Kiss or touch your baby's forehead. If you think he or she feels hotter than normal, you're probably right.
A fever is usually a sign that the body is waging a war against infection. Taking your baby's temperature can confirm your suspicions and help you and your child's doctor figure out the best way to get your baby back on the road to health.
Most doctors – and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
– agree that a normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 38 degrees Celsius). If your baby's rectal temperature is above this range, he or she has a fever.
When should I call the doctor?
You're the best judge of whether your baby is really ill, so call if you're worried, no matter what his or her temperature is.
A temperature reading isn't the only indication of whether a fever is serious. Your baby's age is a factor (fever is more serious in babies under 3 months), as is his or her behavior (a high fever that doesn't stop your baby from playing and feeding normally may not be cause for alarm).
Keep in mind that everyone's temperature rises in the late afternoon and early evening and falls between midnight and early morning. The natural cycle of our internal thermostat explains why doctors get most of their phone calls about fever in the late afternoon and early evening.
Ask your baby's doctor when he or she wants you to call if your baby has a fever. Common guidelines are:
If your baby is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher, call the doctor immediately. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infection or disease.
For a baby between 3 and 6 months old, call if his or her temperature reaches 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) or higher.
If your baby is 6 months or older, call if his or her fever reaches 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) or higher.
When you call, the doctor will probably ask you about other symptoms. The most important thing is how your baby looks and acts – if he or she has lost his or her appetite, has little energy, is noticeably pale or flushed, or is extremely irritable and can't be consoled, or if you notice other changes in your baby's behavior and appearance.
Be sure to mention other symptoms, too, such as a cough, signs of ear pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. These can help the doctor make a diagnosis. He or she will then tell you how to care for your baby and whether you need to come into the office.
Be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms, which could indicate a more serious problem when coupled with a fever:
Your baby has small, purple-red spots on his or her skin that don't turn white or paler when you press on them, or he or she has large purple blotches. Both of these can signal a very serious bacterial infection.
Your baby is having difficulty breathing (working harder to breathe or breathing faster than usual) even after you clear his or her nose with a bulb syringe
or other nasal suction device. This could indicate pneumonia
or bronchiolitis.
If fever is a defense against infection, is it really a good idea to try to bring it down?
Since fever is part of the body's defense against bacteria and viruses, some researchers suggest that the body may fight infections more effectively when its temperature is elevated. (Bacteria and viruses prefer an environment that's around 98.6 degrees F, or 37 degrees C.) A fever also tells the body to make more white blood cells and antibodies to fight the infection.
On the other hand, if your baby's temperature is too high, he or she will be too uncomfortable to eat, drink, or sleep, and that will make it harder for your baby to get better.
If your little one's fever isn't affecting his or her behavior, you don't need to give any medicine to lower it. Offer plenty of breast milk or formula to prevent dehydration, and don't overdress your baby or bundle him or her up when sleeping.
If your baby's body temperature is higher than normal because of extra clothes or a scorching day, help him or her cool down by taking off a few of layers and letting him or her rest or play quietly in a cool spot.
Which fever-reducing medicines are safe for my baby?
If your doctor says it's okay, you can use infant acetaminophen to bring down your baby's temperature. (Ibuprofen is okay for older babies, but isn't recommended for babies under 6 months.)
Be very careful when administering medicine to your baby. His or her weight will determine the right dose. Always use the measuring device that comes with the medicine or an oral syringe to give your baby exactly the right amount.
Don't give any fever-reducing medicine more often than is recommended. The directions will probably say that you can give acetaminophen every four hours and ibuprofen every six hours.
Never give your baby aspirin. Aspirin can make a child more susceptible to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disorder.
And don't give your baby over-the-counter cough and cold preparations such as decongestant, expectorant, cough suppressant, and antihistamine. These are not recommended for young children.
Are there other ways to bring my baby's fever down?
You can try to lower your baby's fever by sponging him or her down with lukewarm (not cold) water or giving your baby a lukewarm bath.
Never try to reduce a fever by sponging down your baby with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can be absorbed into your baby's bloodstream through the skin. It can also cool him or her too quickly, which can actually raise his or her temperature.