There's no such thing as a silly question, especially when caring for your baby. Here are some general guidelines on when it's a good time to rally medical care for your baby and when it's generally safe to keep monitoring.

Most skin rashes are harmless and can be monitored at home. Still, there are so many kinds of rashes that it can be challenging to know how to best treat your baby's rash and whether or not it's contagious to others. It's a good idea to consult your baby's pediatrician to identify what you're dealing with, especially if what you have been doing isn't working.

There are so many different viruses and infections that cause runny noses, congestion, and coughing. Symptoms resembling a mild cold or cough can be monitored at home, as the best medicine will be rest, time, and hydration. However, if your baby's cough worsens, they tug their ears, their breathing becomes labored, or your intuition suggests something's off, it's time to go in.

Due to how vulnerable newborns are to infection, any onset of fever under three months old is a medical emergency. You can monitor a fever from home if your baby is past the newborn stage. It's less important how high the fever is and more important how they are behaving overall. Consult your doctor if they are fussy, lethargic, and not themselves.

Vomiting or diarrhea can be monitored from home, but you must watch for dehydration. If symptoms persist or you are not sure if your baby is starting to get dehydrated, your pediatrician can evaluate and provide guidance.

Remember, even if something is proportionate to monitor from home, your pediatrician is there to answer questions and provide reassurance. It's always okay to call.