When to Get Help for Your Baby
Times to Call Your Child’s Health Provider
Children can occasionally get sick, but sometimes they need more than just home care. If the baby has ongoing symptoms, or if you feel something is wrong, call the child’s healthcare provider for advice. Trust your instincts as a parent or caregiver, and seek guidance for symptoms that do not get better, appear suddenly, or seem unusual.
Refusal or Difficulty Eating
Infants usually eat every few hours. If a baby refuses to feed, skips two or more feedings, or eats much less than normal, it may be a sign of illness. A sudden drop in appetite, especially when paired with vomiting or unusual sleepiness, needs attention. Regular feeding helps a baby’s growth and hydration.
Excessive Drowsiness or Weakness
Babies sleep a lot, but if a child is excessively sleepy, hard to wake, or seems floppy and unresponsive, contact a healthcare provider. Notice if the baby is unusually irritable, cries constantly, or cannot be comforted. Unusual drowsiness or trouble waking can signal serious health issues.
Swelling or Sensitivity near Navel or Genitals
If the infant shows swelling, redness, oozing, or bleeding from the belly button or penis, call a healthcare provider. These symptoms might show infection or other problems that need medical attention, especially soon after birth or after any procedures.
Fever
A baby’s temperature provides crucial insights into their health. Follow these guidelines about fever:
| Baby’s Age | When to Call the Provider |
|---|---|
| Under 3 months | Any fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher). |
| 3-6 months | Fever up to 100.4°F/38°C and appears sick OR any fever above 100.4°F/38°C. |
| 6-24 months | Fever above 100.4°F/38°C lasting more than one day. |
If other symptoms like cough, diarrhea, or irritability appear, or a mild fever lasts over three days, call sooner. High, persistent fever or fever with a rash, trouble breathing, or fussiness can signal more serious conditions.
Loose Stools or Trouble Pooping
Diarrhea in infants means passing watery stools more than three times within a day. Diarrhea can quickly cause dehydration, especially in younger babies. Constipation, shown by hard stools or not passing stool for several days, can make a baby uncomfortable or bloated. If a child seems to strain, cry, or be in pain with changes in stool, call for advice. Look for blood in the stool or very pale stools as well.
Vomiting That’s More Than Spitting Up
Spitting up is common in babies, but vomiting is different. Vomiting happens forcefully and can cause dehydration fast. Call if a baby vomits after feedings, cannot keep liquids down for more than eight hours, or vomits green or bloody material.
Dehydration
Dehydration can develop quickly in infants, especially with vomiting, fever, or diarrhea. Signs include:
- Fewer wet diapers than usual
- Crying with little or no tears
- Dry mouth or cracked lips
- Sunken soft spot on the top of the head
- Listlessness or irritability
If you suspect dehydration, contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Common Cold Symptoms
Babies often catch colds, but some symptoms require medical advice. Call if the baby has:
- Trouble breathing
- Fast or labored breathing
- Wheezing or grunting sounds
- Cough that is severe or lasts over 10 days
- Ear pain or discharge
These can be signs of respiratory problems or ear infections and may need medical treatment.
Skin Changes
A rash can show up for many reasons, including allergies, infections, or reactions to new foods or medicines. Seek medical advice if:
- The rash appears suddenly or spreads fast.
- There are blisters, open sores, or signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus).
- The baby also has a fever.
- The rash looks like bruises or purple spots.
- The baby seems otherwise unwell.
| Rash Type | When To Call |
|---|---|
| Sudden or spreading fast | Immediately |
| Blisters or open sores | As soon as noticed |
| With fever | Soon after symptoms appear |
| With bruising or purple spots | Right away |
Eye Problems
Call a provider if one or both of the baby’s eyes are red, swollen, or leaking thick yellow or green mucus. This could be a sign of an eye infection and may need prompt treatment.
Concerns or Worry About Baby’s Health
If you are very worried about the baby’s health—even if the symptoms seem mild—it is okay to call. Symptoms can change quickly. Speak with a healthcare provider or use a 24-hour nurse service anytime there is concern or uncertainty about a baby’s health, especially outside of regular office hours.
Emergency Warning Signs
Seek emergency care right away if a baby shows any of these symptoms:
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure.
- Possible poisoning, including swallowing medicine or chemicals.
- Seizures, sudden shaking, or unusual stiffening.
- Cuts or burns that are deep, large, or do not stop bleeding.
- Breathing in smoke, choking, or almost drowning.
- Head injury, especially if the baby is hard to wake, vomits several times, or has uneven pupils.
- Trouble swallowing, drooling, or seems unable to clear throat.
- Severe allergic reaction with swelling of lips or face, hives, or difficulty breathing.
- Pale, blue, gray, or purple lips or skin.
- Child is unresponsive, limp, or hard to wake.
- Severe, worsening pain or fussiness that does not settle.
Prepare for emergencies by learning basic first aid and keeping emergency numbers somewhere easy to find, including in a mobile phone. Know where the nearest emergency room or urgent care center is located.
Giving Information to Health Providers
When you speak with a healthcare professional, having specific facts ready helps speed up care. Be prepared to answer questions and provide details such as:
- Symptoms: Describe what symptoms the baby has, when they started, and any changes.
- Feeding and Hydration: Note any changes in eating, breastfeeding, bottle amounts, and number of wet or soiled diapers.
- Fever or Temperature: Record the highest temperature, when and how it was taken.
- Medical History: Mention known allergies, current medicines (including doses), immunization record, pregnancy or delivery problems, and recent exposures to sick people or travel.
- Injuries: Mention any known bumps, falls, or accidents, even if they seemed minor at first.
- Home Treatments: List any remedies or medications already tried at home.
- Contacts: Bring a list of current prescriptions, and bring any medicine bottles if poisoning is suspected.
Taking notes before calling or visiting the office can help you remember questions and follow the advice given. Keeping the pharmacy’s phone number available can also help if new medication is needed.
