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Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Baby Fever

Baby Fever

When Should You Worry When Baby Has a Fever?

By Lisa A. Goldstein

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

"Most pediatricians will suggest that a rectal temperature be used for kids less than 3 years old," says Dr. DeGraw. "For older children, a digital thermometer used orally is best, followed by using it under the arm. Digital ear thermometers and forehead strips are not very accurate and have significant limitations and should be used with that in mind."

Treating a Fever
It isn't necessary to "fight" a fever as the fever is actually good for the child in helping fight the infection, says Dr. Shubin. "Unfortunately, fever makes children feel bad and perhaps not drink as much as they need to, so we help the child feel better with acetaminophen or ibuprofen but not in kids less than 6 months old or who are vomiting," he says.

Aspirin should never be used to treat fever or illness in children, says Dr. DeGraw. He recommends sponge baths in lukewarm – not cold – water. Never use alcohol, he cautions, as it can be inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin and cause more serious problems.

Deena Fischer of St. Peters, Mo., says cooler baths seemed to help her son when he had a fever. She also let him sleep in a T-shirt and diaper to cool him off and used a cool cloth to help bring his temperature down. DeBroff also learned that a lukewarm bath really helps comfort an already miserable and hysterical child.

DeBroff recalls the lessons she's gleaned from her experiences. "You start to learn very specifically about how your child handles fever and illness," she says. "For instance, that your baby/toddler can tolerate high temperatures and will typically run them or that ear pain is a guarantee of another ear infection that will need an office visit to your pediatrician right away."


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Found 2 comments
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Re: Baby Fever by anonymous on 08/02/2009 09:50PM

I feel like i might be able to sleep now

Re: Baby Fever by Danon on 06/03/2009 03:17AM

I'm lying in bed with my 5-month old daughter and her fever waiting on a response from a local nurse hotline about whether or not to take her into the ER. I decided to do a little research while I waited and this article really helped me realize that I don't need to take her in at all. My oldest has never ran a high temp before so I was a little alarmed but that gut feeling we mothers have was right again! Thank God for that and information like this that's accessible at all hours. Thanks so much for the tips.

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