My Two Year Old Has a Broken leg...HELP!

Congratulations on your baby on the way. Your little man will be alright. The parents suffer more than the ones in the cast (lol). My daughter suffered a broken wrist when she was 18 months and I thought it was the end of the world but she was rocking all the time she had the cast from elbow to fingers (4 weeks). It does not hurt them, it shields the pain and they still have a somewhat normal routine. Just keep on doing whatever you guys were used to doing, do not upset his schedule.

Goodluck!

He will be fine. Just let him do what he normally does, except help him figure out to get into the car seat and stroller so you can go places.

Maybe get a daytime sitter to just be home with you on certain days to give you a break. Or so you can go and run errands. Have your husband work with your son to figure out how your son can get on a bed so you can change him without lifting him.

This is the time to ask friends and family for help. Be specific about what you need, when and times. They would love to help you. Your son can play while sitting in a chair or on the floor. Take him outside and let him play on a blanket or get him a child's lawn chair.

My son also broke his leg when he was 2. We probably carried him around the first week or two b/c he was scared of the pain/walking on the cast. Then one day, he wanted something so he got up and got it himself! We were also told 8 weeks but after a month his leg healed perfectly and the cast was off.

As far as entertaining, I kept him on a schedule where we did something every 30 mins (art, music, books, sign language, toys, go for walks), rotating different activities each day in different places in the house (latter may not work for you in your condition). It helped b/c he knew if he was in his bed, it was either story or music time, in our bed it was art and toys, on the floor by a window it he got to play with toys, and on the living room couch it was video time. I was able to keep TV watching to 1-2 hours a day as well.

We didn't have young children come over to play - the temptation to move too much and keep up was too great and our son just got upset when we wouldn't let him off the bed. But we did have several older children who stayed with him to play and read books so that helped as far as keeping his social life active.

Keep the house a little cooler than normal so you can help him minimalize itchiness. They also have a can of air with a long slim tube you can stick down a cast to relieve itching - similar to the air sprayers you use to clean keyboards. Try a medical supply store to find them if your regular store doesn't carry it.

Clothes - I put jumpers on him (the kind with snaps beneath) instead of shorts so we didn't have to slide anything up and down his legs all the time.

Push the fluids and fiber. He'll obviously be more sedentary and his system will need the extra "encouragement".

There WILL be crying, from pain and boredom (mostly boredom) and there might not be anyway around it. But keeping a schedule should help. Let me know if you want more specifics on the activities we did. Hang in there and let me know if I can be of more help.

Thank goodness kids are quick healers. My daughter had a fractured wrist at 19 mos and we only had to splint it. Although it's painful for the first few days, soon your son will be back to "normal". I'm sure he'll hobble around the house just fine and want to do everything he normally does quicker than you think.
Do follow your doctor's advice on keeping him still for the first week, bathing, etc. Other than that, you can act like nothing is wrong and he won't know any different. This is just another bump in the road.
Ideas for fun: decorate that cast!!! If they offer colored ones at the pedi, let him choose the color. If not, get some markers, stickers, etc. and have fun with it. You may want to get colored stretch bandage (it sticks to itself) to cover the cast, then draw on it, so you can change it out every couple of days. This is also a great time to catch up on movies, break out the coloring books, board games, and drawing paper. Remember, after about a week he will probably be up and about, so you can go back to going out.
Be prepared for "looks" from adults as you are out with your injured toddler. And a quick, one-sentence, matter-of-fact statement is all that you need to give, if you feel like giving one to a stranger who asks (and they WILL ask). Keep your stroller handy since your son might not be able to walk as long/far as he did before the cast, but let him be the judge on when to ride. Letting him walk around (after the first week or so) strengthens his muscles and still teaches him balance.
Best wishes for a fast healing!

I feel your pain. My 15 year old broke her leg just below her left knee when she was 19-20 months old, just as she was getting over the chicken pox. I remember "walking her" a bit - she was afraid of hurting herself more, so not too much of that. I would sit her down on the floor and she would scoot on her butt or sometimes manage a stiff-leg crawl. It made raw/chapped spots on her good knee and on the back of her thighs but it made her happy to "get around". Keep the lotion handy.
I also remember her putting her hands up alot, chanting "Up, Mommy, Up!" That's actually one of the better memories I have of that time. It was pretty cute.
The whole situation got old pretty quick but it wasn't too bad, though it may be time that has dulled that memory.
I also remember having to teach her to walk all over again. Between the fear and the tenderness of the knee and ankle(from being straight for so long), it took a little while to get her "back on her feet".
My prayers are with you, hang tough.

My daughter broke her leg at 11 months and as soon as we got home from the doctor's with the cast on...she started experimenting with how to move around in it...and was crawling within minutes.

She was also in a cast from the top of her thigh to the tips of her toes. Our doctor told me that she could crawl in the cast, pull to standing or even walk in it if she wanted to try.

It never slowed her down one bit...the toughest times were the first few nights...just her getting used to not being able to move as much in her sleep.

Oh, and keeping the cast and her clean was tough for me, not her...diaper changes scared me because if anything got inside the cast you had to go immediately to get a new cast put on. I got really good at sponge baths on the kitchen counter, but it took two of us to do it...one to entertain and keep her from falling off the counter and one to wash/bathe the child.

If you have any other questions please feel free to message me...HUGS!!!

My kids have had 7 broken bones. No legs, though. Expect him to be still for a few days and then start to test everything out. Keep your stroller with you, don't expect him to walk alot. It depends on the break and what the Dr. recommends. If he says keep him quiet for about a week, do so. You will most likely not get complaints. Hour son will do what he is able. The first 2 nights are the toughest after the break and if surgery is not required, then he should be good as soon as he gets the cast.

Good Luck

kids will make do, when I was younger I did that also and had a cast on my right leg. I would ride my bike, climb the fince, swing and they all made it so the cast had to be replaced because I had worn it out. It will hurt for a few days, but this will be limited because of the cast. It will also the longer it is on will itch like the devil. Don;t tell him that he will let you know if this happens. When this happened to me I ended up using a ruler to scratch with.
He will live and so will you, you did not say how old he is but even the small ones will find a way to do what they want to do.

hi, C., one of my son's broke his leg at two & had a cast, he soon learned to get around on it & could do most anything he wanted, it didn't keep him back for long. course he won't be able to get around as well as he normally does, but little ones don't usually let much of anything bother them for very long. Good luck with him & your new baby. W.

Each child of course acts different to situations,but have had the opportunity to be around children with casts, well they play like they have no cast at all. Alot of times it is the parent that makes it an issue,the child normally goes on as normal. The last child had a full body cast but she got around with no problem. Children adapt so nicely,so cheer up it will be fine and you won't be confined to the house.lol
The main thing is not getting it wet,other then that life is normal. The first couple of days there may be some restrictions such as a sponge bath only but after that as long as you have a plastic bag over it to keep it dry all will be okay! Good Luck !

Hi C.,
Oh you poor thing- unfortunately this little one is going to be couch bound for about at least two or three weeks- until he can learn to manauver with the cast- he most certainly will need more help than in the past getting up and down and going to the table- playing in the floor etc. but , you can make him more comfortable- try to keep him settled on the sofa with his books, toys, crayolas etc - try keeping him off the floor because that would make it really too hard for you to lift him- being on the bed or the sofa will make it easier or you-.....It might be good for you to get the rest you need also just before you have your new little one......try and take this time to prepare your two year old for the new baby...
get some househelp if possible- inlaws- sisters - friends etc\
goodluck and blessings