How to Spot Signs of Sickness in Newborns

Watching for illness in newborns

Having a sick baby is no fun for any parent. The sooner that you can spot the signs of sickness in your newborn, the quicker you can treat the problem.

Instructions

1. Evaluate his appetite. The most noticeable sign of sickness in a newborn is the lack of appetite. If something is wrong, babies will usually stop eating and refuse any food. Projectile or forceful vomiting is also another reason to be concerned.

2. Consider his behavior. Your newborn's behavior is another indicator of sickness. Is he more tired than usual? Is he very sleepy and hard to wake up? Also, an extremely irritable or inconsolable baby is also a sign of sickness. If any of these symptoms persist for a longer amount of time than usual, you should be concerned.

3. Take the baby's temperature. Any fever of higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit warrants a call to the doctor. Your baby's immune system is still immature and any fever should alert you to contact the doctor for an evaluation.

4. Review your baby's elimination pattern. Consider if your baby is constipated or if she has diarrhea. If your newborn is crying while trying to poop or does not poop for a few days or longer than usual, then you should be concerned. Excessive diarrhea can also indicate a sick baby.

5. Check your baby's breathing. If she is struggling to breathe, coughing, very congested or choking on excessive mucus, you should contact your pediatrician. You will see the chest move up and down, but when the baby is struggling to breathe, this will looked labored and be very hard for the baby.

6. Evaluate your baby's skin color. A sick newborn may be flushed and have extremely red cheeks or have very pale skin. If the baby's skin is yellow, this may be a sign of jaundice and blue skin may mean that the baby is not getting enough oxygen. If any of these symptoms occur, you should contact a health care provider immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• Many parents think that a sick newborn will cry for hours; this is not the case. Almost all babies cry for a few hours each day.

• When in doubt, call the doctor. When it comes to a baby, it is much better to err on the side of caution. Almost all pediatricians offices have a nurse on call to assist parents when they have questions or concerns after hours.

• Newborns have a difficult time regulating body temperature, so just because your baby feels hot, he may not have a fever. He may simply be overdressed. It is important to take the temperature of your baby to accurately confirm a fever.

References

• Dr. Spock: Fever

Resources

• Baby Center: For All Things Baby