How To Bring Down A Fever In Babies?

By: Ambili S Kartha

How To Bring Down A Fever In Babies?

The fever in babies is often scary for parents. Usually, most fevers are harmless and are caused by mild infections. Fever will not hurt your child as it goes after three days. Some babies get a fever after having their vaccinations. Babies that are younger than six months should see a doctor when they have an illness. Any fever in a new-born that is higher than 100.4° F, you should report to the child’s health care provider as older children can be treated at home.

What Temperature Is A Fever For The Baby?

The normal temperature of a baby lies between 97°F and 100.3°F. A 100.4°F temperature is called rectal temperature and is considered as fever. Your little one may have a fever if he or she feels hotter than usual to the touch on their forehead, stomach, or back. If you think your baby has a fever, it is best to check their temperature with a thermometer. To get a fast and accurate reading, you may use a digital thermometer. This will help you work out whether you need to get medical advice.

What Cause Fever In Babies?

Fever in babies generally indicates that the body is fighting an illness, and the immune system is functioning. Causes of fever in babies may include:

1. Reaction to a vaccination
2. Becoming overheated from being dressed too warmly
3. Viral infection
4. Ear infections
5. Respiratory infections
6. Flu
7. Teething

However, the baby’s body temperature can increase for many reasons other than underlying health issues. For example, nonstop crying for quite some time, sitting in the hot sun for some time, etc. can increase your baby’s body temperature. However, none of these things ends up in a fever. In fact, fever is considered as a good sign because a child’s immune system is working, and the body is trying to heal itself.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Fever?

What Are The Symptoms Of A Fever

Symptoms of fever in the baby may include:

1. Dry mouth
2. Fussiness
3. Earache
4. High pitched crying
5. Constant vomiting
6. No appetite
7. Severe headache
8. Skin rash
9. Sore or swollen joints
10. Stomach pain
11. Stiff neck
12. Seizures
13. Whimpering
14. Unresponsiveness
15. Pale appearance
16. Breathing problems

These signs can provide important clues as to cause of the fever. Some children may feel fine when they have a fever.

When To Call The Doctor For Fever?

You should get in touch with the doctor in case your child is still below the age of 2-3 months and has any fever at all because they have a less mature immune system. If your baby’s temperature repeatedly goes above 104°F, you should call your doctor right away. When you do call your doctor, you need to be prepared to answer some questions such as what is your baby temperature? How long has he had the fever? In case your baby has crossed the age of 6 months, and his temperature is 103°F, you should also call the doctor. Always get help immediately if your baby’s age is below three months, no matter what his symptoms are.

How To Bring Down A Fever In Babies?

You can make efforts to heal your baby’s fever so that the baby gets better by each day. You may use different medicines to reduce fever and help them improve faster. Also, there are a plethora of treatment methods that will help you to bring the baby’s body temperature down. You may offer fluids which help in preventing dehydration and keep the baby’s body cool. You can also provide breast milk. This will be the best way to bring down a baby’s fever.

Febrile convulsions

A Febrile convulsion is a convulsion that occurs when a child has a fever. It would occur during the first day of the fever. Children between the age of 6 months to 5 years might experience febrile seizures. Most seizures stop on their own. You should take your child to the doctor as soon as possible after the seizure to determine the cause of the fever. When a child has this, they become unconscious, their eyes may roll back, and part of their body may jerk.

If your child has one, do not put anything inside their mouth. Lie your child on their side with their head in a neutral position. Stay with your baby during the convulsion. If the convulsion does not stop within five minutes, call an ambulance.

What To Feed A Baby Who Has A Fever?

What To Feed A Baby Who Has A Fever

You should try to offer babies their favorite food and ensure they are healthy as well. Along with this, your baby should get breastfed so that the healing process gets increased. This will enhance the immune system to fight against the fever. It is important to feed the baby time and again. Also, don’t make him eat in excess. You may offer your baby Dal or khichdi, which is the basic dish. It will bring the lost strength of the baby and make him healthy again. As dal and khichdi have high levels of proteins, you should prepare this without any spices, including salt. Just cook it in a simple manner as possible. Other dishes that you can offer to your baby may include soup, vegetable and fruit puree, daliya, ginger tea, and turmeric milk.

How To Prevent Fever In Babies?

If your little one shows a few signs for a fever, you can prevent it on your own by following the given steps.

1. You may check his temperature. If your baby is behaving normally and is still active and alert, the illness is perhaps not much a cause of concern.
2. Don’t worry too much if your little one shows no signs of appetite.
3. You may remove extra layers of clothing so your child can lose heat more easily through the skin.
4. Just do not use aspirin that can cause fatal illness.
5. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. It is best to keep a child with a fever home from childcare.

Conclusion

The key is to make your child as comfortable as possible until fever passes and get medical treatment when needed. Nothing is more precious than your child. So, if your baby is exhibiting signs and symptoms of high temperature, just try to keep it under control or visit urgent care. It is important to remember that a fever is not itself an illness.

Source: https://www.beingtheparent.com/how-to-bring-down-a-fever-in-babies/

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