Traffic light tool
You can use the red, amber, green traffic light tool to help you decide how to care for your child when concerned about:
Feeding and drinking and weeing and pooing
If you are unsure if your child is seriously ill, you can call 111, ask your pharmacy or speak to your GP for advice.
Remember you know your child best. If you think your child is seriously unwell call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E department. Trust your instincts.
Breathing
Your baby or child has a snuffly nose or blocked nose, but they otherwise appear well and their breathing looks normal. Monitor them at home, or go to your nearest pharmacy for advice.
Your baby or child is breathing loudly or fast and their nostrils look like they flare out when they breathe. Speak to your GP or call NHS 111 (open 24 hours a day).
Your baby or child looks like it's difficult for them to breathe or talk, they are making grunting noises and their chest looks like it is pulling in when they breathe in. Go to A&E or consider calling 999.
Awareness
Your baby or child is responding normally to you when awake. They are smiling, alert and if talking, talking normally. Their cry sounds normal. They are behaving normally and when asleep, easy to wake up. You have no concerns about their awareness or behaviour.
Your baby or child is irritable or not themselves. They are showing less activity, not smiling or less active. Speak to your GP, or call NHS 111 (open 24 hours a day).
Your baby or child is difficult to wake up when sleeping, they are exhausted or confused. They are not speaking, or their cry is weak, high pitched and quieter than normal. Go to A&E or call 999.
Skin colour
Your baby or child's colour, skin tone, and colour of their lips and tongue appear normal.
Your baby or child’s skin, lips or tongue colour appears paler than normal. Speak to your GP, or call NHS 111 (open 24 hours a day).
Your baby or child’s skin appears mottled, ashen, blue. They have cold extremities. Their tongue or lips look bluish in colour. Go to A&E or call 999.
Fever/temperature
Your baby or child is warm, their temperature is normal, about 36.4 degrees to 37.5 degrees. If their temperature is slightly raised, and you have no other concerns, you can continue to monitor them at home, making sure they are well hydrated. You can also speak to your pharmacy for advice and guidance.
If your baby or child is over 3 months and is otherwise well with a temperature of around 39 degrees, and their temperature doesn’t seem to improve using age-appropriate liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen (please follow instructions carefully to ensure the correct dose and timings of any paracetamol or ibuprofen given) speak to your GP or call NHS 111 (open 24 hours a day).
If your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38 degrees or more. Your baby is over 3 months of age with a temperature of over 39 degrees and seems unwell go to A&E or call 999.
Sickness and diarrhoea
Your baby or child has normal poo, or they have diarrhoea but are not being sick as well. Monitor at home and speak to your local pharmacy for advice.
Your baby or child is being sick, or they have diarrhoea and aren’t drinking as much as normal. Speak to your GP or call NHS 111 (open 24 hours a day).
Your child is being sick frequently or they are being sick and have diarrhoea. They are not feeding/drinking normally and are not having wet nappies/weeing. Go to A&E or consider calling 999.
Feeding and drinking and weeing and pooing
Your baby or child is not pooing as much, but they are still feeding/drinking normally and are otherwise well. Monitor at home, and speak to your local pharmacy for advice.
Remember, babies and children are much more at risk of dehydration than adults. Babies should be producing at least 6 to 8 heavy wet nappies a day, and children normally wee 5 to 7 times a day. Their wee should be clear and not smell strongly. If you are worried that your baby or child isn’t feeding or drinking normally and they aren’t weeing as much, but they are otherwise well, speak to your GP or call NHS 111 (open 24 hours a day).
If at any time you are worried and don’t feel you can wait to see the GP, trust your instincts and go to A&E or consider calling 999.
Who can help
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's health, a health professional in our team will be able to offer advice and support.
You can Call Us on 0300 029 50 50 or Text Us on 07520 649887 to start a conversation.
Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).