How to stop replaying a near-miss accident with your child
The shock of a terrifying close call triggers intrusive mental loops where the brain repeatedly replays what could have happened. This constant rumination leaves parents trapped in intense anxiety and guilt, unable to break the cycle of catastrophic what-if scenarios.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1checking and rechecking the number of items repeatedlyDid this help you?
- 2trying to move on and let go of irrational fearsDid this help you?
- 3talking to someone or seeking professional support for anxietyDid this help you?
- 4Trying to teach oneself that thoughts are not predictionsDid this help you?
- 5Renting or closing off hazardsDid this help you?
- 6Seeking support and advice from other parents on online forumsDid this help you?
- 7Doing tummy time on a bed, carpeted floor, or softer foam tile surfaces instead of hard wood floorsDid this help you?
- 8Using alternative methods of tummy time such as holding the baby on the chest, babywearing, or supporting them on a shoulderDid this help you?
- 9Calling a pediatrician for adviceDid this help you?
- 10Monitoring the child for abnormal behaviorDid this help you?
- 11Considering going to the ERDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I can’t stop thinking about how close we came to losing our toddler and I feel completely traumatised.”source ↗
“I really need some support from other parents because I honestly don’t know how to get my brain to stop going over this.”source ↗
“I can’t even properly describe what that did to me. Because if that window had been open, he could have fallen out.”source ↗
“And now my brain keeps going to the same thought over and over. He could have died.”source ↗
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life terrified of what could happen to my children.”source ↗
“I recently just had my baby on tummy time on his playmat on our floor (hardwood ish) and he rolled over super fast and he hit his head, not too hard but he hit it and he got scared. Which made me scared and now I’m terrified of doing tummy time again until I know he is okay. 🥲”source ↗
“I’m just anxious now and I don’t know what to do. 🥲”source ↗
“I know I overreacted but having heard horror stories about button batteries I just lost it.”source ↗
“Still I am on high alert with my heart pacing.”source ↗
“I’ve been spiraling.”source ↗
“I will live with so much guilt for a long time cause I keep thinking what if I wasn’t right there next to him.”source ↗
“I am beyond terrified by the 2 seconds she was unresponsive.”source ↗
“While I am sitting here looking at her with my heart in my mouth.”source ↗
“Please help me to overcome this unnatural fear I am facing.”source ↗
“No he doesn’t normally put things in his mouth. But the mum guilt is consuming me and I keep making scenarios in my head.”source ↗
Where this came up
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