Your child has a bruise (contusion) on their foot. It’s when small blood vessels break open and leak some blood into the nearby area. Bruise symptoms often include black-and-blue color, swelling, and pain. It may take several hours for a deep bruise to show up. Bruises are often minor injuries.
A foot can easily be hit or bumped and lead to a bruise. A child can trip and fall and bruise their foot. Or a child may drop something on a foot. Bruises are also common in newborn babies after blood is drawn from the heel.
Bruises like these are first treated using RICE. This stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. A cold compress is put on the area. The foot may need to be protected with a brace or elastic cloth wrap. Elevating the foot above the heart can help reduce swelling. Medicine can also help ease swelling and pain. If the injury is severe, your child may need an X-ray to check for broken bones.
It may be painful for your child to move the injured foot. You’ll need to limit how much your child uses the foot for a few days. An older child may need crutches or a larger shoe for a short time. Your child can use the foot normally again when they're feeling better.
A bruise may take a few weeks to go away. Swelling should get better in a few days.
Home care
Follow these guidelines when caring for your child at home:
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Have your child rest the foot.
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Your child’s health care provider may advise prescription or over-the-counter pain medicines to reduce pain and swelling. Follow all instructions for giving these to your child.
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Use cool compresses or cold packs to help reduce swelling and pain. A cool compress is a clean cloth that’s damp with cold water. Use this on a baby or toddler. A cold pack is a gel pouch that is put in the freezer to chill. It’s then wrapped in a clean, thin, dry cloth before use. Cold packs are for older children. Place a cool compress or a cold pack on the bruised area for up to 20 minutes every 1 to 2 hours. Repeat this every hour while your child is awake. Continue for 1 or 2 days, or as instructed.
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If the foot has an elastic cloth wrap or a brace, follow all instructions for caring for these.
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Raise (elevate) your child's foot to help ease swelling.
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For children 1 year and older: When sitting or lying down, have your child elevate the foot above the level of their heart as often as possible. Pillows can be used while sitting or sleeping to elevate their bruised foot.
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For babies younger than 12 months: A baby who is awake and observed can be placed on their noninjured side with the bruised foot elevated. If your baby falls asleep, move them to a flat, firm surface. Never use pillows for sleep or put your baby to sleep on their stomach or side. Babies younger than 12 months should sleep on a flat surface on their back. Don't use car seats, strollers, swings, baby carriers, or baby slings for sleep. If your baby falls asleep in one of these, move them to a flat, firm surface as soon as you can.
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After you've stopped using cool compresses or cold packs on the area, start using warm compresses. A warm compress is a clean, thin cloth that’s damp with warm water. Apply this to the area for 10 minutes, a few times a day. Make sure to touch the warm compress to your own skin first to be sure it will not scald or burn.
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Don't massage the bruised spot, as that can break more blood vessels under the skin. This will make the bruised area larger.
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Follow any other instructions you were given.
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Keep in mind that bruising may take several weeks to go away.
Prevention
Have your child wear sturdy shoes that protect their feet.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child’s health care provider as advised.
Special note to parents
Health care providers are trained to see injuries such as this in young children as a sign of possible abuse. You may be asked questions about how your child was injured. Providers must, by law, ask you these questions. This is done to protect your child. Please try to be patient.
When to get medical care
Contact your child's health care provider right away if any of these occur:
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Bruising gets worse.
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Pain or swelling doesn't get better, or gets worse.
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Your child has new bruises and you don’t know what caused them.
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The bruise doesn't heal in a few weeks.
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Your child can’t walk or move the injured foot.
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Your child has a fever.
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Author: Wheeler, Brooke
© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
