When Is The Right Time To Call Your Baby’s Doctor

Newly Parents never know when the right time is to call a doctor for their infant. They don’t want to call too early because they are afraid that they might seem overprotective. However, if they call too late, they might seem uncaring and neglectful. As a result, parents feel a heightened sense of apprehension when their infant gets sick, especially for the first time.

The first thing all new parents need to realize is that babies will get sick, just like children of any age. Don’t ever have this idea that 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 to 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 breastfeeding your sick baby. In fact, breastfeeding frequently might help your baby get better faster. If your baby is older and is no longer nursing, consider increasing her fluid intake, encouraging your baby to drink water and pure fruit juices.

It is much easier to spot an emergency situation with your child. In such cases, you should contact your doctor or bring your child to the hospital immediately. Emergency situations are best handled by professionals, so do not try to fix the situation yourself. There is a possibility that you could make it worse. Along with poisoning and uncontrollable bleeding, you should also call for emergency help if you child has seizures. Remember, it is always better to be too cautious rather than not cautious enough.

A fever is often the first sign you receive when your baby is sick. If the fever is above 102F/37.5C 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.

Here a lists of of symptom of when to bring your child to the pediatrician.

• If your baby is having a Fever
• If your baby has Diarrhea
• If your baby refuses to eat for six to eight hours
• If your baby experiences drastic behavior changes such as excessive crying without a cause
• If there is redness around the belly button that extends out into the stomach
• If your baby repeatedly vomits
• If your baby has a congested cough, running eyes or running nose or difficulty breast feeding
• If your baby’s skin color becomes pale or very yellow
• If your baby develops a rash
• If your baby has frequent, watery stools with little or no solid components
• If your baby has any accident or injury

To conclude, if you feel like something is wrong, call the doctor. Pediatricians are used to dealing with parents who do not know for sure how sick their babies are. They would prefer that you seek treatment for what turns out to be a small cold than ignore a serious illness. Keep your child’s best interests at heart, and do not be afraid to call the doctor when you suspect that something could be amiss.