Accident prone 8 month old - i feel like such a bad mum :(

my 8 month old is so active! he does not stop from the moment he wakes, (he does nap during the day) he is just on the go, crawling everywhere and 2 weeks ago he started pulling himself up on everything, now he's standing up and leaning on things, he even does one hand. thats great and all but it means he also keeps falling! he hasn't quite got his balance yet. i am careful and have tried to make the house safe but he keeps hurting himself! so far he has had 2 split fat lips, one split gum (because of his teeth) and countless bumps and bruises!
i guess what i want to know is is this normal????
i can not take my eyes off him for a second, literally. because hes straight up (he even uses the curtains!) and then he falls because he's trying to turn and move on to the next thing! i dont know what to do. i am with him constantly but even then i can't stop the falls... he did a beauty today i was right next to him, arms out... and he fell the other way :redface: gouged the side of his face.. i feel like such a bad mum. i am so scared of him badly hurting himself i cant get anything done.
maybe i should get a playpen?
any other ideas anyone? would love to know if all bubs do this?

thanks for listening to my rant/vent! i didn't mean for it to be so long.

Both my girls are terrors for hurting themselves and both have had trips to hospital due to falls. DD2 seems to be worse at it though, poor thing. I am really worried that her forehead will have a permanent lump if she keeps on going. No matter how hard we try she will not let us put an ice pack on her to help reduce any swelling.

I found that no matter what I did to make things safe, they would find a way around it. When they seem intent on climbing all you can really do is do your best. Maybe look at going to an indoor play centre and let him climb out some of that energy somewhere a bit safer. It may also give you some idea about what you can do at home for him that is fun and safe.

:hug: it is heartbreaking frustrating when they seem so intent on hurting themselves.

My DS is super crazy - we're amazed that we've never had a trip to hospital or more than a few bruises because he is just so gung-ho about everything. His latest adventure was falling down a full flight of stairs, he cried for a few minutes (mostly because I freaked out), didn't have a scratch on him, then spent the next ten minutes trying to get back up there to do it again. :rolleyes: Yesterday he tried to leap from the couch into the pram (which was being moved at the time). He's a total nutter, absolutely fearless.

Whilst they are learning a new physical skill it is the most likely time for injuries, so if you can either take him to or create an area where he can practice and fall over without injury, then he will master that skill quickly and without injury. A play-pen might be good for some peace of mind when you really need to get things done - put lots of cushions in there and he can practice standing (and falling over) to his heart's content. But if he is anything like my DS, a play-pen may feel too confining before long and he will want to be out exploring.

One thing I have noticed with my own DS is that once he learns a physical skill he is very dexterous and confident; he rides his little trike around our (enclosed) car-park, and zooms in and out between the poles, then heads straight towards a pole at break-neck speed, then stops a centimetre away with this big grin on his face. There are benefits to having a very active, fearless, determined child - even if it does cause a few grey hairs.