Though there are some babies that are born with health problems, you should know that your new baby is probably much stronger than you think. There are times when you should take your baby into the emergency room as soon as possible, but as your baby grows in your home, there are many times when you may think you have an emergency, but in reality, your baby's infant health is going to be just fine. It is common to be over protective and want to make sure everything is okay, but you are going to have a much better time with your baby if you know when to worry and when to relax and enjoy your baby.
Parents automatically assume that a bump to the head means that infant health may decline. All babies and toddlers end up bumping their heads at one time or another, but parents have to know when to take baby in and when a bump is just a bump. If your baby is under three months old, you may want to err on the side of caution and take them in. If over that age, they may only need to be seen if the fall was a big one. However, if you are in any type of doubt about the effects of any head bump on infant health, call your pediatrician's 24 hour number and make sure you do the right thing.
Fevers are always a concern with infant health. Most doctors will tell you that if a baby has a fever of 100.4 that they should be taken into the emergency room. This type of fever needs to be addressed immediately and could be dangerous. If your baby is vomiting with any fever, you should take them in. Always keep an eye on a fever that is not too high, as it may mean the temp is on the way up. Low grade fevers may mean nothing bad is going on, or could indicate teething, but keep an eye on the numbers anyway and stay in touch with your pediatrician's office.
Many parents worry about baby development as a part of infant health. Some parents obsess and compare their baby with everyone else's baby and their development. Don't do that. All babies do things on their own time. You should not worry unless you baby is months and months behind. Preemies are going to be behind, but they should be. If your baby has not rolled over by ten months or has not walked by 18 months, something may be wrong. Otherwise, remember your baby will set his or her own time line and will do each thing when they are ready.
There are other issues with infant health of which you may worry. Try not to worry too much, but remember that if you really feel something is wrong, your intuition may be telling you something. It never hurts to call into your pediatrician's office or even the emergency room to see what you should do next if anything. Most of the time your baby is just fine, and if not, there are always people ready to take your concerns about infant health seriously. Just keep in mind that babies are more resilient than you think.