newborn emergency signs
Newborn Danger Signs — When to Seek Medical Help Now
Feeding difficulty, reduced activity, difficult or fast breathing, abnormal temperature, seizures, blue colour or a baby who is getting worse can signal serious illness.
Updated:
Urgent warning signs
- Breathing difficulty, grunting or pauses
- Blue, grey, very pale or mottled colour
- Hard to wake, unusually floppy or much less active
- Refusing feeds or repeatedly unable to feed
- Fever or abnormally low temperature
- Seizure or abnormal repeated movements
- Significantly fewer wet nappies
- Rapid worsening or caregiver instinct that something is very wrong
What to do
Use the emergency or urgent-care pathway in your country. Do not wait for a routine appointment or rely on online reassurance when a newborn has a danger sign.
Trust the change you see
Parents often notice a change from their baby’s usual feeding, colour, breathing or alertness before they can name it. Tell the clinician exactly what changed and when.
Common questions
Is any fever serious in a newborn?
Temperature thresholds and pathways vary by age and country, but fever in a very young baby needs prompt professional assessment.
Sources & editorial process
Written by the Elara editorial team from the sources above. This page has not been reviewed by an independent clinician. Read how we write and update health pages. Last updated .
Medical disclaimer: this page is general education, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are worried about yourself or your baby, contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. In an emergency call your local emergency number.