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

Should You Call the Doctor After-Hours?

Ever feel uncertain about bothering your pediatrician after regular office hours? You shouldn't. "There's nothing scarier than when your child is sick at 3 a.m., it's dark, and you feel like you have nowhere to turn," says Carol Steltenkamp, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington. "That's why I'm on call. Pick up the phone -- it's fine." Your pediatrician will help you sort out whether to take your child to the ER or wait until the morning to bring him in to the office. Even in the event of a crisis, it's smart to touch base with your pediatrician. Dr. Baker says that his first question for parents is: Have you spoken to your regular doctor already and what did he say to you?

Updated on November 23, 2009

Copyright © 2008. Used with permission from the March 2008 issue of Parents magazine.

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