When to call an ambulance for your baby: signs that cannot wait
Trust your instincts and call if you are frightened
There are situations where calling 999 for an ambulance is not just appropriate but essential. This article lists those situations clearly. If you are reading this right now because something feels very wrong with your baby, and your baby is showing any of the signs below, stop reading and call 999 now. The 999 operator will guide you through everything.
If you are unsure whether what you are seeing counts as an emergency, call 999 anyway. The operator will assess the situation quickly and will either send an ambulance or redirect you to 111. You will never be judged for calling when you are worried about your baby.
Call 999 now: breathing and colour
Call 999 immediately if your baby is not breathing. If your baby has stopped breathing for any reason, including after a choking episode, a seizure, or for no apparent reason, call 999 now and start infant CPR. The 999 operator will walk you through CPR step by step while the ambulance is on the way. Do not hang up.
Call 999 immediately if your baby's lips, tongue, skin, or fingernails are turning blue or grey. This colouration, called cyanosis, means that the body's tissues are not receiving enough oxygen. It is a sign of serious breathing or circulation problems and requires emergency treatment.
Call 999 immediately if your baby is having severe difficulty breathing. Signs of severe breathing difficulty include: the skin pulling inward under the ribs with each breath, the throat area pulling in at the neck with each breath, the nostrils flaring widely with each breath in, a see-saw movement of the chest and abdomen, or very fast breathing combined with any signs that your baby is tiring out or becoming less responsive.
Call 999 now: seizures and consciousness
Call 999 immediately if your baby is having a seizure for the first time. A seizure can look like rhythmic jerking of the limbs, stiffening of the whole body, eyes rolling back, or sudden loss of muscle tone and unresponsiveness. Even if the seizure stops on its own within a few minutes, your baby still needs emergency medical assessment.
Call 999 immediately if your baby is having a seizure that has lasted more than 5 minutes. A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is a medical emergency regardless of whether your baby has had seizures before. The 999 team will advise on emergency medication if your baby has been prescribed it.
Call 999 immediately if your baby is unconscious and you cannot wake them. If your baby is unresponsive to your voice and your touch, this is an emergency. Do not wait to see if they wake up on their own.
Call 999 now: rash, allergic reactions, and ingestion
Call 999 immediately if your baby has a fever and a purple or red rash that does not fade when you press a clear glass firmly against it. This combination of a non-blanching rash and fever may indicate meningococcal disease, which is life-threatening and requires immediate treatment with antibiotics. Do not wait until morning. Do not call 111 first.
Call 999 immediately if your baby is having a severe allergic reaction with throat swelling, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, or collapse. This may be anaphylaxis. If an adrenaline auto-injector has been prescribed for your baby, use it while the ambulance is coming.
Call 999 immediately if you think your baby has swallowed something dangerous. This includes any medication (adult or child), cleaning products, button batteries, or other household chemicals. Button batteries are a particular emergency because they can cause severe internal burns within 2 hours of being swallowed.
Call 999 now: injury and other signs
Call 999 immediately after a serious fall or head injury, particularly if your baby lost consciousness for any period, had a seizure, or is not behaving normally. See the related article on head injuries in babies for more detail.
Call 999 immediately if your baby has a serious burn. A serious burn includes any burn that covers more than a small area, any burn on the face, hands, genitals, or across a joint, any burn caused by electricity or chemicals, and any burn that is deep or that looks white, brown, or waxy rather than red and blistered.
Call 999 immediately if your baby has become completely floppy and unresponsive, with no muscle tone at all. This is sometimes described as feeling like a rag doll. Sudden floppiness is a sign of serious illness regardless of the cause.
Call 999 if you are very frightened about your baby's colour or responsiveness, something has changed suddenly, and your instinct is telling you this is not right. Your instincts as a parent matter. The 999 team would rather hear from you and send an ambulance that turns out not to be needed than have you wait when you should not.
