Do I Need To Worry More About My Young Baby With A Fever
Young babies need a different and more cautious approach:
- if they have a fever, make sure to go to your doctor
- if you are worried about them, take them to your doctor even if they do not have a fever
- some babies may have an unstable temperature with an infection they may be colder than normal in a sick infant this is a worrying sign and is a reason to see a doctor urgently
- babies get fevers for the same reasons as older children, but they are not as good at fighting off infections
You need to keep your baby warm but they can get too hot if you wrap them in too many layers when they are in a warm place. A good guide is to dress your baby in one more layer than you are comfortable wearing in the same environment.
Remember: Always take your baby to a doctor if they have a fever and are less than 3 months old.
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What About Medications
Medications are not always needed to reduce a childs temperature. They can be used to relieve any aches and pains, and to make your child more comfortable.
Medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen do not treat the underlying cause of the fever but can help temporarily lower a temperature. Sometimes a fever continues even after giving medication. Thats ok.
Unless your doctor says otherwise, you can give the dose recommended on the medication package. The correct dose should be based on your childs body weight. Never exceed the recommended dose.
Ibuprofen should only be given if your child is drinking reasonably well. Do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months without first talking to your doctor or health care provider.
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen have different doses and different lengths of time between doses. They are safe to take at the same time, but because the dose and time are different, it is important to keep track when using both for your child.
Do not use aspirin to treat a childs fever. If the fever is due to chickenpox, influenza or certain other viral infections, taking aspirin can increase the risk of Reyes syndrome. This is a very serious condition that can damage the liver and brain.
What Causes A Fever
A fever is the bodys response to an infection. It could be a viral infection, such as a cold or a gastro bug, or it could be a bacterial infection, such as some ear and throat infections or pneumonia or meningitis.
Fever can also be a side effect of vaccinations.
Research suggests that teething probably does not cause fevers.
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When To See A Doctor
If your baby is under age 3 months and has a fever, take them to a doctor. For at least the first 6 months of life, call your doctor anytime they have a fever.
At your babyâs next checkup you can ask if the doctor has a âfever policy.â That will give you a better idea about when you need to call. If youâre worried, take the better-safe-than-sorry approach: Dial them up.
Fever is only part of the story. Sometimes a baby can be sick even if they donât have a fever. A more important question is: Does your newborn show other symptoms of illness? Call the doctor if your baby:
High Fevers In Newborns To 3
In young babies, even slight temperatures may be a reason for concern. Thats why you should always contact your doctor or head to urgent care if your little one has any fever thats 100.4°F or above.
You should also head to the ER if your baby has a fever and any of the following symptoms:
- trouble feeding
- vomiting or diarrhea
- acting differently
For the most accurate read, take your infants temperature with a digital thermometer inserted rectally . Theres some research to suggest that temporal artery thermometers can work accurately for this age as well, but speak with your doctor for guidelines.
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When Your Baby Or Infant Has A Fever
The first fever a baby or infant has is often scary for parents. Most fevers are harmless and are caused by mild infections. Overdressing a child may even cause a rise in temperature.
Regardless, you should report any fever in a newborn that is higher than 100.4°F to the child’s health care provider.
Why Might My Baby Have A Fever
A fever is often a symptom that your babys immune system is fighting off an illness. This can include a cold or an ear infection. Although less common, more serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, or an infection in babys blood from maternal Group B Streptococcus can also cause a fever.
Another reason baby might have a fever is if hes over-bundled or dressed too warmly. My husband and I had this happen once to our first baby when we put her to sleep for a nap wrapped in a polar fleece blanket. She woke up fevering and sweaty, and even threw up . Fortunately she was fine afterwards, but it was a pretty awful lesson to learn. Infants have a hard time regulating their own temperatures, so theyre more prone to overheating. Since overheating is also a risk for SIDS , its best to skip heavy blankets and instead opt for light weight clothing and a light weight sleep sack.
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Taking An Axillary Temperature
- Remove your child’s shirt and undershirt. The thermometer should touch skin only, not clothing.
- Insert the thermometer in your child’s armpit. Fold your child’s arm across his chest to hold the thermometer in place.
- Wait until you hear the appropriate number of beeps or other signal that the temperature is ready to be read. Read and record the number on the screen, noting the time of day that the reading was taken.
