When Should You Be Worried When Babies Have Fever? Fever in babies is a sign of having an infection and can be a concern. A fever is one way that the immune system reacts to fight a possible infection. A fever indicates an elevated body temperature, typically greater than 37°C in adults or greater than 38°C in children less than 3 months old.
Though fevers are often harmless when they’re brief and uncomplicated, parents should still watch for signs that may indicate a more serious infection, such as a high fever lasting more than 3 days, or a persistent fever that fails to respond to home treatment.
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Signs that Your Child has Fever
1. Change in Appetite or Unusual Sleeping Patterns
When your child has some kind of infection, they may not be able to sleep or eat as well as usual. This is a normal sign that your child’s immune system is fighting to defeat what your child has caught. Sleeping and eating less, being restless or cranky, having poor color, or being dehydrated can be signs of a lower-grade fever.
2. Rash
Rashes are common in babies, and it is unlikely that they are the result of an infection. However, sometimes an infection leads to a rash that may indicate fever. Most often, rashes are the result of an allergic reaction or some other cause that the baby has no control over.
3. Lighter Skin Tone Changes
Sometimes, even with a mild fever, the color of your baby’s skin may appear paler or have a bluish tint. This can be another sign of a fever, even though it is not typically associated with fever or infection.
4. Less Active or Crying More
If you’ve noticed any changes in your child’s behavior during a fever, you should talk to your pediatrician about it. The normal way for a child to behave when they have a fever is to complain about feeling hot, listlessness and not wanting to play or interact with other children.
5. Vomiting
If your child has a high fever and begins vomiting, this can be a sign of dehydration. Dehydration is when the body loses more fluids than are taken in, which can occur if you aren’t giving your baby enough fluids or if they are vomiting frequently. Your pediatrician may recommend that you give your baby rehydration drinks that contain electrolytes to help them replace lost fluids.
6. Respiratory Signs or Cough
When your child has a high fever, it can make them more prone to catching pneumonia. Pneumonia is a respiratory infection characterized by coughing, difficulty breathing, and sometimes fever. If you notice that your child has a sore throat and is having difficulty breathing, there’s a chance they may have pneumonia.
7. Lethargy/Weakness/Unsteadiness
A high fever can cause weakness in babies due to dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea. Babies who are suffering from dehydration may be too weak to stand without support, may not respond normally to stimuli, and might be clumsy on their feet.
Tips on taking care of sick babies
1. Keep your Room Ventilated
Keep the temperature in your home comfortable. Call your pediatrician if you notice temperature changes or if your child is having trouble warming up, such as not being able to get warm during random periods. If you notice your child has a temperature of 38°C or above, call your pediatrician and tell him or her that the baby is sick.
2. Screen Your Child for Infections
If you suspect that your baby might have an infection, such as a cold or flu, you should immediately call your pediatrician for help. Your pediatrician will determine the best course of action for treating the illness, which may include giving medicine and/or making home visits to check on your child’s progress and make sure they are hydrated and eating well.
3. Keep Your Child Hydrated
Make sure your baby is drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Always make sure to choose milk or water over any other fluids to prevent dehydration and any other complications that can arise from dehydration.
4. Watch Your Child’s Temperament
If you notice that your baby is unusually irritable, fussy, and hard to soothe, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician. Irritability can be a sign of illness, though it could also just be a phase that the baby will grow out of in a few days or weeks. If you aren’t sure what’s causing the irritability in babies, it’s best to err on the side of caution and see if your pediatrician has any advice for you.
5. Avoid Warm Baths
It’s advised that you do not place your baby in a bath or shower if they have a fever. You also shouldn’t give your baby any medication in a bath or shower. If you are on a tight schedule and need to bathe your baby, wait until the fever is gone before bathing them, though this should happen soon after the fever started.
6. Don’t Give Tylenol or Ibuprofen for Fever
Both acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are used as over-the-counter painkillers for adults and kids alike, but they can cause dehydration by suppressing the vomiting response in children with a fever. This is especially true for children under the age of 3. If you have concerns about your child’s fever, contact your pediatrician for advice.
7. Take the Child to a Doctor if Needed
If your baby has a temperature of 38°C or above, call your pediatrician and tell him or her that the baby is sick. Your pediatrician will determine the best course of action for treating the illness, which may include giving medicine and/or making home visits to check on your child’s progress and make sure they are hydrated and eating well.
When Should You Be Worried When Babies Have Fever? – Conclusion
When Should You Be Worried When Babies Have Fever? A fever is a normal body response to infection in children. If your child has a fever, your pediatrician will determine the cause of the illness, recommend treatment and help keep your child comfortable while they recover.
It’s important that you follow the advice of your pediatrician and not give any medicine or put anything else on your baby’s body without first asking for their advice. A fever can seem scary and intimidating, but if you know what to look for and how to treat it, the whole ordeal should be stress-free for both you and your baby.
