Pediatrics

Scheduling

Every effort is made to schedule same day visits for sick kids. If your child is sick, please call early in the day to schedule a visit.

Trying to decide whether to come in for a visit? You can select your child's symptom or health condition on the Seattle Children's website. This free resource provides information to help you determine how sick your child is and when to call a doctor. It also provides information as to what you can safely treat at home.

Babies under 2 months of age always need to be seen right away if they develop any of the following:

• An underarm temperature of 100.4 or higher
• Not urinated within 24 hrs after circumcision
• Not enough wet or dirty diapers: Expect at least 1 wet diaper on day 1; 2 on day 2; and 3 on day 3; After the first week, at least 6 to 8 wet diapers in 24 hrs is normal. You should see at least 1 dirty diaper each day in the first few days of life; By day 4 or 5, your baby should be having 4 or more yellow bowel movements per day
• A hard time waking up for feedings or seems too tired to eat, not interested in eating, is hardly ever alert, and/or is floppy (weak muscle tone)
• A belly button that is red or hot
• Shortness of breath, a hard time breathing, or is breathing fast for several minutes
• A problem you feel cannot wait until the clinic reopens

Call the clinic within 24 hours if your baby experiences any of the following:

• Doesn't seem satisfied after feedings or is not breastfeeding at least 8 times per day or bottle-feeding at least 6 times per day
• Has not had a bowel movement in the past 24 hours, or has stools that have mucous, blood, or a foul odor
• Has skin or eyes that are turning more and more yellow
• Coughs a lot or often chokes during feedings
• Vomits green liquid, vomits more than 2 times a day, or has vomiting with diarrhea (vomiting is when the stomach contents "shoot out"

Well Child Checks

Well child checks are recommended at the following ages:

• Between 1 and 2 weeks of age
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• Beginning at 2 years old, well child checks are recommended annually

Telephone Access

If you need to speak to your children's physician, please call the clinic during business hours. Every effort is made to return non-urgent phone calls and emails within 24-48 hours.

After Hours Care

Option 1: Dr. Amy Hawkins is available after hours on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Mondays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. To schedule a same day appointment, please call our office at 206-683-4465 and leave a message on our voicemail. She will return your call.

Option 2: Children's Hospital After Hours Clinic is now located in Bellevue and is open for appointments on evenings, weekends and holidays for children who have health problems that need attention but aren't life-threatening medical emergencies. Call 206-987-2211 to make a same day appointment for the After Hours clinic. No referral is necessary. Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and most holidays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please visit www.SeattleChildrens.org.

Urgent Matters After Business Hours:

Option 1: 24 hour free telephone advice is available from the Children's Hospital Resource Nurse triage team at (206) 987-2500.

Option 2: Current patients may call our office after hours to be directed to our pager number. Pager calls are subject to a $40 fee. Please respect our physicians' time and use this for urgent concerns only! Please note that this fee is not covered by insurance.

Option 3: For all medical emergencies, please go directly to your nearest emergency room. There is no need to call us first.