Normal Newborns Temperature And How To Measure It Correctly
The normal temperature for newborn babies usually falls between 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit, with the average normal baby temperature being 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Your baby has a fever if their temperature goes over this range to more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This is especially true if the reading has been taken using the rectal method.
There are various ways to take a babys temperatures. The values might differ, but they are all important in their own way. Here are a few different ways to take a temperature:
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Causes Of Newborn Fever
Remember, a fever is a symptom, not an illness. A newborn fever is a clue that something else is going on.
The first cause of a fever is a common virus. Babies are especially vulnerable to viruses, so it is easy for them to pick up a cold or flu. While you likely have plenty of friends and family who want to meet your new baby, make sure that all visitors wash their hands and stay home if theyre sick.
Babies can also display a fever if theyve gotten overheated.
A lot of parents think that their babies need to be bundled at all times but babies are actually quite good at regulating their body temperatures and dont need much more than you do to feel comfortable. A general rule of thumb is to clothe them in one extra layer than youre wearing. For example, if youre in short pajamas, put them in long pajamas plus a swaddle.
Another cause for newborn fever, consider dehydration. In their first few days, babies can become dehydrated if moms milk hasnt come in or you havent figured out the right adjustments for formula. This is why your pediatrician asks how many wet/dirty diapers they have in a day.
Dont let Aunt Peggy tell you that your babys fever is due to teething either. It would be atypical for a newborn to teethe, and its an old wives tale that infants develop fevers when teething.
What Does Fever Mean
By itself, a fever does not necessarily signal a serious illness. If the baby is behaving as they would, they are likely to be fine. However, if a baby under 3 months of age has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher, a parent or caregiver should call a doctor.
Additionally, the severity of a fever does not always indicate how unwell a child is at the time. The body temperatures of babies can rise for many reasons other than illness, including extended crying, sitting in the hot sun, or spending time playing. Their temperature may also slightly rise when they are teething. None of these things causes a fever.
A babys body is also less able to regulate temperature than an adult body, meaning it can be more difficult for them to cool down during a fever. Their bodies are naturally warmer than an adults body because they are more metabolically active, which generates heat.
A fever is a symptom of an illness, not the illness itself. Fever occurs due to the immune system fighting against infections, which can be bacterial or viral. Viral infections are much more common.
Common causes of fevers in babies include:
infection, so the fever itself is not dangerous. What may put the baby at risk is the underlying infection, if it is serious.
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When To Call The Doctor
Contact your child’s provider or go to the emergency room when:
- Your child does not act alert or more comfortable when their fever goes down
- Fever symptoms come back after they had gone away
- The child does not make tears when crying
- Your child does not have wet diapers or has not urinated in the past 8 hours
Also, contact your child’s provider or go to the emergency room if your child:
- Is younger than age 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher.
- Is 3 to 12 months old and has a fever of 102.2°F or higher.
- Is under age 2 and has a fever that lasts longer than 48 hours.
- Has a fever over 105°F , unless the fever comes down readily with treatment and the child is comfortable.
- Has had fevers come and go for up to a week or more, even if they are not very high.
- Has other symptoms that suggest an illness may need to be treated, such as a sore throat, earache, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, or a cough.
- Has a serious medical illness, such as a heart problem, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, or cystic fibrosis.
- Recently had an immunization.
- Is crying and cannot be calmed down
- Cannot be awakened easily or at all
When Your Baby Has A Fever
It can be concerning to wake up in the middle of the night to a crying baby, and find theyre flushed or hot to the touch. The thermometer confirms your suspicions: Your baby has a fever. But what should you do?
Its important to learn how to comfort your feverish baby and recognize when you need to seek medical care.
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What Should I Do If My Baby Has A High Temperature
You can usually look after your baby or child at home when they have a high temperature. Make sure you give them plenty of drinks, to avoid dehydration. If youre breastfeeding, offer your baby plenty of feeds.
Always contact a GP or call 111 if:
- your child has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
- your babys temperature is 38C or higher if theyre under 3 months old
- your babys temperature is 39C or higher if theyre 3 to 6 months old
If you need to speak to someone outside normal surgery hours, you can call your GP surgerys out-of-hours service or NHS 111.
