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When To Take Your Baby To The Doctor
Most parents don’t like taking their children to the doctor at the first sign of illness. Many times the wait is long and you’re stuck in an overcrowded waiting room loaded with sick kids. A lot of physician offices stock their waiting room with toys which only further spreads germs.
Plus we don’t want to overreact if our babies just have a simple cold. However, there are times when we need to bring our baby in to be seen. These are some symptoms to look out for. If your baby is experiencing any one of these, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician and schedule an appointment.
Fever-If your baby has a fever higher than 100.5 for more than 24 hours or if the fever is high, they need to be seen. Sometimes you need to alternate ibuprofen and Tylenol every 4-6 hours in order to break the fever.
Vomiting-Babies vomit for different reasons. If your baby vomits a few times, don’t panic. They could have a stomach bug. But if they are projectile vomiting or if their vomit is green in color or bloody, they need to be seen immediately. If you notice your baby vomiting right after a bottle, they might have reflux. It’s still a good idea to have the doctor check things out.
Difficulty breathing, coughing or wheezing-If you notice your child having trouble breathing, bring them to a doctor or ER right away. This can be related to a cold or something serious.
Diarrhea-Just like if your baby vomits, don’t panic if they have a few bouts of diarrhea. It could be something simple like formula intolerance. Many times if that’s the case, you’ll see mucous or blood in their stool. When babies or toddles get stomach bugs, they can have diarrhea that lasts up to 10 days. But, I would recommend bringing your baby to the doctor after 4 or 5 days of diarrhea.
Constipation is another reason to take your baby to the doctor. Oftentimes they can prescribe a gentle laxative.
Tugging or pulling at the ears is a tell tale sign of an ear infection. Ear infections are probably the most prevalent illness kids get. They are usually treated with antibiotics as they won’t go away on their own. Ear infections also develop almost over night. For instance, you can take your child to the doctor if you notice persistent cold symptoms that are not going away. The doctor might say your child is negative for an ear infection. But, the infection can develop in the ear overnight.
Not enough wet diapers is a definite sign to visit the doctor or ER as that is a sign of dehydration.
Inconsolable crying and/or not eating are always signs you need to take your child to the doctor right away.
Diaper rashes are common in babies but if they are accompanied by fever or if the rash is not going away or blisters develop, see your pediatrician.
These are just some common complaints that warrant taking your child to the doctor. It never hurts to call the pediatrician and get advice from their staff nurse on whether or not to bring your child in to be seen. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.
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