As a new mom, I'm never sure when to call the doctor. For instance, if my son has a fever in the middle of the night, how high does it have to go before I contact the pediatrician? I don't want to bother my doctor unnecessarily, but I also don't want to put my child at risk.
This is a great question. As a doctor, I'm always surprised by what people think are emergencies and sometimes what they don't think are emergencies when they are. But what I mind most is when my patients don't call when they could have.
Pediatricians who are on call do get a lot more calls than an internist like me, because parents want to be safe. At your child's next visit, I'd recommend asking your doctor for guidance on when to call. Pediatricians spend a lot of time at sick and well visits educating parents on just this subject, and some may even hand out sheets describing common situations when you should call.
Also, you can find reliable information on this topic in books or online, such as this article on when to seek medical attention for your child. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has a detailed answer to your question about fever. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has information by topic and recommends certain parenting books.
By the way, if your son is under 3 months and has a rectal temperature over 100.4, do call your doctor. Infants under 3 months can get sick very quickly. It's important to take a rectal temperature on infants and young children to get the most accurate reading. For instructions on how to do so, please visit the AAP.
