ER doctor's urgent warning about the three ways parents should NEVER pick up their kids

  • Texas-based Dr. J. Mack Slaughter has become a TikTok sensation
  • He frequently shares healthcare advice online
  • The ER doctor revealed the top injury that comes from picking up your child 

An ER doctor has cautioned parents about the dangers of picking up their children the wrong way as they can result in serious injuries. 

Texas-based Dr. J. Mack Slaughter has become a TikTok sensation by sharing healthcare advice online with his more than 697,000 followers. 

He recently took to the video-sharing platform to detail an injury known as a 'nursemaid's elbow,' which occurs when a ligament slips out of place in between the elbow joint and two bones, according to KidsHealth.

In the viral clip, which has so far amassed more than 20,000 views, the healthcare pro revealed that you shouldn't pull your child up or away by their wrist, or swing them around by their wrists as it can lead to this injury. 

Dr. J. captioned the video: 'Nursemaid's elbow (aka radial head subluxation) affects over 20,000 children per year in the US with over 80 per cent of those patients being between the ages of one and three.' 

An ER doctor has cautioned parents about the dangers of picking up their children in these specific manners as they can result in serious injuries

An ER doctor has cautioned parents about the dangers of picking up their children in these specific manners as they can result in serious injuries

Texas-based Dr. J. Mack Slaughter has become a TikTok sensation by sharing healthcare advice online with his over 696,000 followers (seen with his wife and two children)

Texas-based Dr. J. Mack Slaughter has become a TikTok sensation by sharing healthcare advice online with his over 696,000 followers (seen with his wife and two children)

Don't hurt your kids! The three ways that picking up your child can result in a nursemaid's elbow 

  • Pulling up on their hands or wrists
  • Swinging them around by their hands or wrists
  • Pulling a child's hand or wrist who is trying to get away
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According to KidsHealth, there are three ways this injury often occurs.

It happens when child is pulled by the hand to stop them from falling or running, when you swing a child around by the hands, and when a kid rolls over on the arm while sleeping or playing. 

The ER doctor focused on swinging your child around, which he admitted he has done before. 

'Daddies love this one. They grab their kids by the wrist and just start swinging.' he said as he stretched his arms out and pretended he was being spun around. 

The ER doctor noted that children tended to love this 'until the head of the radial bone gets dislocated.'

Dr. J. admitted that he once accidentally gave his own child a nursemaid's elbow. 

'The good news is I popped it right back into place,' he said. 

People flooded the comments section and echoed the doctor's warning - with many of them noting that they were forced to learn the hard way. 

@dr.jmack

Nursemaid’s elbow (aka radial head subluxation) affects over 20,000 children per year in the US with over 80% of those patients being between the ages of 1 and 3. #emergencymedicine #pediatrics #medschool #nursingschool #nursepractitioner #physicianassistant

♬ original sound - Dr.JMack | ER Doctor
The doctor revealed that pulling a child who is trying to get away (shown in stock image) can cause injury
The doctor revealed that pulling a child up by their wrist (shown in stock image) can cause injury

The doctor revealed that pulling a child who is trying to get away (shown in stock image left) or pulling a child up (shown in stock image right) can cause injury

According to the doctor, spinning a child around by their hands/wrists can also result in a nursemaid's injury (stock image)

According to the doctor, spinning a child around by their hands/wrists can also result in a nursemaid's injury (stock image)

People flooded the comments section and echoed the doctor's warning - with many of them noting that they were forced to learn the hard way

People flooded the comments section and echoed the doctor's warning - with many of them noting that they were forced to learn the hard way

One person said: 'I did this to my daughter accidentally. I was terrified that they were gonna take me to jail when we went to the ER. Turns out they see it frequently - no jail for me.'

Another user wrote: 'I had to pop my daughter's elbow back in place when my husband picked her up wrong. She was screaming, then instantly stopped.'

'My daughter had this, it was so bad,' someone else added.

'This happened to all three of our kids. you'd think we would've learned but... nope. They taught us how to put it back in,' one user commented. 

According to KidsHealth, most children won't get nursemaid's elbow after age five, however it can happen up to age six or seven.