	Alertness, eye tracking, feeding ability, vomiting	Hard to wake, seizure-like activity, breathing trouble
2–6 hours	Comfort level, normal movement, swelling trend	Inconsolable crying, unequal pupils, weakness
6–24 hours	Sleep pattern, feeds, wet diapers, behavior shifts	Too sleepy to feed, repeated vomiting, acting “not normal”
24–48 hours	Play interest, new fussiness, balance milestones	Worsening trend, new symptoms after a calm day
Beyond 48 hours	Return to baseline, lingering sleep or mood issues	Symptoms not improving, caregiver concern

Main takeaways you can act on tonight

Red flags come first: hard-to-wake sleepiness, repeated vomiting, seizure-like activity, breathing trouble, unequal pupils, weakness, or crying that can’t be soothed. If any appear, go in.

If your baby seems normal, observe for 24–48 hours with a simple log, keep routines calm, and call your pediatrician if anything shifts. If you’re searching for infant concussion—signs and care in the middle of the night, trust what you see and get medical eyes on your baby any time the picture feels off.

This article can’t diagnose your child. If you think your baby has infant concussion—signs and care needs beyond home watching, seek same-day medical evaluation.