Baby 911: When to Call the Doctor or Go to the ER

Check out our no-panic guide to common first-year health scares -- and what you should do about them.

By Janene Mascarella

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Is it 911-worthy?

When I accidentally snipped the tippy-top of my 3-month-old daughter's thumb while clipping her nails, I freaked. Blood was spurting everywhere, so I called 911. EMT and police officers quickly arrived only to snicker at the tiny wound on my baby, who had cried herself to sleep. Because of her age, they were required to take her to the ER. The doctors met me with a similar chuckle, wrapped her with gauze, and sent us on our way.

The next day, I followed up with my pediatrician, who said I should have called him first. He would have told me to apply pressure to stop the bleeding, wrap the wound, and bring her in. But when I heard her scream and saw blood, I lost my cool. And I know I'm not the only mom who has panicked like this. That's why we asked doctors to look at common first-year emergencies and tell us what's truly 911-worthy.

Next: What if my baby is fussy and feverish?

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