Postnatal and Parenting

Signs that your baby may be unwell

Signs that your baby may be unwell

Your midwife and obstetrician and/or Paediatrician will discuss and provide advice about your baby whilst you are in hospital. As a new parent you are the person who knows your baby best. New parents will be aware that babies can occasionally become unwell, but parents also may have difficulty in deciding when to be concerned and when to seek medical advice and help. This can be particularly challenging if baby is unsettled and crying lots or having feeding problems. The following signs and symptoms may serve as a general guide to assist your decision making. At all times, if you are concerned but unsure, always seek medical advice, because it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Signs in your baby for which you may seek medical advice:

  • Changes in appetite or feeding pattern
  • Changes in mood, persistent crying
  • Changes in skin colour e.g. jaundice
  • Fever (37- 38 degrees Celsius)
  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Minor skin rashes
  • Eye, ear, navel or genital discharge
  • Minor injuries e.g. small scratches

Signs in your baby for which you should seek medical attention sooner rather than later:

  • Baby is pale, drowsy
  • Baby is more irritable than usual
  • Baby is vomiting (particularly if it is green or baby also has diarrhoea and/or fever)
  • Baby will not feed
  • Persistent diarrhoea
  • Unexplained or extensive rash
  • Baby has a persistent or high fever (38 degrees Celsius or more)
  • Baby has not had more than four wet nappies in a day
  • Baby’s fontanelle (soft spot on top of baby’s head) is sunken or bulging
  • Jaundice that first settled and then returned
  • Sticky discharge from the eyes, ears, navel or genitals accompanied by redness in those areas
  • Cough that is persistent, barking or accompanied by wheezing
  • Moderate injuries such as a burn or foreign object or unusual

When your baby shows any of the following signs you should seek urgent medical attention by calling an ambulance on 000:

  • Baby is choking, has trouble breathing, is breathing rapidly or stops breathing for more than 15 seconds or turns blue
  • Baby is suddenly lethargic, unresponsive or unable to move
  • Baby has a convulsion (e.g. a seizure or fit where her/his eyes may roll back and her/his limbs may twitch)
  • There is any bleeding that can’t be stopped
  • Baby swallows something foreign
  • Major injuries e.g. a fall, large burn, serious bump to the head