Make a Baby with a Fever Feel Better

A fever can result from a variety of sources — viruses, bacterial infection, or even the common cold — causing discomfort for your baby. Fevers are a natural reaction by the body to fight off an infection or illness. It is characterized by a temporary increase in body temperature, which can be concerning and uncomfortable after it reaches 103°F (39.4°C) or higher. For babies, a fever can sometimes indicate something more serious, so you should observe your baby closely. As a parent or caregiver, you will want to take the necessary steps to relieve baby’s discomfort.

Steps

Treating the Fever at Home

  1. Drink plenty of fluids. Keep your baby hydrated by providing plenty of fluids. Fevers cause excessive sweating and, therefore, the loss of fluids is greater and could lead to dehydration.[1] Talk to your doctor about offering an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte in addition to formula.
    • Avoid feeding your baby fruit or apple juice or dilute it with fifty percent water.
    • Popsicles or gelatin are also acceptable.
    • Avoid caffeinated drinks because they force urination and the loss of fluids.
    • Offer your baby his usual diet, but realize that your baby may not want to eat as much when he has a fever. Try offering bland foods such as breads, crackers, pastas, and oatmeal.
    • Infants who are breastfeeding should only drink breast milk. Keep them hydrated by giving them plenty of breast milk.
    • Never force your baby to eat if food is refused.
  2. Rest in a comfortable room. Do not overexert your baby or her temperature might rise. Instead, place your baby in a room with a comfortable temperature between 70°F to 74°F (21.1°C to 23.3°C).[1]
    • Avoid running the heater nonstop so that your baby does not overheat.
    • Same with the air conditioner. Keep it off so your baby doesn’t shiver and raise her temperature.
  3. Dress your baby in light clothing. Even heavy clothing on a baby can raise his temperature. Overdressing your baby can trap heat making your baby more miserable.[1]
    • Keep your baby comfortably dressed and cover him with a light blanket if the temperature is too cold in the room or you notice your baby shivering. Adjust the room temperature as needed to keep your baby comfortable.
  4. Provide a lukewarm bath. Not too hot and not too cold, a lukewarm bath could alleviate a fever.[1]
    • If you plan to give your baby a lukewarm bath, give her some medicine to make sure her temperature does not rise after getting out of the bath.
    • Avoid cold baths, ice, or alcohol rubs. These will cause your baby to shiver and make the situation even worse.
  5. Give medicine. Be cautious giving your baby Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin. Read the label carefully to make sure you are giving the right dosage for the right age. It might even be a good idea to consult a healthcare professional before giving your baby a fever medication.[2]
    • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is usually what the doctor or nurse recommends for fevers in babies.
    • If your baby is under three months old, call the doctor before administering medication.
    • Do not go over the recommended dosage or there is a potential it could cause liver or kidney damage, or worse, it could be fatal.
    • Acetaminophen can be taken every four to six hours and Ibuprofen can be taken every six to eight hours as long as baby is older than six months old.
    • Keep track of what medicine you give, how much, and when you gave it, so as not to overdose your child.
    • For temperatures under 102°F (38.9°C), try to refrain from using medication unless the doctor or nurse suggests it.
    • Never give aspirin to babies it could trigger a rare, but fatal, disorder called Reye’s syndrome.

Seeking Medical Attention

  1. Check for a rise in temperature. Even a low-grade fever could indicate a serious infection in babies. Therefore, depending on the age of your baby, a significant rise in temperature demands a call to the pediatrician.[3]
    • For newborn babies up to three months old that have a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, you should contact a pediatrician for instructions.
    • If your baby is older than three months old with a 102°F (38.9°C) and the fever lasts longer than a day, call your pediatrician.
    • If you are ever in doubt, make a call to the pediatrician just to be safe.
  2. Call your pediatrician. If your baby has a fever but continues to play and eat normally, then there is usually no major concern at that time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends calling a pediatrician if your infant is under three months old and has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. If your baby is older than three months and has a fever longer than 24 hours and has other symptoms such as coughing, earache, loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea, call your pediatrician or visit an urgent care clinic.[1]
    • If your baby is not alert or comfortable when the fever subsides, is very irritable, has a stiff neck, or no tears appear when baby cries, contact your doctor right away.
    • If your child has any special medical problems such as heart problems, immune problems, or sickle cell disease, make sure to check with your doctor when he has a fever.
    • Call your doctor if your child has a fever that lasts longer than 48 hours and a decreasing number of wet diapers, or excessive diarrhea or nausea, as this could indicate an illness that should be evaluated.
    • Call your doctor if your child has a fever over 105°F (40.5°C) or has a fever for more than three days.
    • Dial 9-1-1 if your baby has a fever and seems confused, cannot walk, difficulty breathing, or lips, tongue, or nails become blue.
  3. Prepare to go. If your baby needs medical attention make sure you take along all of the necessary information to ensure baby gets treated correctly and promptly. You should also be prepared to find out what to expect while you are at the doctor’s office.[4]
    • Record all of the necessary information about your baby’s fever: when the fever started, how long ago you took your baby’s temperature, and informing the doctor of any other symptoms.
    • Make a list of medications, vitamins, and supplements that your baby is taking and if your baby is allergic to anything.
    • Think about questions to ask the doctor like what is causing the fever; what kind of tests need to be performed; what is the best approach for treatment; and will my baby need to take any medications?
    • Be ready to answer the doctor’s questions: when did the symptoms begin; did your baby take medication and if yes, when; what did you do to try and alleviate the fever?
    • Prepare for the fact that your baby might have to be admitted to the hospital for observation or more testing if your baby is very ill or is younger than 3 months old.

Preventing Future Fevers

  1. Make sure your baby is up to date with all of her immunizations. Keeping on top of your child's immunizations — including her yearly flu shot — will help decrease the likelihood of her getting sick.
  2. Wash your hands. In nearly all situations, keep your hands clean since your hand is the direct part of your body that comes into contact with germs and transfers it to other parts of the body.[5]
    • Wash hands, in particular, before eating, after using the toilet, petting or playing with an animal, using public transportation, or after visiting a sick person.
    • Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly — front and back, between fingers, under your nails, and for at least twenty seconds with warm water and soap.
    • Keep hand sanitizer with you when you travel or do not have access to soap and water.
  3. Don’t touch the “T” zone. The T zone consists of the forehead, nose, and chin that forms the letter “T” on the front of the face. The nose, mouth, and eyes that, located within the T, are the primary points of entry for viruses and bacteria to enter the body and cause infection.[5]
    • Guard against all bodily fluids that exit the “T” zone as well: cover your mouth when you cough, your mouth and nose when you sneeze, and wipe your nose when it is runny (then wash your hands!).
  4. Keep your baby home when he is sick. Keep your child home and out of daycare when he is ill or has a fever to prevent spreading it to others. If you know friends or family are sick, try to keep your baby away from these people until they are well again.
  5. Avoid sharing. Try not to share drinking cups, water bottles, or utensils with your baby since this is an easy way to transfer germs from one person to another, especially from parent to baby, who has not built an adequate immune system yet.[5]
    • Avoid putting your baby’s binky in your mouth as a way to clean it and then putting it back into your baby’s mouth. Adult germs are powerful inside baby’s mouth and can easily cause an illness. The same goes for toothbrushes.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000319.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/basics/treatment/con-20019229
  3. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/basics/symptoms/con-20019229
  4. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/basics/preparing-for-your-appointment/con-20019229
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/basics/prevention/con-20019229
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