11 Warning Signs Your Baby Needs Emergency Care

Babies can become seriously unwell very quickly, so certain symptoms should prompt emergency care rather than a “wait and see” approach.  Most childhood illnesses are not emergencies, and many resolve on their own or with routine medical care. But recognising these warning signs means you’ll know when to act quickly.  The most urgent signs include difficulty breathing, blue or very pale skin or lips, seizures, unresponsiveness, persistent vomiting of green bile, a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed, and any fever in a baby under 3 months old. If any of these are present, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Trust your judgement, seeking help early can make all the difference, and no healthcare professional will ever mind checking a child you are worried about.

Here are 11 specific signs to look out for:

1. Breathing Difficulties in Babies

Breathing should not be noticeable. If breathing is obvious in a baby then they are breathing harder than they should for some reason. The breath may be fast, laboured, or noisy. ‘Grunting’ sound with each breath; flaring nostrils; or the skin pulling in between or under the ribs (retractions) are warning signs that a baby is struggling to breathe and needs urgent assessment. Blue, purple, or grey skin or lips signals low oxygen and is an emergency. Babies with severe breathing trouble often cannot feed, will cry, and not settle as usual, require immediate care.

2. Unusual Drowsiness or Changes in Alertness

A baby who is unusually drowsy, difficult to wake, floppy, unresponsive, or “not themselves” is at risk of serious illness and should be seen urgently. Glazed eyes, not focusing, or seeming unaware are red flags that require immediate medical attention. Trusting your instincts about your baby seeming “off” is important, especially if combined with other symptoms.

Sometimes these symptoms may be linked to neurological or developmental conditions. Our Private Psychiatry London service offers expert assessment for a full range of childhood and adolescent mental health concerns.

3. Seizures, Fits, or Abnormal Movements

Any seizure, fit, or convulsion warrants urgent medical evaluation, even if the baby appears to recover afterward. Persistent stiffening, lip smacking, rhythmic jerking, repeated head drop, episodes of staring or unresponsiveness can be signs of serious underlying illness and should be treated as emergencies. If your baby feels hot, i.e. fever at the same time, then it could be a febrile convulsion. Please seek medical attention if your child is less than 6 months old or it’s the first time this has happened.

4. Concerning Skin Colour or Rashes in Babies

Skin that becomes blue, very pale, mottled, or ashen is a red flag, particularly alongside breathing difficulty or lethargy. A purple or red rash that does not fade when pressed (the “glass test”) may indicate meningococcal infection and requires immediate hospital care.

5. Vomiting or Abdominal Concerns in Babies

Projectile vomiting or vomiting that is bright green (bilious) with no stools, can be a sign of an intestinal blockage and is a surgical emergency. A noticeably bloated, hard, or very tender belly which causes distress when gently pressed, also needs urgent assessment. Repeated vomiting with poor fluid intake raises the risk of dehydration and should be addressed promptly.

6. Fever and Temperature Issues in Babies

Any fever in a baby under 3 months old needs urgent medical assessment because young infants can deteriorate quickly and infections (viral or bacterial) may be severe at this age. A very high or abnormally low temperature, fever that does not respond to paracetamol/ibuprofen in older babies, or fever with other worrying signs (such as rash, breathing trouble, or lethargy as above) should prompt urgent medical care.

For non-emergency advice, our Private GP London team offers same day GP appointments to review fevers, infections, and general health concerns.

7. Dehydration or Feeding Refusal

Signs of dehydration include fewer wet nappies than usual, a dry mouth, crying with few or no tears, sunken soft spot (fontanelle), and poor fluid intake. A baby who refuses feeds repeatedly or cannot keep fluids down for about 8 hours, the skin can feel cold and sometimes look mottled requires prompt medical attention to prevent worsening dehydration. If feeding is consistently less than two thirds of usual over each 24 hours, then some support may be needed. Feeding challenges often begin in the early weeks of life. Our Private Obstetric Care in London team supports mothers before and after birth, helping to address early feeding concerns and postnatal care needs.

8. Severe Pain or Inconsolable Crying

Severe, worsening, or unexplained pain, especially if it wakes a baby from sleep, or continuous, high-pitched, inconsolable crying can indicate serious illness or even a fracture if there is some history of trauma/twist/fall. Pain in the scrotum or sudden swelling in the groin in older infants may suggest testicular torsion or a hernia complication and requires urgent care.

9. Head Injury or Trauma in Babies

After a head injury, red flags include any loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, unequal pupil size, unusual sleepiness or irritability, or changes in behaviour or alertness. Bleeding that does not stop, large or deep cuts or burns, inhalation of smoke, or significant facial or mouth injuries are emergencies that need immediate evaluation.

10. Poisoning or Accidental Ingestion

Suspected poisoning, including ingestion of medications, chemicals, batteries, or magnets, must be treated as an emergency. Rapid access to care can prevent serious complications, and specific treatments may be time-sensitive.

11. Rapidly Spreading Rashes or Severe Infections

A rapidly spreading rash, one that blisters, looks infected ie red, hot and painful, or occurs with fever should be assessed urgently. Eye redness with pus, severe ear pain with fever, or cold symptoms with fast or hard breathing are also signs to seek immediate medical advice.

When to Trust Your Instincts About Baby Emergency Care

Caregivers often notice subtle changes before clear medical signs appear; a baby who is “just not right,” unusually quiet or listless, feeding poorly, or behaving out of character should be reviewed urgently, particularly when very young or if multiple warning signs are present. Early assessment can be lifesaving and is always appropriate if there is concern.

If you are ever unsure, our Private Paediatricians in London are available for rapid assessment, giving you peace of mind and timely access to care.

What to Do Immediately if Your Baby Needs Emergency Care

If a baby stops breathing, turns blue, has a seizure, is unresponsive, or shows severe breathing difficulty, seek emergency help at once. Call an ambulance.

If there is a non-fading rash with fever, green vomiting, or signs of meningitis such as a stiff neck or extreme drowsiness, go to the nearest emergency department straight away.

Keep emergency numbers readily available and ask a healthcare professional about basic first aid and infant CPR to prepare for urgent situations.