Nursemaid's Elbow

My sister-in-law taught me this trick after a not-so-fun Sunday morning trip to Urgent Care with her then toddler Michaela who was diagnosed with and treated for Nursemaid's Elbow . If after you swing your child by the arm or pull them up by their arms in a hurry (a la from the pew!) and they start HYSTERICALLY SCREAMING you probably dislocated their elbow. Something about their little bones that makes this especially easy to do.

Anyways, to correct this:

(1) With one hand, hold your child's arm bent against their chest, with their little hand up towards their face and their elbow pointing to their toes

(2) With your other hand, rotate in their hand in a circular motion until you feel or hear their ligament pop back into place

It is not a difficult technique, but sometimes tricky, especially with a thrashing, pained little person.

I accidentally dislocated Isabel's elbow last night. :( She started screaming. I immediately did this maneuver and she started laughing. Piercing pain to no pain instantly might be funny. Maybe? Only to Izzy. She is a special person.




**Please, please, please use your head. If it wasn't a gentle motion in which your child's elbow became injured, or if there is blood, or whatever else, your child might NOT have a dislocated elbow but something else more serious. Take loving care of your kids and take them to the doctor immediately!