Coronavirus advice (Babies aged under 3 months)

Although COVID-19 restrictions have lifted COVID infections are still happening. It can be confusing to know what to do when your baby is unwell.

Use the table below to help you know when and where to get help. Speak to your GP, health visitor or NHS 111 if you are concerned about your baby.

RED
If your baby has any of the following: Pale, mottled (blotchy) skin which feels cold to touch Has a fit or seizure Is difficult to wake Has a rash that does not go away when you press on it (see the Glass Test) Has a hot chest, face or back and is sweaty or clammy (a temperature of 38°C / 100.4°F or higher) unless this is within two days of vaccinations and there are no other signs from this box or the AMBER box below Is too breathless to feed, has pauses in their breathing lasting more than 10 seconds and is grunting or going blue Green vomit (like the colour of spinach or green washing up liquid) Please get help now if you are frightened because your baby looks very unwell.	You need help now Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency Department or phone 999

RED

If your baby has any of the following:

Pale, mottled (blotchy) skin which feels cold to touch
Has a fit or seizure
Is difficult to wake
Has a rash that does not go away when you press on it (see the Glass Test)
Has a hot chest, face or back and is sweaty or clammy
(a temperature of 38°C / 100.4°F or higher)
unless this is within two days of vaccinations and
there are no other signs from this box or the AMBER box below
Is too breathless to feed, has pauses in their breathing lasting more than 10 seconds and is grunting or going blue
Green vomit (like the colour of spinach or green washing up liquid)

Please get help now if you are frightened because your baby looks very unwell.

You need help now

AMBER
If your baby has any of the following: Difficulty breathing, including: breathing fast all the time; widening their nostrils or pulling in below the ribs when breathing Not interested in feeding and/or looks dehydrated (dry mouth, sunken eyes, no tears, or no wet nappies in the last 8 hours) Is increasingly sleepy or irritable (crying continuously and won’t calm down) Has yellow skin or whites of their eyes, which is quickly becoming worse Blood in the poo Very pale (white or grey) poo - keep a sample to show the doctor Shivering Keeps being sick Please get advice if your baby is getting worse or you are worried.	contact your GP and make an appointment for your baby to be seen that day or call NHS 24 - dial 111.

AMBER

If your baby has any of the following:

Difficulty breathing, including: breathing fast all the time;
widening their nostrils or pulling in below the ribs when breathing
Not interested in feeding and/or looks dehydrated (dry mouth, sunken eyes, no tears, or no wet nappies in the last 8 hours)
Is increasingly sleepy or irritable (crying continuously and won’t calm down)
Has yellow skin or whites of their eyes, which is quickly becoming worse
Blood in the poo
Very pale (white or grey) poo - keep a sample to show the doctor
Shivering
Keeps being sick

Please get advice if your baby is getting worse or you are worried.

contact your GP
and make an appointment for your baby to be seen that day
or call NHS 24 - dial 111.

GREEN
If your baby DOESN’T have any signs from the RED or AMBER boxes, the following are normal: Your baby is less than two weeks old (or three weeks old and breastfed) and looks slightly yellow, mainly on the face. (This may slowly increase over a day or two but will then start to go away). Has four to six wet nappies a day Has green, brown, orange, yellow or black poo. (The poo of breastfed babies is usually yellow and can often look ‘seedy’ – it’s a sign your baby is healthy) Continues to feed well with breast or formula milk Baby wakes up often and cries to be fed	Self care If you are still concerned about your baby speak to your Health Visitor, pharmacist or NHS 24 - visit nhsinform.scot or dial 111

GREEN

If your baby DOESN’T have any signs from the RED or AMBER boxes, the following are normal:

Your baby is less than two weeks old (or three weeks old and breastfed)
and looks slightly yellow, mainly on the face.
(This may slowly increase over a day or two but will then start to go away).

Has four to six wet nappies a day
Has green, brown, orange, yellow or black poo.
(The poo of breastfed babies is usually yellow and can often look ‘seedy’ – it’s a sign your baby is healthy)
Continues to feed well with breast or formula milk
Baby wakes up often and cries to be fed

Self care

If you are still concerned about your baby
speak to your Health Visitor, pharmacist
or NHS 24 - visit nhsinform.scot or dial 111

Last reviewed: 24/04/2023

Next review date: 24/04/2025

Approved By: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Reviewer name(s): Dr Morag Wilson; Dr Geetika Kumar.

Editorial Information