When to Call the Doctor

You know your baby better than anyone. If you think something is wrong or unusual, tell your baby’s doctor. That’s what they are there for.

Excessive sleepiness

Newborns spend up to 18 hours of the day sleeping. Your baby should wake up every two to four hours during the first two weeks of life. When they are awake, they should be alert and eat well.

When to call? If your baby does not wake up to feed and seems more tired than usual.

Respiratory distress

Babies breathe differently than adults, faster, and with short pauses. If your baby feeds well, everything should be fine.

When to call? If your baby appears to be breathing too fast and is having difficulty feeding, or if you notice a bluish color around their mouth/face.

Fever

For a baby, a fever is a temperature of 100.4ºF/38.0ºC or higher. A rectal thermometer is the most accurate in young babies, but if you don’t have one, you can use a thermometer that takes their temperature by ear, forehead, or armpit.

When to call? If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever.

Colds

Runny noses are common as long as your baby is alert, feeding well, and has no fever. A few squirts of saline drops in the nose and a humidifier can help.

When to call? If your baby isn’t eating or develops more severe cold symptoms like a cough or fever.

Vomiting

Vomiting is when your baby forcefully throws up and is not the same as spitting up. Spitting up is when clear/milk color comes out of your baby’s mouth, often with a burp, and is very common and normal in babies.

When to call? If your baby is throwing up forcefully, or if the vomit is yellow, green, bloody, or looks like it has coffee grounds in it.

Crying/colic

It is very normal for young babies to cry. Babies with colic cry more frequently, more intensely, and for longer periods of time.

When to call? While there is no treatment for colic, you should call your doctor if your baby cries for long periods of time and is unable to calm down. It might be an indication that they have an illness or condition that is causing discomfort.

Jaundice/high bilirubin level

Babies may develop a common yellowish skin color, called jaundice. Every baby born in Chicago is given a bilirubin level test before going home. Jaundice usually goes away within two weeks, but babies with very high bilirubin levels will need treatment under special lights, called phototherapy.

When to call? If you think that your baby’s skin color is looking more yellow.

Constipation

Some babies poop multiple times a day, and others only poop once every few days. Both of these are normal, as long as your baby is alert and not uncomfortable. Any shade of green or yellow is normal color.

When to call? If your baby seems very uncomfortable, has not pooped in three to four days or if the poop color is white, red, or black.

Tip for parents

Always trust yourself and follow your instincts

Tip for parents

For a list of items that can help with common issues, see Bringing Baby Home.

Additional Reading

Common Health Issues

Get answers to some of the most common questions you may have as a new parent.

Keeping Your Baby Safe

Learn about how to keep your baby safe around pets, in the car, and more.

Crying

Understand why babies cry, how you can soothe them, and when to call for extra help.