My Baby Has a Split or Cut Lip
The short answer
Split lips from falls are very common in babies and toddlers. The lip area bleeds heavily because of its rich blood supply, so injuries often look worse than they are. Apply firm pressure with a clean cloth for 15 minutes. Small cuts that do not cross the border between the lip skin and facial skin (the vermilion border) usually heal well on their own. Cuts that cross this border, are deep, gaping, or very long may need stitches for the best cosmetic result.
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By Age
What to expect by age
Lip injuries are rare in young babies. If your newborn has a lip cut, apply gentle pressure and contact your pediatrician. Ensure it is from an identifiable cause. Lip bruises in young babies without a clear cause should always be evaluated.
As babies put everything in their mouths and begin to move more, minor lip injuries can occur. A split lip from bumping against a toy or surface will bleed and swell but usually heals quickly. Apply pressure, then apply a cold compress wrapped in cloth to reduce swelling. Continue breastfeeding or bottle feeding as normal.
Falls while pulling up or cruising are a common cause of split lips. After controlling bleeding, examine the cut. If it is inside the lip only and less than half an inch, it will likely heal without stitches. The inside of the mouth heals remarkably fast. Offer cool foods and keep the area clean.
Toddler lip injuries are extremely common. Swelling from a lip injury may make the lip look alarmingly large. Ice wrapped in cloth applied for 10-15 minutes helps reduce swelling. If the cut crosses the vermilion border (the line where lip meets face skin), it may need stitches for cosmetic alignment. See your doctor within 6-8 hours for best results.
Active play leads to frequent lip bumps and cuts. Teach your child to run with their mouth closed. After a lip injury, watch for signs of infection over the next few days: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pus. Also check the teeth for looseness or damage after any fall that affects the mouth area.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Bleeding from a small lip cut stops within 15 minutes of firm pressure
- The lip is swollen but the cut is small and the edges come together on their own
- Your baby is eating and drinking normally within a few hours of the injury
- A lip cut is larger than half an inch or seems deep
- The cut crosses the vermilion border (lip line) and you want to know if stitches are needed
- The lip remains significantly swollen after 48 hours
- Bleeding does not stop after 15-20 minutes of steady, firm pressure
- A large or deep laceration goes all the way through the lip, or the cut crosses the lip border and needs alignment for proper healing - seek medical care within 6-8 hours
Sources
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Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
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Related Medical Concerns
My Baby Bit or Cut Their Tongue
Tongue injuries are common in babies and toddlers and often look worse than they are because the tongue has an excellent blood supply. Most tongue lacerations heal well without stitches. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth for 15 minutes. Small cuts (less than half an inch) on the tip or surface usually heal quickly on their own. Cuts that are deep, gaping, or on the edge of the tongue may need medical evaluation for possible sutures.
My Baby's Tooth Was Knocked Out or Loosened by a Fall
If a baby tooth is knocked out, do NOT try to replant it (unlike permanent teeth). Apply gentle pressure with gauze to stop bleeding. If a tooth is loosened or displaced, see a dentist within 24 hours. If a tooth is pushed up into the gum (intruded), see a dentist promptly as this can affect the permanent tooth developing underneath. Save any tooth fragments for the dentist to examine.
Baby Has a Cut or Bleeding Wound
Minor cuts and scrapes are a normal part of childhood. For most small cuts: apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth for 5-10 minutes to stop the bleeding, clean the wound with lukewarm water, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover with a bandage. Most minor cuts heal well without stitches. A cut may need stitches (or skin glue) if it is deeper than 1/4 inch, will not stop bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, is gaping open, is on the face, or was caused by a dirty or rusty object. If stitches are needed, they work best when placed within 6-8 hours of the injury.
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Adenoid Hypertrophy and Breathing
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