A child, with her love of running, high energy, low center of gravity and propensity for climbing on precarious surfaces, will inevitably fall. It is almost impossible to distinguish a deep bruise from a genuine broken bone if your child says that "it hurts" and it's not getting better. Watch out for children who stop using the limb altogether (holding an arm to the side and crying if it gets moved, for example, or limping).

In some cases, you may not have seen the fall or may notice swelling or bruising an unknown time after the accident. These kids still need a physician's exam and may also need an X-ray.