It is natural for the parents to worry when the baby feels extra warm to touch. If the baby is down with fever especially the first time, the parent is bound to get nervous. Baby fever treatment should be known to all the parents.
Although, most fevers are harmless and caused due to a meek infection, when it comes to a baby with a fever, the best thing to do is be prepared by knowing the below information to accurately care for a sick baby.
What Is Fever For A Baby?
To know how to treat baby fever, the key is to know what fever is for a baby. 100.4° Fahrenheit or 38° Celsius and higher is not normal temperature for the baby and therefore called as baby fever.
Fever is typically associated with the following illness in a baby:
- Influenza
- Cold
- Pneumonia
- Sore throat
- Blood infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Croup
- Ear infection
- Meningitis
- Or a range of viral infection
How To Deal With A Baby Fever?
The body with temperature will always radiate heat, and similar will be the case with your baby. As the baby can’t tell you that they feel feverish, it is your part to pay attention to them. The baby tends to feed less usually and change in their sleep which means they either sleep more or less. They are likely to become fussier. The moment you have such signs, it is best to check for fever.
Signs Of Fever In A Newborn:
- Baby feels warm: This is the foremost sign when the baby is hotter than the usual.
- There is a change in behavior or routine: If the baby behaves abnormal and something is off the temperament, it is a sign to check for fever. The baby keeps crying and acting irritated.
- Change in the feeding: When the baby takes in breast or bottle milk and you see that the baby isn’t feeding enough then there could be signs of fever.
- Sleep pattern changed: When the baby sleeps extra or very less, both are signs of potential temperature change in a baby.
How To Measure The Temperature In A Baby?
Even though you can check the fever by touching the forehead or by using a thermometer and placing it under-the-arm to measure, according to the experts, a rectal thermometer is standard for taking the newborn temperature. Prefer a digital rectal thermometer with a wide base and a short and flexible tip which keeps you from inserting it too far.
Apply petroleum jelly on the end of the thermometer before inserting it. Lie down the baby and insert it gently about half an inch into the baby’s bottom until the thermometer beeps. Remove carefully and take the reading. Anything beyond 100.4 degrees F is considered as a fever in babies.
How To Bring Down Baby Fever?
A fever usually fights the infection in a baby’s body but when it soars up to a certain temperature in the child, it gets uncomfortable for the baby. Thus lowering the fever helps them but does not cure the underlying infection or problem. There are a few methods as a cure for baby fever:
- Place a cool and damp cloth (clean and sterilized for the baby).
- Give lukewarm tub water or a sponge bath to your baby as a remedy for fever in a baby. As the water evaporates from their skin, the cool cloth helps to bring the kid’s temperature down. You must not use cold water as it might cause shivers n the baby and the temperature to rise instead.
- Offer plenty of fluid diet to your baby including chilled food. Yogurt, ice pops, helps to cool the kid from inside and keeps them hydrated.
- You can switch on the fan but keep the baby inside the blanket. This keeps the baby warm and does not end up shivering. The room should not be too hot or too cold.
- Do not keep the baby layered in clothes as they tend to lose more heat through the skin. Lightly layer the dress and cover them with a warm blanket in case they are shivering.
- Stay indoors with the baby to cure baby fever sooner.
- DO NOT give your kid apple or any fruit juice. Dilute it with half water and half juice.
- If the baby is vomiting, give them gelatin (Jell-O) or popsicles.
- DO NOT force the kid to eat food.
Do Babies Get Fever From Teething?
The baby teething fever is indeed true. But it is usually a low-grade fever which will be lesser than 100.4 degrees F. Any fever symptoms in a baby seems to be in control associated with teething like drooling, swollen gums or chewing literally everything they get in their hands.
Remedies for Fever in Kids:
- Although Acetaminophen(R) and ibuprofen(R) are safe and effective medicines if used as directed by doctors for improving the child’s comfort. Ibuprofen must not be used on any child below 6 months.
- Aspirin must not be used for kids as it causes discomfort, plus linked with side effects such as discomfort to the stomach and serious intestinal bleeding, etc.
- If the kid is suffering from vomiting and cannot take anything from the oval track, the rectal suppository is also available which can be provided to comfort the kid.
Before giving any medication to your kid, it is recommended to read the label clearly to make sure you are giving the apt one as per their age and weight. It is important to look at the ingredients and be sure that doctors approve of those medications. Always practice discussing with the doctor before starting any baby fever treatment to be twice as sure.
Also, excellent practice is to teach kids the basic first aid tips.
