Newborns can become unwell quickly, and they can't tell you what's wrong — so it helps to know, in advance, exactly which signs mean "go now," which mean "get seen today," and which are simply normal newborn behaviour. This is a companion safety checklist to our broader Newborn Care guide, not a substitute for calling your doctor when in doubt.
Emergency — seek immediate medical care
These signs need emergency assessment straight away, not a routine appointment:
- Difficulty breathing, very fast breathing, grunting with each breath, or breathing pauses accompanied by blue/grey colour, limpness, or poor responsiveness
- Blue or grey colour of the lips, face, or body
- A measured temperature of 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher in a baby under 3 months old — this specifically needs immediate assessment, not a wait-and-see approach. Use an actual thermometer rather than judging by touch; a baby can feel warm or cool to the hand without this reliably telling you their true temperature
- Green (bilious) vomiting — this requires urgent emergency assessment and should not be treated the same as ordinary spit-up or yellow vomit
- A seizure, or repeated jerking movements
- Very difficult to wake, or unresponsive
- A baby who looks seriously unwell in a way that's hard to put into words — trust this instinct
This clinic does not provide emergency services. If your baby shows any of these signs, go to the nearest emergency department or call for emergency medical help immediately — do not wait for a scheduled appointment.
See a doctor promptly (the same day)
These signs are less immediately life-threatening but still need same-day medical review:
- Poor feeding, or refusing to feed
- Unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking for feeds
- A measured temperature that feels low, or fever in a baby over 3 months old (a normal newborn temperature is roughly 36.5–37.5°C/97.7–99.5°F) — use a thermometer rather than judging by touch where possible; see the Emergency section above for fever under 3 months
- Persistent vomiting that is yellow (bile-stained) — if the vomit is green, this is an emergency (see above), not a same-day concern
- A swollen, distended, or tense-looking abdomen
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes) appearing within the first 24 hours of life, or jaundice that is clearly worsening or spreading — see Newborn Jaundice for more detail
- Noticeably reduced urination — most babies build up to at least 6 wet diapers a day by around day 5–7 of life as feeding becomes established; fewer than this from day 5–7 onward, or a noticeable drop-off at any age, can signal dehydration
- Redness, swelling, or a foul-smelling discharge from the umbilical cord area
- Unusually pale skin
- A baby who seems floppy, unusually irritable, or "just not right" — even without a specific symptom you can name
Normal newborn behaviours that often worry parents
These are common and don't, on their own, mean something is wrong:
- Brief pauses in breathing (under about 10 seconds), or an irregular breathing pattern generally — this is normal only as long as your baby stays comfortable, pink, and responsive throughout; a pause accompanied by colour change, limpness, or poor responsiveness is never normal (see Emergency section above)
- Sneezing, hiccups, or the occasional startle (Moro reflex) movement
- Wide variation in stool frequency — from after every feed to once every few days in breastfed babies
- Mild jaundice appearing after the first day of life that isn't worsening
- Mild nasal congestion or noisy/snuffly breathing from the nose is common in newborns and often clears with gentle suctioning or saline drops. This is different from genuine breathing difficulty (fast breathing, grunting, or visible effort with each breath), which needs prompt assessment — see above
If you're ever unsure whether something falls into this category or the one above, it's always reasonable to call and ask — that's a normal, expected part of newborn care, not an overreaction.
Trust your instincts
Parents are often better than they expect at sensing when something is different about their baby, even before they can explain exactly why. If your instinct says something is wrong, that's a reasonable enough reason on its own to have your baby checked — you don't need to wait for a "textbook" symptom to justify a call or a visit. See our Newborn and Infant Care service page for more on routine check-ups.
Frequently asked questions
My newborn seems to breathe irregularly — is that normal? Yes, generally. Newborns often have an irregular breathing pattern with brief pauses, as long as your baby is comfortable, feeding well, and not showing the emergency signs above. Persistent fast breathing, grunting, or longer pauses need prompt assessment.
What if I'm not sure whether to go to the emergency department or wait for a regular appointment? When in doubt, it's reasonable to call the clinic or your baby's doctor to describe what you're seeing — they can help you decide. If your baby has any of the emergency signs above, don't wait for advice by phone; go to the nearest emergency department directly.
Further reading
General, current guidance for educational purposes — not individualized medical advice, and not a substitute for emergency care. Always confirm specific care decisions for your baby with your own pediatrician, and seek emergency care directly whenever you believe your baby needs it.