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

What if my baby is suddenly acting lethargic?

Evaluate the emergency: Call your pediatrician, who will probably ask: Could your baby have hurt her head? Has she been eating and drinking properly? Has she had diarrhea or vomiting? Just as you need more sleep when you're sick, so does a baby. Double-check any medication you may have given her in case it made her drowsy. "And if you're breastfeeding, remember that medicine and alcohol you ingest will pass on to the baby," says Andrea C.S. McCoy, MD, chief medical officer at Jeanes Hospital, in Philadelphia. "Although most medication is safe to take, antihistamines and pain relievers could make her sleep more."

Go to the ER: "If your baby truly won't respond to you, call 911," advises Dr. McCoy. Take her to the ER if she's had a head injury, seizure, irregular breathing, or a high fever that won't come down with appropriate medication.