Know when your baby has the hiccups or when he’s snoring, but also know when it’s time to call your baby’s doctor.
- Fevers. The rule for babies is if his or her rectal temperature is more than 37,8ºC for a 0 to 3 month baby or more than 38,3ºC for a 3 to 6 month old baby, call the doctor. Also, if the baby has a fever of any level and his or her behavior is unusual, call.
- Not Hungry. If the baby won’t eat for two consecutive feedings, it’s a good warning sign. Babies can’t sustain long periods without food or water without the risk of dehydration.
- Moods. This is a tough one because babies are often moody by nature. But if your baby is dull or unresponsive to people, sights or sounds, it is an indicator of trouble.
- Breathing. All babies breathe, and sometimes in unique ways. But if you notice repeated, unusually rapid or heavy breathing, you should call a doctor.
- Digestive Stuff. If your baby has 3 or more episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, or if there is blood in baby’s vomit or stool, it is time to make a call. Lots of vomiting and diarrhea are the cause of dehydration, and blood in vomit or stool can mean lots of things, none of them good. If your child has eaten or ingested any medication, household product or foreign object, you should call.
- Crying. All babies cry, but if he or she is crying continuously and uncontrollably for 2 or more hours, there is definitely something wrong.
- Accidents. If the baby has suffered a burn or other serious injury, call the doctor. Babies don’t react to things like older children do, and a burn, sprain, large bruise or other injury can be pretty dangerous if not treated promptly.
- When in doubt; make the call. Even if your gut just tells you something is wrong, it is better to be safe than sorry. One of the biggest responsibilities of a dad is to protect his child from avoidable problems, and calling the pediatrician can be the best thing you can do when you don’t know what else to do.