What to say when you call 999
When the 999 operator answers, state your address first and clearly. This ensures the ambulance can be dispatched even if the call is interrupted. Then say your baby's age and the main symptom in simple terms. For example: "42 Park Lane, my 8-month-old baby is not breathing." Or: "14 Bridge Street, my baby is having a seizure and it has not stopped."
Stay on the line. The operator will ask you further questions while the ambulance is already on its way. They will give you instructions for what to do before the ambulance arrives, including how to start CPR if your baby is not breathing. Follow their instructions step by step.
If you are alone and your baby needs CPR, the operator will tell you to begin CPR and will count the rhythm for you while keeping you on the line.
Ambulance versus driving yourself
For a genuine emergency, calling 999 and waiting for an ambulance is almost always better than driving yourself to A&E. Here is why. Paramedics carry medications and equipment that can start treatment immediately, before you reach hospital. If you are driving, you cannot watch your baby and drive safely at the same time. The ambulance can travel faster, with priority access, than a private car. And the hospital knows the ambulance is coming, which means the team is ready.
There may be circumstances where the nearest A&E is very close and the 999 operator advises you to take your baby directly. Follow their guidance. In general, when in doubt, call 999 and let them decide.
When 111 is the right call instead
NHS 111 is for urgent concerns that are worrying but not immediately life-threatening. Use 111 when your baby has a high temperature and you are not sure whether to be concerned. Use 111 when your baby has vomited several times and you are worried about dehydration. Use 111 when your baby has a rash that is not a non-blanching rash with fever. Use 111 when your baby is not feeding well over several feeds and you are unsure what to do. Use 111 when you would like to be told whether to go to A&E or wait for a GP appointment.
If you call 111 and during the call the situation changes and becomes more serious, tell the 111 operator immediately. They can connect you to 999 or send an ambulance directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between calling 999 and 111 for a baby?
999 is for life-threatening emergencies where every second counts: your baby is not breathing, is unconscious, is having a seizure, or is turning blue. 111 is for urgent health concerns that are worrying but not immediately life-threatening, such as a fever you are unsure about or a rash you want assessed. If you are genuinely unsure which applies, call 999. The operator will help you assess the situation quickly.
Should I drive my baby to A&E or call 999?
For a true emergency, call 999 and wait for the ambulance. The ambulance crew can start treatment on the way to hospital, and you cannot safely watch your baby and drive at the same time. Driving is only appropriate for genuinely minor concerns where you have decided that hospital assessment makes sense but the situation is not an immediate emergency.
What do I say when I call 999 for my baby?
State your address clearly first, then say your baby's age and the main symptom. For example: "12 Acacia Road, my 6-month-old baby is not breathing." Stay on the line. The operator will ask further questions and will guide you through exactly what to do, including CPR if it is needed. You do not need to have all the information ready before you call.
How do I do CPR on a baby?
The 999 operator will walk you through infant CPR step by step while the ambulance is on the way. The basic sequence is: 5 initial rescue breaths by covering the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth and breathing gently until the chest rises, then 30 chest compressions using two fingers on the centre of the chest pressing down about one third of the chest depth, then 2 more rescue breaths, continuing in cycles. Do not hang up to search for instructions online.
Can I call 999 if I am not sure it is an emergency?
Yes, always. If you are genuinely frightened about your baby's state and something feels very wrong, calling 999 is always the right thing to do. The operator will quickly assess whether your baby needs an ambulance or whether 111 is more appropriate. You will never be judged for calling when you are worried.
What if I live far from a hospital?
Call 999 regardless of how far you are from a hospital. The dispatcher will send the nearest ambulance and will keep you on the line with guidance for the entire time it takes to arrive. If you are in a very rural area, they may advise you to start driving toward the ambulance to meet it partway. Do not try to drive a seriously unwell baby to a distant hospital without speaking to 999 first.
Keep important information ready before you need it
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