Baby Has a Bruise That Won't Go Away
The short answer
Most bruises in toddlers are completely normal and result from the bumps and tumbles of learning to walk and play. A typical bruise goes through a color cycle (red to blue/purple to green/yellow) and resolves within 2-3 weeks. Bruises on the shins, knees, and forehead are very common in active toddlers. However, bruises in unusual locations (torso, back, ears, neck), bruises in pre-mobile babies, or easy/excessive bruising may need medical evaluation to rule out bleeding disorders or other concerns.
By Age
What to expect by age
Bruises in non-mobile babies (those who are not yet pulling up, cruising, or walking) are unusual and should always be evaluated by a pediatrician. Pre-mobile babies simply do not have the opportunity to bruise themselves through normal activity. Any bruise in a baby under 6 months, or in an older baby who is not yet moving independently, should be discussed with your doctor promptly.
Bruises on the shins, knees, forehead, and elbows are extremely common in active toddlers and are a normal part of development. These typically resolve within 2-3 weeks. However, consult your pediatrician if your toddler seems to bruise very easily or excessively, if bruises appear in unusual locations (torso, back, buttocks, ears, neck), if bruises are very large for the injury, or if your child has other signs like frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums, which could suggest a bleeding disorder.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Bruises on shins, knees, and forehead in an active toddler
- A bruise that changes color from blue/purple to green to yellow over 1-3 weeks
- A bruise after a witnessed fall or bump
- Multiple small shin bruises in a walking toddler
- A bruise that has not resolved after 3 weeks
- Your child seems to bruise more easily than other children
- Bruises are appearing with minimal or no known trauma
- Multiple bruises in various stages of healing without clear cause
- Any bruise in a non-mobile baby (not yet pulling up or cruising)
- Bruises in unusual locations: torso, back, buttocks, ears, neck, or genitals
- Bruising accompanied by petechiae (tiny red/purple dots that do not blanch)
- Easy bruising plus frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or blood in stool (possible bleeding disorder)
Sources
Related Resources
Related Skin Concerns
Baby Fell Off the Bed or Couch
Falls from beds, couches, and changing tables are one of the most common accidents in infancy. Most falls from furniture height (2-3 feet) do not cause serious injury, but every fall involving the head deserves careful monitoring. If your baby cried immediately after the fall and is now acting normally - alert, feeding, and moving all limbs - serious injury is unlikely. However, certain warning signs require immediate medical evaluation.
Petechiae (Tiny Red Dots) on My Baby
Petechiae are tiny red, purple, or brown dots caused by broken blood vessels just under the skin. While they can appear after vigorous crying, coughing, or vomiting in healthy babies, they can also signal serious conditions. Always contact your pediatrician if you notice petechiae, especially if they appear suddenly or are widespread.
Baby or Toddler Fell Down the Stairs
Falls down stairs are a common injury in babies and toddlers. Most stair falls, especially from just a few steps, do not result in serious injury. However, any fall down stairs warrants careful observation. After a fall, check your child from head to toe for signs of injury. If your child cried immediately, is consolable, is moving all limbs normally, and has no visible signs of serious injury, observe them closely for 24-48 hours. Any fall from a significant height, loss of consciousness, persistent vomiting, excessive sleepiness, or signs of a broken bone require immediate medical evaluation.
Baby Acne (Neonatal Acne)
Baby acne is a very common, harmless condition that appears as small red or white bumps on your newborn's face, usually around 2-4 weeks of age. It is caused by maternal hormones still circulating in your baby's system and clears up on its own within a few weeks to months without any treatment.
Baby Blister on Lip from Nursing
A nursing blister (also called a suck callus) is a small, painless blister or thickened patch on your baby's upper lip caused by the friction of latching during breastfeeding or bottle feeding. It is completely harmless, does not hurt your baby, and does not need any treatment. These are very common in newborns and typically come and go in the early weeks.
Blisters on Baby's Skin - Causes and When to Worry
Blisters on a baby's skin can have many causes ranging from harmless (sucking blisters, friction blisters) to conditions requiring medical attention (burns, infections like hand-foot-and-mouth disease, impetigo, or herpes). A single blister on a newborn's lip or hand from sucking is very common and harmless. Multiple blisters, blisters with fever, blisters that spread rapidly, or blisters in a newborn under 1 month should be evaluated by a doctor.