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If Your Baby Is Less Than 3 Months Old
Whats considered a fever in a newborn? While a fever is a fever, regardless of age, doctors want to see younger babies with fevers sooner. Thats because young babies can get very sick, very quickly and its important to identify the cause and start treatment as soon as possible.
So, call your babys doctor or nurse line if their temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher. If your baby is less than two months old, the doctor will want to see baby as soon as possible. Also, anytime your baby is acting ill whether a fever is present or not call in.
You can help your baby feel comfortable at home by keeping them in lightweight clothing and not over-bundling with blankets. Also, try to increase the frequency of breastfeeding or bottle feeding to prevent dehydration.
Watch out for low body temp in infants
What should you do if your babys temperature is low? If your baby is cold, warm them up! Cuddling under a warm blanket or an extra layer of clothing are good choices to warm up your baby. But you should call your doctor if their temperature drops below 97 degrees.
Small babies are less able to regulate their body temperature. In other words, sometimes when babies get cold, they stay cold or get even colder.
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Signs Of A Fever In Babies
It may be difficult to tell if your baby has a fever. But if your baby looks or acts in a way that’s out of the ordinary, and you think they may have a fever, it’s a good idea to take their temperature. Keep in mind that a change in your babyâs behavior or activity level is often a better indicator of illness than how high the fever is.
The following signs, when paired with a fever, may indicate your baby is ill:
-
Change in behavior or activity level
-
Fussier than usual
What To Expect At Home
Fever is an important part of the body’s defense against infection. Many older infants develop high fevers with even minor illnesses.
occur in some children and can be scary to parents. However, most febrile seizures are over quickly. These seizures do not mean your child has epilepsy, and do not cause any lasting harm.
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How To Take A Babys Temperature
Fever should be measured always with a thermometer. We should not rely on our touch, as placing a hand on the childs forehead does not guarantee that we are aware of whether the child has a fever or not and can lead to mistakes. It is an unreliable and imprecise measure and should therefore be avoided.
There are a wide variety of thermometers on the market for use with babies, including:
- Digital thermometer. They read quickly and accurately. It is the most used today and the most recommended.
- Ear thermometer. It does not measure so accurately if the child is very young .
- Pacifier shaped thermometer. They look like a pacifier, but with a digital display in the middle that keeps track of the temperature. They are not very trustworthy.
- Plastic strip thermometers. It is a device placed on the forehead and is not very reliable.
- Mercury thermometer. Its sale is currently prohibited due to the danger posed by mercury. But it is definitely still found in some homes, as it was traditionally used for years and is a reliable method, but it should be avoided.
Where in the body is it best to take a babys temperature? This will depend mainly on your age, as it is not the same that you barely move, that you do not stop moving:
When To Call Your Doctor For Fever
For children, call the doctor if:
- A child less than 3 months old has a fever over 38°C . Always call for any child with a fever 40°C or higher.
- A fever occurs with other symptoms, including headache, stiff neck, trouble breathing, rash, severe sore throat or ear pain, or persistent vomiting
- A fever lasts more than 24 hours in a child under 2 years old
- A fever causes a seizure
- A fever lasts more than 3 days in a child over 2 years old
For adults and older children, call if a fever is 104°F or higher or if there are symptoms that include seizure, stiff neck, confusion, trouble breathing or any severe pain.
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When You Dont Need To Worry And Why
Remember: You should always call your doctor for fever in babies under 3 months old.
Older kids do get fevers, though. So while its important to know when you should head to the doctor, its equally key to know when you can relax and monitor on your own.
In many cases, a fever is their bodys response to fighting off a mild illness. It will resolve on its own when the illness winds down and your child gets better.
You may be able to monitor at home if:
- A fever lasts fewer than 3 to 5 days, provided your little one is acting like themselves. Observe their eating, drinking, and play patterns to see if theyre at their normal level of activity. Being slightly more tired than usual is expected, though.
- The fever is below 102.5°F in children ages 3 months to 3 years or below 103°F in older kids. Temperatures in this range are common and dont necessarily signal an emergency.
- Your child gets a low-grade fever following immunizations. A slight temperature in the first couple of days after shots isnt necessarily a reason for concern.