Knowing When to Contact Your Baby’s Doctor

Posted on January 14, 2009
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How is a parent to know the right time to call their pediatrician for their baby? The infant is unable to tell the parent what is wrong, whether it is nothing more than a runny nose or if it is something more serious. On one hand, the parents do not want to bother their pediatrician if it turns out to be nothing more than a gas bubble in their bellies. But they also do not want to ignore something like an infant’s sudden lack of appetite if this is the precursor to something more serious. Being the parent of a seemingly sick infant can often be an anxious experience.

The initial thing that all new parents need to know is that babies do get sick, similar to kids of any age group. A sick baby does not mean you are a bad parent. In fact, getting a small cold once in a while helps your baby’s developing immune system become stronger. But any cold or sickness can develop into a difficult situation if not kept under control.

When your baby sickens, try to maintain a normal feeding schedule. There is no problem with breast feeding your sick baby. In fact, breast feeding frequently might help your baby get better faster. If you baby is older and is no longer nursing, consider increasing her fluid intake, encouraging your baby to drink water and pure fruit juices.

This goes without saying, but if your child requires emergency care, you should call your doctor or 911 immediately. If your child has uncontrollable bleeding or gets a deep cut, do not try to take care of the situation by yourself. If your child has accidentally ingested any type of poisoning, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Seizures and unresponsiveness are also reasons to get urgent help for your child.

Very often a fever is the initial sign you get when you baby is sick. If the fever is above 102 in a baby, you should call the doctor. A higher fever does not mean your baby is necessarily dangerously sick, but your baby’s doctor should know, so that he can advise you on treatment. Another indication that your baby needs to be seen is a sudden, drastic change in appetite. A good rule of thumb is if your baby skips two meals in a row, they need to go to the pediatrician.

Assessing your baby’s mood is another way to determine if they are sick enough to go to the doctor. Of course, a sick baby is not going to be her normal joyful self, but if your baby becomes completely inconsolable, call the doctor. Crying that lasts longer than three hours is a good sign that something more serious is wrong.

Diarrhea that lasts for six or more diapers in a row is a sign of illness, and can lead to dehydration. The same goes for vomiting. It is important to know the difference between vomiting and spitting up. Most babies will spit up, and sometimes they spit up quite a lot of substance, but vomit will be forceful and projectile. As with diarrhea, excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration.

Pediatricians get paid a lot of money. As a parent, a lot of this money has come from you. Do not be afraid to call them if you feel that something is not right with your child. As long as you are polite, they will understand your concern and they can simply tell you what your course of action should be based on your child’s symptoms. It is never a good idea to “wait” just because you feel anxious or embarrassed. Your child’s life and well-being are much more important that the way you appear to others.

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