Fever is a good reaction of the body, even in a baby. Through the increased temperature, the person defends himself against problems in his own organism. But babies do not yet have a constant body temperature like a full-grown human being. For example, if the little darling is dressed too warmly, his body temperature rises. It works the same the other way around. So a hot head is not necessarily a sign of a present illness.
We show when to take action on baby fever.
At what point does one speak of fever?
Normally a healthy baby a body temperature between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius. If the thermometer goes above 38, that begins to be low fever calls. If the column rises still higher, to 39 or 39.5 up to 40 degrees, one speaks already of "love" high fever. Anything over 40.5 degrees is a very high fever. In the morning the temperature is usually about half a degree below that in the evening.
Many babies whine and become querulous, sleep becomes restless. Children just feel bad when they have a fever.
Febrile seizure
In addition to the three-day fever with subsequent reddish rash (on the face and body), a febrile convulsion can occur in very rare cases. The baby may stare, get blue lips or roll his eyes all of a sudden. It is also possible that the breath stops, the baby twitches wildly (do not suppress this)!) or even sinks into a short fainting spell. In this case you should not leave your child unattended, put him in a stable side position and call an ambulance or go to a hospital or doctor right away. Possibly undress it and use a thin blanket to cover it up. As a rule, febrile seizure is harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness.
What does a fever in the baby indicate??
As said, the increased body temperature is a good reaction of the organism, it fights hostile pathogens in the blood. Usually a small fever indicates a cold or just a cough, often occurs after a vaccination, when the teeth come (see teething). But fever can also be present when a serious illness such as measles is present.
Sometimes, z.B. on vacation or in the hot summer fever becomes easy due to heat triggered. Then baby should stay much in the shade and wear only thin clothes.
The fever phases
There are three phases of baby fever:
Rise phase: In this case, the head and forehead are hot, the rest of the body feels cool, especially the feet are cold. In this phase, the baby should be kept warm, as he or she now freezes easily. Do not initiate fever lowering measures at this stage!
Fever congestion: The peak of temperature, the whole body is heated and baby feels sick. Now is the time to lower the fever temperature to give baby relief.
Reduce fever: When temperature drops, baby feels listless and sweats more. This phase can last a few days, but sometimes it is over very quickly.
For more basic information about fever in children, see the video below:
Basic relief measures
When baby has a fever, it should first of all drink regularly. Mineral water (at room temperature) and/or unsweetened tea are recommended. It is better for baby to drink more often than a lot at once. The amount of urine can be taken as an indication of sufficient hydration. If baby pees noticeably little, this may be a sign of incipient dehydration. Then consult a doctor immediately.
Home remedy to reduce fever
Under no circumstances should you give your baby a cold bath or cool its head too much if it has a fever. Better are other measures:
Calf wrap
The calf wrap is a traditional remedy for reducing fever. Take two lukewarm (not cold, if possible only slightly – 1-2 degrees – below the current body temperature) moistened cloths (wrung out) and wrap them around the lower legs. Wrap a dry cloth over it. This "double wrap let ca. 10 – 15 minutes on the lower legs. A fixation of the wrap would be z.B. possible with a sock.
Repeat the procedure 2-3 times. After that, the baby can sleep or rest. In most cases, the fever temperature is reduced by up to 1 degree with these compresses.
Attention: Do not apply the calf wrap if the baby has cold feet or arms. Because then we are in the rising fever phase and we should rather wait until the little sick treasure is no longer in this rising phase.
In the following video you can see from a midwife how exactly you should proceed with the calf wrap:
Washcloth to reduce fever
Alternatively, a damp and warm (about body temperature) washcloth can be used in reducing fever. Simply rub the forearms with it, the evaporation on the skin leads to the cooling effect. Please do not really wet the baby’s skin, but only moisten it. After half an hour the procedure can be repeated.
A doctor alone should decide whether fever-reducing medication to be used. This also applies to homeopathy or. a homeopathic remedy like Chamomilla.
Is fresh air good for a fever – is it okay to go outside??
First: Yes, it is recommended that the room where the sick baby stays is not too warm. Around 19 degrees is sufficient. This does not mean that you should open the windows and have a draft in the room or even go outside in the wind and weather. It is better to refrain from walks and recover in peace at home. You should also not fly or do other strenuous actions during this time. your baby is sick!
The baby usually sweats a lot when he has a fever. Therefore, change your clothes more often and choose airy garments. It is important to avoid stagnant heat. Helpful is the onion principle with several layers of clothing, which are put on and taken off as needed.
When should my baby see a doctor if he has a fever??
It is said that with a baby under one year of age, at temperatures of 38.5 degrees and above, it is advisable to have a doctor look at the state of health. Tends to be: the younger the child, the sooner to the doctor, at the appearance of fever in a baby under 3 months we would always advise a visit to the doctor. Even if your feeling tells you "Well, that seems strange to me now" you should ask a professional.
In addition, if it
- to abnormalities in the bowel movements (e.g.B. Diarrhea) or
- Vomiting comes,
- small red dots or spots appear,
- shallow breathing or panting begins,
- if the fever does not stay down for a long time,
- comes and goes,
- or lasts longer than five days,
medical assistance should be sought immediately.
Also, if the baby becomes particularly restless or the opposite – apathetic, they should consult the doctor.
The clinical thermometer or how should I take the fever in my baby?
The fever thermometer can be used to measure the temperature rectally or under the armpits. Some electronic thermometers measure in the ear. It is best to do the test: What is the temperature difference at the different parts of the body??
You will see: The correct result can usually only be found rectally. Grease the thermometer a little before inserting it into the bottom. The baby lies best for it on the back.