Bringing down a fever

[KittyVentura]

Fin is feverish. Unfortunately I can't find the forehead thermo so until my MIL brings one in a couple of hours I'm not sure on his exact temp but he is definitely feverish. His skin is red in patches (from heat - NOT a rash) and he is RED hot to the touch.

This is the first time he's been feverish like this. I know I need to bring his temp down but it's pretty chilly here now. I'm cold in PJs, a thick dressing gown, slippers AND I'm pregnant so hotter than normal anyway.

He's been given Calpol... Am I best to strip him naked - but it IS cold. Or could that cause a a chill? Am I better to go down to just a vest or down a layer bit by bit until he feels cooler?

Is it the speed of getting the temp down that's most important hence needing to go all guns blazing?

Can't believe I've made it to 11 months before needing to deal with a fevered and very unwell baby xx

 

[mommyof3co]

Fever isn't a bad thing It's a sign his body is doing it's job to fight off whatever illness he has. A fever from any normal sickness won't get high enough to actually cause damage, there is the worry of febrile seizures but that is usually caused by the temp spiking quickly. So getting it down fast isn't really needed, we actually rarely treat fevers unless they are miserable with them or they are over 102-103F.

I wouldn't strip him down because when you have a fever you actually feel cold even though you aren't so if you make him cold he's going to really feel cold and his body is going to try and warm itself and might make his temp go even higher.

You can get him a slightly warm bath, not really warm but not cool at all either and that can help bring it down. But most important thing is to make sure he stays hydrated.

hope he feels better soon

 

[KittyVentura]

Brilliant advice. Thanks love.

He's off his food (Even turned his nose up at a digestive yesterday) but luckily IS drinking loads - More than normal. Plenty of milk, water, squash, juice etc etc. To the point he keeps leakign his nappies even during a 1.5 hr nap.

I'll keep him as he is then, he is VERY miserable but we can ride it out fine xxx

 

[MadameJ]

I was told once to help bring a fever down to alternate between calpol and ibuprofen(give a dose of calpol n then 2-3hours later a dose of ibuprofen) Cause its sooner than the 4 hour period between doses like normal,i just gave the lesser dose(2.5ml) but it still worked perfectly!

How your LO feels better soon

 

[sam2eb]

I was told once to help bring a fever down to alternate between calpol and ibuprofen(give a dose of calpol n then 2-3hours later a dose of ibuprofen) Cause its sooner than the 4 hour period between doses like normal,i just gave the lesser dose(2.5ml) but it still worked perfectly!

When my son was little we brought him to a&e as he had an awful temperature for ages, this its the advice we were given too.

Hope he feels better soon x