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"Should I call the pediatrician or not?"
Let us take some of the "guess work" out of this important decision for you. If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, the time is right to check with your child's doctor:
- Temperature above 100 degrees (when taken from under the arm).
- Vomiting - twice, large amounts (not just spitting up).
- Refusal to eat - twice in a row.
- Excessive crying - one to two hours.
- Weakness - lethargic, listless.
- Watery or bloody stools (eight to 10). Breast fed babies may have a partly liquid and partly solid stools six to eight times a day. This is considered normal.
- Blister or cold sore rash.
- Yellowish color in skin, gums, or whites of eyes (jaundice) - particularly if it becomes more yellowish from one day to the next.
- No wet diapers within a 24 hour period.
- No stool within a 48 hour period.
- Any seizures or convulsions. Seizures may be rhythmical jerking, stiffening of all extremities or only hand, arm, foot or leg on one side of face, or fixed staring of eyes for more than four to five minutes (as in rolling eyes back in head).
- Difficult breathing or bluish color of face, body, arms and legs. It's considered normal for an infant's hands and feet to be somewhat blue if he/she is too cold.
Breastfeeding
Baby Care
Crying and Stress
Newborn Appearance
Toys and Games
When to Call the Doctor
Older Siblings
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