When to contact your baby's healthcare professional

An illness now and then in a baby who's healthy most of the time is nothing to worry about. But here are times when contacting your baby's healthcare professional is a good idea.

• Baby won't eat Call if your baby misses two or more feedings in a row or eats poorly.
• Your baby is sleepier than usual Call if your baby is sleeping more or is hard to awaken. Let the health professional know if your baby seems floppy, is crying more than usual or is very hard to calm.
• Tender belly button or penis Call if your baby's penis or belly button area changes color or starts to ooze or bleed.
• Your baby has a fever Call for any fever if your baby is younger than 3 months old.

  Call if your baby is 3 to 6 months old, has a temperature up to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) and seems sick. Also call if your baby has a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).

  Call if your baby is 6 to 24 months old and has a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) that lasts more than one day. If your baby also has symptoms such as a cold, cough or diarrhea, you may want to call your baby's healthcare professional sooner. This might depend on how bad the symptoms are.

  If you haven't already called your baby's healthcare professional, call if your baby's fever lasts more than three days.

• Diarrhea or constipation Call if your baby passes more than three stools that are very loose or watery.

  Call if your baby passes stool less often for a few days. Also call if your baby seems to be struggling or uncomfortable or has a bloated belly.

• Your baby is vomiting Babies spit up sometimes. But vomiting is when the flow shoots out rather than dribbles from the mouth. Call if your baby vomits after feedings or your baby hasn't kept liquids down for eight hours.
• Dehydration Call if your baby cries with fewer tears, has fewer wet diapers or has a dry mouth. Your baby's soft spot on the head might look sunken.
• Cold symptoms Call if your baby has trouble breathing, ear pain or a cough with fast or hard breathing. Call for other symptoms that last more than 10 days.
• Your baby has a rash Call if the rash comes on quickly, blisters or looks infected. Call if your baby also has a fever.
• Eye discharge If one or both of your baby's eyes are red or swollen or have a discharge of mucus or pus, contact a healthcare professional.
• You are worried If you're worried about your baby's symptoms, make the call. After regular business hours, you may be able to use a 24-hour nurse line.