Key takeaways: Many pediatric offices, hospitals, and insurance plans offer 24/7 nurse lines. Nurses use standard guidelines to help you decide whether your baby needs emergency care, a visit, or home care. Telehealth can work well for some concerns, like rashes and follow-ups, but many problems in babies need an in-person exam. Call 911 for emergencies.
When your baby is sick at 2 a.m., a nurse line or telehealth visit can help you make a plan.
Nurse Advice Lines
- Offered by many pediatric offices, hospitals, and insurance plans.
- Staffed by nurses who use standardized protocols.
- They can help decide whether your baby needs 911, the ER, an office visit, or home care.
What to Have Ready
- Your baby’s age and weight.
- Temperature and how you took it.
- Symptoms and when they started.
- Feeding and wet diaper counts.
- Medications given, with doses and times.
- Medical history and allergies.
- A pen to write down advice.
From the author
From First Breath to First Birthday is my month-by-month guide to your baby’s first year, written as a NICU and postpartum nurse. My book covers common first-year illnesses and the warning signs that mean it’s time to call the doctor, explained the way I’d explain them at the bedside.
Telehealth Visits
Can work well for:
- Rashes (with photos or video).
- Feeding questions.
- Follow-up visits.
- Breastfeeding support.
- Mild illness in older babies.
Usually need an in-person visit:
- Fever in young babies.
- Ear pain (ears need to be looked at).
- Breathing problems.
- Dehydration concerns.
- Injuries.
Tips for Video Visits
- Use good lighting.
- Have your baby undressed to the diaper if needed.
- Have a thermometer and scale ready, if you have one.
Limits
Nurses and telehealth providers can’t fully examine your baby. If they advise an in-person visit, follow through.
Call 911 for trouble breathing, blue or gray color, unresponsiveness, or a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes. Don’t wait on a nurse line.
The Bottom Line
Nurse lines and telehealth are helpful tools for deciding what to do. Have information ready and know when in-person care is needed.
Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.
Related Articles
- ER, Urgent Care, or Call the Doctor? How to Decide
- How to Choose a Pediatrician: Questions to Ask Before Your Baby Arrives
- What Happens at a Lactation Visit (and How to Find an IBCLC)
- Your Baby’s First Pediatrician Visit at 3 to 5 Days: What to Bring and Ask
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Using telehealth to care for your child. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
- Curfman A, McSwain SD, Chuo J, et al. Pediatric telehealth in the COVID-19 pandemic era and beyond. Pediatrics. 2021;148(3):e2020047795.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. When to call the pediatrician. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
