Is There Any Point in Calling the Doctor??

Updated on November 03, 2012
M.S. asks from Ellicott City, MD
19 answers

So my mom watches my 9 month old during the day while I work. I could tell last night that he was not feeling 100% - just more tired and whiney acting than normal. He took his bedtime bottle just fine and slept through the night fine. He also drank his morning bottle fine. My mom just called to tell me he is not very interested in food or bottle today and that he seems very whiney and crying more than normal (he is normally a very happy baby and rarely cries). She tried to take his temp but had a hard time with him wiggling and crying so she is not sure its accurate but said it came out normal.

Sooo, she was like "dont you want to call the doctor and tell him and ask if there is a bug going around?" I dont think there is much point in doing that. What exactly is the doctor supposed to tell me? Yes, its November and there are all kinds of bugs going around! So I told her we should keep an eye on him and if he gets a fever or continues to refuse bottles that I will call them, but otherwise I dont think there is much point.

Would you call and/or take your baby to the doctor for these symptoms?

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B.F.

answers from Dallas on

They don't give medicine for crankiness. I know, I have tried!
They won't do anything yet. Wait for another symptom. It's coming. I predict about 5pm as the doctors are going home for the weekend. :(

3 moms found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Not at this point. If he starts running a fever and still won't take a bottle, I would get a fever reducer and get him some pedialyte (sp?). If you can't get him to drink ANYTHING and the fever persists, THEN I would call the doctor.

2 moms found this helpful

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Unless he gets a high temp and wont take anything by mouth, I wouldnt worry.

2 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Probably teething--I'd give him a dose of ibuprofen and see if that helps him out.

2 moms found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

There's ALWAYS a bug going around. No, I wouldn't call the doctor unless his fever gets high or he can't keep fluids in (diarrhea or vomiting).

Just keep his nose clear, give lots of fluids, and feed him light foods like saltines and applesauce and bananas. Snuggle him, let him sleep, and get a thermometer that works even when he wiggles (like a Braun ear thermometer or an Exergen Temporal Scanner).

You might want to pick up some baby tylenol and baby motrin as well. If he does have a fever, you can alternate the two.

1 mom found this helpful

I.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would not call my dr. over this. I know for a fact they are not concerned unless temps are high and last more than three days. And yes, of course there is something going around, its the season.

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Behaving in a fussy manner isn't enough to warrant a call to the doctor, in my opinion. It would take more than that... diarrhea, lethargic or listlessness where he can't be awakened, signs of dehydration, vomiting, feverish to the touch, bright red skin or other dramatic changes to the skin, dramatic changes in color or texture to urine or feces, ballooning fontanel, severely sunken in fontanel, signs of severe pain and distress, or other extreme symptoms.

Of course I would also be paying attention to my instincts.

But it's safe to assume that there's ALWAYS a "bug" going around. A normal temp and him wriggling and crying while taking a temp sounds normal for a child who's feeling a little off. I'd let him rest and then eat and drink when he feels like it. That's the best treatment for him right now.

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J.B.

answers from Spokane on

no i wouldnt call because he could be teething. just because a baby is cranky, clingy and not interested in food does not mean he is sick.

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M.H.

answers from Washington DC on

At 9 months old I would definitely call the doctor. That's what our Dr wanted until she was at least a year and she was perfectly healthy. Our's assured us that that was what they were there for. Another thought though - is it possibly teething?

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

no just lots of love and comfort till he is showing more signs of illness like an ear infection,if he begins runny nose saline spary suction,warm bathes cool/warm mist humidifier comfy jammies

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P.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Yes I would take him to the doctor because it could be an ear infection or something else that a trained professional could spot right away rather than the normal wait and see, when a child is under one its always good to get the doctors opinion. I took my daughter to a regular well baby check up last month and she had developed a little congestion with runny nose about three days before the appt. so I said well I'll check with the doc about that when we go in. during check up she checked her out and noticed the congestion and looked in her ears and looked at my daughter in amazement and was like I'm surprised she's not crying and is feeling ok. Has she been whiny, my reaction was she's always whiny to me, she's two! it took two rounds of antibiotic and she still needs to go back and get her ears checked again, and she never ran a fever or slowed down much to show real sick signs...so trust M.'s instincts to get him checked out...

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P.K.

answers from New York on

We all have bad days Nd we can moan and groan, little ones cannot. He is just having some off days.

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

No I wouldn't. It sounds like how my 1 year old acts when she is teething. The rule of thumb I use when calling the dr is, does the temp go down with Tylenol (if so, no need to call right away), has it been more than a few days (maybe call).

Give him some Tylenol and ibuprofen and watch for a few days. And check his gums.

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C.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

It would depend on a couple of things,1) when was the last bottle eaten,2) how many diapers has baby wet since the last bottle,3) does baby sound like maybe there is congestion in the nasal passages ,which makes it hard to suck a bottle and breathe at the same time,4) is there a possibility baby is just teething ? Lots of this, you or baby's caretaker, can monitor at home, if there is nasal congestion, saline drops in the nose and then suctioning out the nose can help clear that issue up,unless you see it coming out out with yellow or green mucous (snot) lol ! But, when in doubt it never hurts to call the Pediatrician ! Hope this helps ,C. s.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Just make sure he does not get dehydrated.
If he won't eat solids, give him more bottles if he will take that.
And anyway, for the first year of life, it is breastmilk or Formula that is more nutritionally dense... than solids. Solids is not, as nutritionally dense.

Just see if he gets worse symptoms or a fever and monitor it.
But its good that your Mom called to tell you.
Just keep an eye on him... and the weekend is coming up soon, so is your Pediatrician open on the weekends, if you need him/her?

He may be teething or just starting... to get a cold.

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M.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Nope, I wouldn't call. Tell her the best medicine right now is snuggle time with Grammy a good nap and try to get the bottle in him. If it progresses into all day without food, very lethargic, throwing up and diarrhea then tell her you will most definitely call.

Good luck and best wishes!!

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M.R.

answers from Seattle on

I always let bugs run their course for a few days. At 9 mos. though you want to worry about his fluid intake. As long as his diapers are wet and he's not off his formula/fluid intake for longer than a couple of days and his temp stays below 101, there's no cure for such bugs.

Sounds like your mom needs some reassurance from you that you are comfortable with waiting a bit longer. It's great that she's keeping you informed and can make that decision.

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

I'd keep monitoring him if I were you. If the doctor doesn't find anything, he or she will just send you home. Wait to see what other symptoms arise.

Dawn

Updated

I'd keep monitoring him if I were you. If the doctor doesn't find anything, he or she will just send you home. Wait to see what other symptoms arise.

Dawn

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L.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Our ped says not to call unless there's a temp for more than 3 days, or an unusually high temp.

I'd give it a couple days. There's no medications they or you can give him anyway, and likely it's just a common cold which she'll get over in a day or two.

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