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Preventing Head Injuries
Protect Your Child from Traumatic Brain Injury
By Teri Brown
Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Smith says that toddlers with their large heads are particularly susceptible to pediatric TBI. "Toddlers are top heavy," Dr. Smith says. "An adult's center of gravity is at the waist. A toddler's is in the upper chest. Combine this with their weaker neck muscles, and you can see why toddlers tend to fall head first. Unfortunately, their coordination skills and arm muscles are also less developed than those of an adult's, which makes it difficult for them to catch themselves and protect their heads when they fall."
One of the greatest risks to toddlers has been walkers. Dr. Smith says the incidence of pediatric TBI has actually decreased since parents have become more aware of the dangers of walkers. "One out of every 10 kids in a walker will obtain a traumatic brain injury such a scull fracture," he says.
According to a recent study, there were about 21,000 injuries a year from baby walkers in 1990 compared to the 5,100 reported in 2001. Many of those injuries were traumatic brain injuries.
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