Here’s What to Anticipate When Your Child Fractures a Bone (Because It’s Bound to Happen)

My son was the first in our family to experience a broken bone. Honestly, I wasn’t shocked; he’s always been a little thrill-seeker, and it felt like an accident waiting to happen. The incident occurred during a soccer practice, and while we weren’t there to see it, he later explained that he was attempting a tricky maneuver and landed awkwardly, causing the fracture. I’m secretly thankful I missed it; I might have fainted from the shock.

Just a few hours later, he was fitted with a splint and sling, awaiting an appointment at our local pediatric hospital. Although I had never broken a bone as a child, it seems that many kids go through this rite of passage, keeping us parents on our toes and sending our anxiety levels through the roof. So, it’s highly likely that your little one will face a similar situation, and perhaps more than once if you’re particularly unfortunate.

What caught us off guard was how we had to rethink everything in his daily routine. My son is an independent 10-year-old, and I had grown accustomed to his self-sufficiency. Thankfully, it wasn’t his dominant arm, or I would have been on bathroom duty too! However, his usual daily activities came to a halt — and mine did too. Soccer practices were out of the question. While he could still manage his schoolwork, we had to adjust how he would shower, and I found myself helping him bathe again, which was less than ideal for both of us. He’s quite sensitive about his hair, and like many kids his age, he wasn’t thrilled with my enthusiastic scrubbing.

Fortunately, we discovered that he would only need to wear the cast for three weeks. Although parenting can be quite challenging, I realized that you can survive almost anything for a few weeks — except maybe a lice outbreak or norovirus. So, in our case, it was mostly an inconvenience rather than a catastrophe, but for many families, fractures can be more severe or affect a dominant limb, making the situation significantly tougher.

Kids often get restless and whiny, and homework still needs to be completed, regardless of their ability to use their hands. Life continues on, but having a child with a broken bone can feel reminiscent of the toddler stage, only now you might be dealing with a big kid who needs assistance with basic tasks. Here’s what to expect:

Boredom Will Be Inevitable

For my son, it was especially frustrating because we had just bought a trampoline, but it was off-limits. Kids are notorious for complaining about boredom, and that’s likely to happen regardless of their injury. Don’t stress about the “Mom, I’m bored” complaints; they would say that even if their arm wasn’t broken. Stock up on movies, books, and maybe some new games for the tablet. A trip to the local library can be a great way to gather activities while stuck at home, reminding your child that reading is often more rewarding than endless screen time.

Caring for the Cast is Manageable

I expected managing the cast to be a nightmare, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy. After years of contorting myself to keep casts dry, medical advancements have made things easier for parents. Most casts today are waterproof, and while you still need to keep them dry, the process has improved. For my son, we simply used a grocery bag to cover the cast during bath time, allowing him to enjoy a soak while resting his arm on a towel. He became quite adept at bathing himself with minimal assistance.

Itching Issues

Your child might experience itching and feel tempted to stick something inside the cast to scratch that itch, so it’s wise to hide any sharp objects. The last thing you want is for them to use a skewer or similar object, potentially causing harm to their already injured limb. Deep breathing techniques can be beneficial if your child gets frustrated by the itch.

Sleep Might Be Discomforting at First

Prepare for the fact that your child’s sleep may be disrupted initially, and they’ll likely make this known at 2 a.m. As they adjust, don’t forget to pull out that old pregnancy body pillow for their comfort. Eventually, they’ll find a way to sleep comfortably again.

When the Cast Comes Off

The day you’ve both been waiting for can be a mixed bag of emotions. After weeks of immobility, the affected limb will be stiff and sore, meaning immediate relief isn’t guaranteed. It took my son several days to regain full movement and comfort. Surprisingly, when the cast was removed, he almost fainted, which the doctor noted is quite common. After living with a cast for weeks, the sudden freedom can be overwhelming. Thankfully, the nurse had apple juice at the ready to help him recover from the shock.

Overall, our experience was relatively minor, and having a cast wasn’t as daunting as I had envisioned. There were some silver linings, such as the extra attention he received from friends and family, and he certainly enjoyed having peers help him at school. Plus, I’ll always have those three weeks of doing everything for him to remind him of later. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

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Summary

When your child breaks a bone, expect some challenges and adjustments in daily routines. Boredom and discomfort are common, but with proper management and care, you can navigate this situation together. The experience may even bring some unexpected benefits, like extra attention and support from others.