no i have not hd to deal with broken bones. i am sorry to hear about your son. my prayers are with u and your family. i am sure your baby is having a hard time right now but maybe make some fun days for you all. puzzle days, reading days, cuddle days,all kinds of special days. do special days when my kids are sick at home. we have special days every day but times like this they need more lovins. take care

My son had a broken collar bone when he was 2...fell off the bed. I was there and seen it happen, I had my other baby daughter in my arms; I tried to reach for him but couldn't get to him in time. Did I ever feel bad! He recovered fine. Good luck, I praying for his speedy recovery!

My son broke his foot last year. He was five. He was riding a box down the stairs and snapped his first and second metatarsals (2 bones in the foot). He had a splint for three days that he could not step on until we got his walking boot special ordered. We had to carry him around those days. Once he got the boot and crutches, he could get around on his own.

I was just as upset as you are. But as for my son, once the pain subsided, he was fine. Kids are so resilient, they just take stuff in stride. My son truly enjoyed the extra attention he got. While he was in the splint, he enjoyed the novelty of extra tv time. He got to watch movies, had meals and toys brought to him, no chores, and lots of sympathy. He was loving it. By the time he got sick of it, he had the boot and could get around.

The orthopedist said to let him do activities as he felt able. Well, he was thumping that giant booted foot on our dance dance revolution mat. He was running, jumping, playing, climbing. Every now and then it would hurt and he would chill out for a while.

I am not kidding when I say he looks back fondly at the time when he broke his foot and his brothers were not allowed to touch him and I let him eat ice cream in the living room. He was just talking to my mom about it the other day. I don't think he liked it enough to go riding a cardboard box down the stairs again, but it definitely had it's perks.

Your son is going to be fine. If he starts to panic, remind him that his leg will heal. Try not to panic in front of him. If he sees that you are confident in his recovery then he will be confident too.

If at any time you are offered a choice between a cast and a boot choose the boot! I don't know if this will be possible for your child considering that it is a leg break but boots are better for a child's skin, there will be a lot less itching. It is worth driving to a store that carries one for kids, even if it's pretty far.

Daddy, your boy is going to be alright!

Thank you all so much for your replies. After a most terrible night, we got his cast on this morning, and the doctor said he will probably have it on for 4 weeks or so. We rented him a wheel chair from a medical supply store, and at the moment he is playing a video game and enjoying his new chair. Please keep the prayers up for him. I added a picture of him on my page if anyone is interested. God bless you all.

First I am sure his leg will heal fine. My prayers are with you all.
An idea, have a cast signing party for him. Invite his friends, get some marker pens some icecream and let his friends sign their name or draw pic on his cast. Make getting around in his chair a race and he wins.
Bottom line, make it a fun time for him.

Bob

As a parent, I understand your concern. As a pediatrician, please know that with the appropriate care, broken bones in children usually heal very well...better than adults.

All the best,

Dr. J

I have not had to deal with a broken leg at such a young age... but my older son (who is now 20) broke 4 bones (2 legs) in his childhood and while it's tough to watch them get around, Dr. J is right, they usually heal very nicely.

Also, my only advice is not let him play too many video games. They just are not good for children at that age (of course, in moderation, I think they're fine).... but I would find books, puzzles, legos and things like that to keep his mind busy and strong.

Best of luck!

When my duaghter was 3 she was playing on a friend's porch with her twin boys ( we were both out there with the kids) and she was running and got tripped up a the leg of a rocker and fell. I wasn't a very hard fall at all, I guess maybe it was the way she fell..she fractured her collar bone. What makes it even worse is I didn't even know. She cried alittle but got over the fall quickly. Later on the way home I noticed she was cranky and thought she needed a nap. The next day I noticed some swelling where her collar bone is and was scared out of my mind!! I took her to the ER and found out she had fractured her collar bone. I felt like a horrible mother... Not only did she have a fracture but it took me 24 hrs to take her to the hospital. It took me Forever to get over it. A friend finally told me it wasn't my fault and that I'm a good mom accidents happen. But you can bet I watch all of my kids alot closer, and I'm quick to take them to the doctor when something happens cause you never now.
It took my daughter a couple of days to get back to herself and not be so cranky. Then she was back to running like it never happened. She thinks it's so cool now... that she's had a fractured bone and none of her siblings have.

We are with you. Your son will be fine..Ive broken bones in my body when I was a child and healed fine...I broke my foot this summer and still had to take care of twins....Ive been to the hospital for stitches for my three year old daughter and I just thought that I was going to breakdown...she was fine and so will your son...I agree with Happy...special time...You will survive!! Your in my thoughts and preyers.

when my son was 2 1/2 he broke his foot. we didnt know it at 1st. he limped on it for 2 days. i called the pedi and he sent us to the ortho dr. they xrayed it and told me that it was broken. boy did i feel like a fool. i felt awful letting him limp for 2days. i thought it would subside.
it happend when my hubby and him were playing football in the living room. yes they play all the time roughing around and making me a nervous wreck. LOL
anyway they casted him then and there and put a little boot onver it. he got off the table and off he went....he is a trooper...he didnt cry when he 1st had the injury. (thats why i didnt have it checked sooner) the cast didnt realy slow him down.
he got the cast put on the day after my bday...i was like is this my bday present. lol
elaine

I know you are hurting Dad. I worked in Orthopedics as a Physicians assistant for many years, and 90% or greater of people ( ALMOST everybody) brakes a bone in their lifetime. When it heals it heals stronger. Kids are much more resiliant so just cheer up and keep the worry off your face. He will be much more scared if you are. Talk about all the things you and he will do after his cast comes off.