When to Call the Doctor
Sometimes it is hard to know when to call your baby’s health care provider. Never hesitate to call if you are worried about your baby’s health. Call your baby’s health care provider if your baby has any of the following symptoms:
| Behavior (marked change) | Unusual irritability, excessive sleepiness, general restlesness, lethargy, excessive crying |
| Bowel Movements | Blood or mucous present; bad odor; or, in general, a sudden change in the number of stools; cries when having a bowel movement |
| Breathing difficulties | Flaring nostrils, wheezing, grunts when breathing |
| Circumcision | Swollen, bleeding, unusual discharge |
| Diaper rash | Rash that does not heal, looks excessively red or raw, or is accompanied by thrush (white patches) |
| Eyes | Excessive tearing, swelling, redness or yellow-green discharge |
| Feedings | Loss of appetite or refuses food for a couple of feedings in a row |
| Fever | An axillary temperature greater than 99.5º Fahrenheit (37.5º Celsius ) |
| Mouth | White patches present on the roof and sides of the mouth and/or on tongue (thrush) |
| Skin | Feels hot or moist, sweating, blotchy, pustular rash, dried out, yellow color present |
| Umbilical cord | Bad-smelling drainage, bleeding a lot, swelling, redness of the surrounding skin |
| Urination | Change in color and/or odor of urine, urinates less often |
| Vomiting | Vomits often and a lot |