March of Dimes
The Basics
 
When to Call Your Baby's Doctor

Unfortunately, babies don’t come with instruction manuals, and they can’t tell you when something is wrong. It can be hard for parents to understand their newborn and tell the difference between a baby’s regular fussiness and a more serious problem. Knowing when to call a health provider can be a challenging and nerve-racking experience for parents. 

When in doubt, trust your instincts! If you think your baby needs medical attention, call his health provider. Some problems need immediate attention. Others can wait until regular office hours. Here are some signs to help you know when to call. 

URGENT: Call the health provider immediately if your baby:

  • Has blood in her vomit or stool.
  • Has trouble breathing, very fast breathing (more than 60 breaths in a minute), or blue lips or finger nails.
  • Has a seizure. (When a person has a seizure, any part, or all, of the body moves repetitively. Sometimes the person stops breathing.)
  • Has eaten or drunk nonfoods that can cause harm such as vomiting, diarrhea, trouble breathing, etc. Examples of nonfoods are detergents, soaps, bleach and rodent control products.
  • Is hard to waken or unusually tired.
  • Has a rectal temperature above 100.4 degrees F. or below 97.8 degrees F.
  • Has yellowish skin or eyes. 
  • Is injured and won’t stop bleeding.
  • Has hurt his head or another part of the body 

LESS URGENT: Call the health provider’s office if your baby:

  • Is eating less or shows other changes in appetite.
  • Is regularly crying, irritable or unable to be comforted. 
  • Has frequent diarrhea. This can be harder to notice in breastfed babies as they usually have soft stools. Contact the health provider’s office if your baby’s stools are especially soft or watery for 6-8 diaper changes.
  • Vomits (more than just spit up) more than 2-3 times a day.
  • Has a cold that doesn’t improve or gets worse after a few days. 
  • Has a rash.
  • Is constipated and doesn’t have any stools.
  • Has fewer than six wet diapers in 24 hours. This can be a sign of dehydration. Other signs include sunken eyes, sunken soft spot (fontanel) on the baby’s head, or lack of tears when crying.
  • Has fluid draining from her ears.
  • Has a tender navel or penis. Look for any redness, bleeding or pus in these areas.  

August 2008


  
  © 2008 March of Dimes Foundation. All rights reserved. The March of Dimes is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.