Why Do Children Break Bones? Common Causes and How to Prevent Them

One minute, your child is happily running around the playground, laughing with friends. The next, they’ve tripped, fallen, and are in tears. A visit to urgent care might reveal a broken bone, or fracture, which is quite common among kids.

It’s a fact that between 30% and 40% of children will experience a fracture by the time they reach adulthood. But while bumps and tumbles are a normal part of growing up, there are effective steps you can take to keep your child’s bones strong and minimize the risk of injury.

Why Bone Health is Essential for Children

Bones are the body’s vital building blocks, and in children, these building blocks are in constant development. Unlike adult bones, children’s bones are more flexible and better equipped to grow and heal.

Dr. Michael Line, a pediatrician at Exemplar Care, explains, “Children’s bones are more flexible due to growth plates—areas of developing tissue near the ends of long bones. These growth plates allow bones to lengthen as children grow.”

Strong bones are crucial for your child’s ability to move, play, and enjoy their favorite activities. “Maintaining good bone health during childhood is crucial for setting up a strong skeleton for the future, which helps reduce the risk of fractures and bone problems later in life,” says Dr. Line.

Common Causes of Broken Bones

Children can break bones in various ways. According to Dr. Line, “For toddlers and school-aged children, fractures often occur from trips and falls, like those on playground equipment or bikes. As children reach adolescence, fractures more frequently result from high-energy incidents such as car accidents, sports injuries, and ATV or scooter accidents.”

Other causes can include:

– Overuse: Repeated activities, such as gymnastics or pitching in baseball, can cause stress fractures.

– Poor Nutrition: A lack of calcium, protein, and vitamin D can weaken bones, making them more prone to breaks.

– Health Conditions: Certain conditions, like brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta), can affect bone strength.

10 Tips to Help Prevent Broken Bones in Children

While it’s impossible to prevent all accidents, you can take proactive steps to help protect your child’s bones:

1. Provide a Balanced Diet: “A healthy, balanced diet is key to developing strong bones,” says Dr. Line. Ensure your child eats foods rich in calcium, protein, and vitamin D, such as dairy products, lean proteins, leafy greens, and fortified foods.
2. Encourage Regular Exercise: Activities like running, jumping, and sports strengthen bones. Aim for your child to be active every day.
3. Limit High-Risk Activities: While physical play is important, try to reduce exposure to high-risk activities without proper supervision.
4. Keep Them Hydrated: Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day to support their overall health.
5. Promote Safe Play: Ensure that playground equipment is age-appropriate and teach your child how to play safely. Supervise younger children to prevent falls.
6. Use Protective Gear: “Proper protective gear, such as helmets, wrist guards, and knee pads, can help prevent serious injuries,” advises Dr. Line. Ensure your child wears these when riding bikes or scooters.
7. Teach Kids to Listen to Their Bodies: Help your child recognize signs of pain or discomfort that could indicate an injury. Encourage them to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
8. Teach Proper Techniques: “Repetitive strain from sports can lead to injuries,” warns Dr. Line. Encourage rest, vary activities, and ensure proper techniques to avoid overuse injuries.
9. Avoid Smoking and Secondhand Smoke: Smoking can weaken bones, so avoid smoking around your child and keep them away from secondhand and thirdhand smoke.
10. Regular Health Check-Ups: Routine check-ups allow you to monitor your child’s growth and bone health. Share any concerns about their bones with their healthcare provider.

Keeping your child safe and healthy is a top priority. By following these simple tips, you can help prevent broken bones and support your child’s active, joyful lifestyle. Ensure they eat a balanced diet, stay active, and play in safe environments to keep their bones strong and resilient.

If your child does experience a fracture, remember that it’s a common and treatable injury. They’ll be back to their energetic selves before you know it!

For any concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s healthcare provider or visit urgent care for an x-ray.  Your child’s health and happiness are worth every effort!

Learn more about bone health and, the risks of osteoporosis.