When to call your baby's health care provider

Call your baby's health care provider if your baby:

• breathes too fast or too slow (A newborn breathes between 40 and 60 times a minute.)
• grunts or whistles while breathing
• has a change in their skin color: blue around the mouth, pale skin or yellow skin that spreads from the head to chest, hands, legs or feet
• has a temperature of 100.4 F rectally or higher, or if your baby's temperature is lower than 98 F after being warmed for one hour
• cries nonstop and can't be comforted
• has a change in activity level (doesn't wake to feed or is too agitated to sleep)
• refuses to eat for more than two feedings
• is throwing up often or with force
• has more than eight liquid stools a day (formula fed) or 12 liquid stools a day (breastfed)
• has fewer than four to six wet diapers a day (baby older than three days) or if your baby has no stools or pellet-like stools
• has a new skin rash
• has a reddened area of skin around the cord or smelly drainage
• has bleeding, swelling or smelly drainage from the penis or circumcision site
• has a cough or cold that won't go away or is getting worse
• has yellow or green drainage from their nose
• has any drainage from the eyes (other than tears)
• is sleepier than usual

If you call your baby's health care provider because your baby is ill, be ready to answer questions like these:

• What is your baby's age and approximate weight?
• Does your baby have a fever? If yes, what?
• How did you take the temperature?
• How long has your baby been ill?
• What are the signs and symptoms?
• Is there any other important health history?
• Is your baby allergic to anything? If yes, what?
• What is your pharmacy phone number?