Health Tips
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Health Tips
Every child gets sick sometimes — but some symptoms mean your child needs to be seen by a doctor right away. Click below on the tab as per your child’s age and check for important signs to watch for.
Call your doctor or go to the emergency room if your newborn:
- Refuses to feed or feeds very little
- Is unusually sleepy or hard to wake
- Has fever ≥100.4°F (38°C) or feels cold to touch
- Vomits green or blood-stained fluid
- Breathes fast, grunts, or seems to struggle to breathe
- Turns blue around lips or face
- Has yellow skin spreading to legs or looks worse after 3 days
- Has redness or pus around the umbilical cord
- Has shaking, twitching, or unusual movements
See your pediatrician if your baby:
- Has poor feeding or is not gaining weight
- Vomits repeatedly or has watery diarrhea
- Shows signs of dehydration (no tears, dry mouth, fewer wet diapers)
- Has fever ≥102°F (39°C) or any fever in babies under 3 months
- Breathes fast or has chest indrawing
- Is very irritable, floppy, or difficult to console
- Doesn’t smile by 2 months, roll by 6 months, or sit by 9 months
Red flags to watch for:
- Doesn’t walk by 18 months or doesn’t speak simple words by 2 years
- Loses skills previously learned
- Has persistent high fever, rash with fever, or stiff neck
- Has trouble breathing or noisy breathing
- Vomits persistently or passes blood in stool/vomit
- Is unusually sleepy, irritable, or weak
- Limps, refuses to walk, or has joint swelling
Contact your doctor if your child:
- Has a fever lasting more than 5 days
- Has persistent cough >3 weeks or night sweats
- Complains of headache with vomiting or early-morning headaches
- Loses weight, tires easily, or stops playing
- Has changes in vision, hearing, or coordination
- Has persistent pain, joint swelling, or limping
- Has abdominal pain waking them at night
Contact your doctor if your child:
- Has a fever lasting more than 5 days
- Has persistent cough >3 weeks or night sweats
- Complains of headache with vomiting or early-morning headaches
- Loses weight, tires easily, or stops playing
- Has changes in vision, hearing, or coordination
- Has persistent pain, joint swelling, or limping
- Has abdominal pain waking them at night
Pay attention if your pre-teen:
- Feels persistently sad, withdrawn, or talks about self-harm
- Has unexplained weight loss or extreme tiredness
- Faints or has chest pain during exercise
- Has ongoing bone or joint pain
- Has very irregular or heavy periods
- Starts using alcohol, vaping, or drugs
- Shows sudden drop in school performance or risky behavior
Pay attention if your teen:
- Feels persistently sad, withdrawn, or talks about self-harm
- Has unexplained weight loss or extreme tiredness
- Faints or has chest pain during exercise
- Has ongoing bone or joint pain
- Has very irregular or heavy periods
- Starts using alcohol, vaping, or drugs
- Shows sudden drop in school performance or risky behavior
Don’ts
- DON’T use Bubble bath.
- DON’T put Q-tips in the ear canal.
- DON’T use infant walkers.
- ALWAYS use an appropriate car seat for your child.
- PLEASE use smoke detectors.
- DON’T allow children on or near lawnmowers.
- DON’T ride all-terrain vehicles at any age.
Do’s
- PLEASE wear bicycle helmets.
- DON’T allow unlocked, loaded guns in your house.
- PLEASE set your water heater thermostat at 110 degrees or lower.
- DON’T give aspirin.
- PLEASE use cabinet locks.
- PLEASE use outlet covers.
- PLEASE use sun screens.