Child health
You know your baby/child best, if you think your baby is unwell, take them to see your local doctor (GP), phone an after hours GP to come to your home, or go to your local hospital emergency department.
In some circumstances it may be necessary for you to call an ambulance. Dial 000 within Australia.
It is often difficult to know what to do when you think your baby/child is unwell, however there are certain signs and symptoms that may indicate an illness:
- In some circumstances a child's temperature will rise rapidly. A temperature outside the
normal range of 36.5 – 38 degrees Celsius requires review by a medical clinician.
- Your baby/child is not feeding or drinking, or a change in their urine pattern.
- Your baby/child is sleepy and less active than normal, or becoming increasingly irritable.
After hours visiting doctors services
In the after hours period, you can phone for a home visiting doctor service that will visit you or a member a of your family in your home. Some services offer bulk building while others require a gap payment. Some private health insurers may also provide a free GP-to-home service to their members.
Resources:
Daily care
Becoming a parent means learning new skills for daily hygiene like bathing, nappy change time and caring for gums and first teeth.
The age links below have great practical tips for caring for children from birth to 5 years.
Raising Children Network Resources
