How do I know if my toddler broke a bone after a fall?

You can’t know for sure. Even doctors can’t always tell without an x-ray film. If it happens during office hours, you can always call for an appointment. More often than not, such injuries seem to happen after hours or on the weekend. Before you rush to the emergency department, give the situation a few minutes and try to comfort him. Once he calms down, give him an appropriate dose of ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ice the injury if he’ll let you. If there is an obvious deformity where the injury occurred or he continues to scream in pain and refuses to stand or walk, it’s best to have him evaluated (you’re probably warming up your car as you read this anyway). If your child seems fine or it’s late at night, it’s OK to wait until the next morning for the injury to be evaluated. He may get better and start walking again on his own. When the next day comes, if your child is walking around normally, don’t worry about it. Your toddler probably just had a minor injury (not a fracture or break) that has already healed. If he’s still limping or seems to be in pain, make an appointment with your pediatrician. The doctor may order an x-ray film to look for a toddler fracture (tiny break in the lower leg bone that commonly occurs in toddlers). It isn’t a serious condition but does need to be immobilized, usually with a cast for a few weeks to heal properly.