If your child is suffering from a fever, you’ll want to do all that you can to alleviate child’s discomfort. Here are a few tips to help get the fever down.

Take Your Child to the Doctor

You don’t always need to take your baby to a pediatrician. A fever in children is a normal condition and one that can be dealt with at home. However, there are special circumstances wherein the help and assistance of a children’s doctor are necessary. If you see any of the following signs, make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician.

  • Your baby is younger than three months
  • Your baby is about three to five months of age and has a temperature of about 101 or even higher
  • Your baby has a temperature of 102 and is about six months of age
  • If your baby is suffering from other symptoms: Is your baby’s skin turning purple or blue? Has the baby’s fever gone on for days now? Does your baby have trouble breathing?

Check for these symptoms to know if you need to get your baby to a doctor. Other red flags you should know include: if your baby has a sore throat along with the fever, that could be a sign of strep infection or even an ear infection. If the fever develops with a rash or if your baby has purple spots that look like a bruise, that could be meningococcemia. Get to the doctor right away if that’s the case.

Give a Bath

A bath can help cool down your baby and get temperature to go down. Use lukewarm water, though. Cold or hot water isn’t recommended.

Offer Extra Fluids

Give your child popsicles. Ice cream can be great too. Yogurt for babies can work if yours likes that. Giving your kid frozen treats will help lower temperature.

Administer Medication

Make sure you see or ask your doctor before you administer medication to your child. Some doctors suggest that you let your child take alternating doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. However, be sure to ask your pediatrician about the proper dose and times to prevent an overdose.

Conclusion

Dealing with a fever doesn’t have to be scary. Knowing what to do when it happens will help you make the right decisions, keep you from panicking, and reduce your baby’s discomfort. Learn more by consulting our pediatricians at Pediatrix for treatment advice regarding fever in children.