Infant Fevers - What New Mothers Need To Know
If you’re a new mother and you’re afraid your baby may be getting sick, you may be concerned that your baby has a fever. Examine your child’s forehead, if he is hot to the touch, as compared to your probably right. Having a rectal thermometer around the house to confirm or deny your suspicions is generally a good idea. Keeping track of your baby’s body temperature will also help your doctor in diagnosing and/or treating him.
Normally, a fever signifies infection but at times babies are perfectly healthy with a slight temperature. Pay attention to how the infant is behaving; is the baby eating and sleeping in most cases? Also look for any skin discolorations, small purple blotches can indicate a serious bacterial infection. Check to make sure that he’s breathing properly, and see if there is any build-up or phlegm blocking his airways.
Be aware that our body temperatures change throughout the day. They are almost generally elevated in the late afternoon and early evening before going back down sometime at night and into the early morning. A normal baby’s temperature fluctuates between 97 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (36-38 Celsius) The younger your child is, the much more concerned you should be about a high fever. Just as a guideline, you ought to take your child to the medical center if they are less than 3 months old and their fever rises above 100.4 F(38C), when they’re 3-6 months old and their fever rises above 101 F (38.3C), or when they’re older than six months and their fever is higher than 103 F(39.4C).
Occasionally you’ll be able to give your newborn an over the counter baby fever reducer like children’s acetaminophen or, with infants older than six months, ibuprofen. Be certain and check with your doctor prior to giving any over the counter medicine to your newborn baby, especially if he’s on a prescription medicine. You can in addition try giving him a lukewarm (not cold) bath, as this will at times lower the fever. Should you have your suspicions, it’s probably best to go on and take them to a doctor. In the end, it’s better safe than sorry.