When Should I Call My Doctor

Babies cannot tell their parents if something hurts, or they feel sick. They can cry, and parents need to learn the different kinds of crying they hear from their babies. A baby may be crying because she is hungry, her diaper needs changing, or she wants attention. This crying will stop when the parent feeds, changes, and/or comforts the baby. A crying baby that cannot be comforted or soothed may need to see the doctor.

As a parent, you should never be afraid to call your doctor, or try and get help if you think there is something wrong with your baby. If he has any kind of injury, symptoms of illness (including fever), won’t eat, or is acting in a manner that alarms you, you should call the doctor. Some things are obvious emergencies, such as a serious cut, burn, or accident. If your baby appears to be having a seizure, will not wake up, or has a high fever, these are also emergencies.

Sometimes, though, the signs of significant injury after, for example, hitting her head, may not be that obvious. Serious symptoms of illness may also not be clear in a baby.

There are certain “red flags,” or indications that mean you need to call your baby’s doctor, or take your baby to see the doctor. This is not meant to replace your own instincts, or actual medical care. Indicators include:

Fever. Fever is a very significant sign that something is wrong with your baby. In newborns (up to three months of age), a rectal temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is considered very serious. A doctor needs to see the newborn as soon as possible to make sure she does not have an infection. In babies three to six months of age, a rectal temperature of 101 degrees F. warrants a visit to the doctor.
If your baby, six to twelve months of age, has a rectal temperature 103 F, you need to call your doctor. Depending on other symptoms, you may be told to bring her right in or to control her fever and watch her. In older babies and children, as opposed to newborns, you can look at other symptoms to get an idea of how sick your child is. If you are not sure what to do, you should call your pediatrician or family doctor.
Crying and/or fussiness. As noted above, a baby that cannot be comforted probably needs to see the doctor. If she looks sick, cannot sleep, has other symptoms (such as a fever), she needs to see the doctor. If you cannot comfort her, and she has been crying for more than three to four hours, she needs to see the doctor. One exception to this is colic, which you may be able to recognize. If you are not sure, your doctor needs to check your baby.
Refusing to eat or drink (this is especially true if it happens more than once). If your baby refuses breast milk, formula, and/or refuses to eat (depending on his age), you will need to watch him. If this continues, or if he has any other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or coughing, he needs to see the doctor. If he will not wake up to eat, and you cannot rouse him, it is an emergency.
You should know his normal feeding schedule. If he sleeps through normal feeding times, and/or if you can’t get him to wake enough to eat, he needs to see the doctor. This is not the same as learning to sleep through the night without feeding. It means a sudden change in his normal behavior.
Persistent vomiting, especially if with diarrhea. Persistent vomiting is usually considered more than three times, or for more than 8 hours. If your baby has diarrhea for more than 24 hours, you should call the doctor, or go to see the doctor.
Vomiting is more serious if she cannot keep anything down and has diarrhea, because that can cause dehydration. You can usually tell when she is dehydrated because the baby will not have tears, her mouth will be dry, and her diaper will stay dry. She may feel cool to the touch, and her soft spot may be sunken in. Any evidence of dehydration means she needs to see the doctor as soon as possible.
This is not the same as spitting up small amounts of formula. If you have any questions, you should call your doctor.
Difficulty breathing, with or without persistent coughing. You may be able to see that your baby is struggling to breathe. You may see his chest muscles working very hard. You may hear wheezing or other noises. Your baby’s color may turn purplish or blue/gray. If she is struggling and turning color, this is an emergency.
Other serious problems. These include seizures, abnormal behavior (acting strangely or seeming to hallucinate, which is easier to tell in an older child), cuts that will not stop bleeding with pressure, and possible poisoning, which is more likely in an older child who can get into cabinets.
Other problems. This includes choking, which becomes more likely when your baby can bring her hand, along with a small piece of food or toy, to her mouth. Pulling at one or both ears, or drainage from an ear, may indicate an ear infection and your baby needs to see the doctor. Swelling in the scrotum or near the belly button can indicate a hernia which is only an emergency of the baby seems to be having pain and the swelling is hard.

In case of any question of illness or injury that you think may be serious, call your baby’s doctor, or in emergencies, take her to the emergency room.

Home > Baby > Doctors, Appointments, & Questions > When Should I Call My Doctor

	It’s an excellent idea
	Sounds good in theory, but too much trouble in practice
	Sounds kind of silly, to me

When Should I Call My Doctor

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