Learning When to Call Your Baby's Doctor At The Right Time

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 or paranoid. 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 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.

Always call your doctor if your baby is showing signs of an emergency situation. Emergencies are wounds that will not stop bleeding or appear extremely deep. Any type of poisoning or possibility of poisoning means a call to the doctor. If your baby has a seizure or becomes unresponsive, call the doctor immediately.

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. When a baby crys for more than three hours that is a good sign that there is something more serious that 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.

Sometimes, a parent's intuition is right.  A simple phone call to your pediatrician over something that you feel may be abnormal with your infant is not a bad idea.  Pediatricians are accustomed to dealing with new parents.  It is always better to err on the side of precaution and safety rather than let something more serious happen because you were afraid to make a simple phone call.  A good parent is one who always keeps their child's health in mind above all else.

To discover additional information head on over to National Childhood Obesity Foundation similarly Child Obesity Solution and go to