Babies and Fever
Sooner or later your newborn baby will start to show symptom of being ill. However, just because your baby feels warm doesn’t necessarily mean he has a fever. Sometimes dressing a baby in warm clothing and jumpers will cause the body temperature to rise, so if you remove the clothing and normal body temperature returns than your baby is doing fine.
But fevers do occur in newborns and it can be a serious matter if not treated immediately. Many doctors and pediatricians will consider the first four to nine months of a baby’s life a transition period where the baby’s immune system is beginning to develop and adjust to the new world he is in. Temperatures may rise and fall with changes in the seasons, traveling and other external factors so just because your baby may feel a little warm doesn’t mean he has a virus or infection. Before making any judgment have a clear definition of what a fever constitutes with your physician. Generally speaking body temperature is around 98 degrees and anything above 102 degrees is considered a serious problem.
But not everyone agrees on what temperature equals a fever so know what your doctor considers to be serious before jumping to any conclusions. A high fever that spikes quickly and then comes down is much less worrisome than a mild fever that persists. Keep a close watch on any baby that is showing fluctuations in temperature and also watch for other symptoms that can indicate a deeper problem.
The best advice is to keep an eye on your child and not the thermometer. Your baby will show other symptoms if he is really ill including diarrhea, sweating, irritability and lethargy. Most baby fevers can be treated using infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen though ibuprofen is not recommended for babies under 6 months. Never give a baby aspirin as it can cause Reye’s Syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disorder.
Another option for bringing a baby’s fever down is to give him a lukewarm sponge bath. Alcohol baths were once a popular home remedy but new studies show that such baths can cool your baby too quickly and make his temperature spike. Of course, a cool washcloth on the forehead never hurts.