Fevers and Preventions or Remedies

Hi Maria,
I'm a nurse and I can understand where your pediatrician is coming from (from a medical point of view). A fever is most likely due to an infection somewhere, and it's important to know where the infection is coming from. And babies and toddlers can tolerate a fever better than a child or adult. BUT it is also important to treat your baby's symptoms too. Is your doc doing something to find out the source of infection? If not I would treat your baby's fever, just be careful with tylenol's dosing and make sure your baby is getting plenty of fluids.
Hope this helps,
K.

Hi Maria,

I know fevers are so scary! Doctors don't consider it to be a fever until it reaches 100.4, that's why they probably said to call at that point. If your son's fever is under that, you really don't need to worry about bringing it down. Just keep him comfy and make sure he is getting rest and keep checking his temp to make sure it isn't going up. Does he have any other symptoms or is he just running a fever out of the blue?

I hope all is well!
L.

I have a four month old daughter and everysince she was 2 months old they have told me to give her tylenol (because she had her shots) so I give her .04 on the infant tylenol that is what our doctor said to do. and if she is sick that is the only comfort she can have because they wont let you give them anything for a cold. Also about the motrin they need to be at least 6 mo's before they can take that, it has something to do with brain development.. hope this helps..

My son has had three fevers in the past year over 103. Their little bodies are tough and can handle it, and your ped is right that a certain amount of fever, though miserable, does the job of getting the kid better fast. The problem is the virus, the remedy is the fever. Sometimes stopping the fever will keep the kid sicker longer.

I take him to the chiropractor, and generally within 1/2 an hour his fever drops by several points. Just this past week he went from 103.7 to 100.2-- something tylenol could not have done on it's own anyhow. Give it a try!

That's interesting that they told you that because in regards to fevers I was told to only call the Dr. (even at that age) if the tyl and mot weren't bringing it down or if it lasted more than two days. That went along with regular cold symptoms. If anything else presented like pulling on ears or a horrible cough or if they stop eating, then I would take them to the dr even if they didn't have a fever. My kids get ear infections on occasion without fevers, so what I'm really saying is trust yourself. You know your baby better than the dr ever will. This sounds like your first so work out all your anxieties with him and then you'll find that you take your second to the dr about half as ofter or less. If you do a bath, don't make the water too cool, it still needs to be at least body temperature to avoid chilling him.

there is really nohing you can do to prevent a fever. it signafies an infection or virus of some sort. i was told that a child's fever really isn't a fever til it hits 100.4, i won't freak out too much over that. if it does get higher DO NOT put your child in a cold/cool bath. the tmperature difference could send them into shock. instead use cool rags to wipe the child down or put around the neck and head. good luck