How to lower your baby’s fever (and when to worry)

Giving the baby a warm bath, with a temperature of 36ºC, is an excellent way to lower the fever naturally, but placing a hand towel dipped in cold water on the forehead; on the back of the head; in the baby’s armpits or groin is also an excellent strategy.

Fever in the baby, which is when the temperature is above 37.5ºC, which is not always a sign of illness, as it can also be caused by heat, excess clothing, teething or a reaction to the vaccine.

The most worrying thing is when the fever occurs due to an infection with viruses, fungi or bacteria, and in this case, the most common thing is for the fever to appear quickly and high, and not to be resolved with the simple measures mentioned above, making it necessary to use medication.

Natural techniques to lower baby’s fever

To reduce your baby’s fever, we recommend:

1. Remove excess clothes from the baby;
2. Offer liquids to the baby, which can be milk or water;
3. Give the baby a bath with warm water;
4. Place towels soaked in cold water on your forehead; nape; armpits and groin.

If the temperature does not go down with these tips in about 30 minutes, it is recommended to call your pediatrician to find out if you can give the baby medicine.

Remedies to lower baby’s fever

Medicines should only be used under the advice of a doctor or pediatrician and antipyretics are generally recommended, such as Acetominophen, Dipyrone, Ibuprofen every 4 hours, for example.

When there are signs of inflammation, the doctor may prescribe the combined use of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in alternate doses, every 4, 6 or 8 hours. The dose varies according to the child’s weight, so you must pay attention to the right amount.

The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics in case of an infection caused by certain viruses or bacteria.

Normally, it is only recommended to give each dose after 4 hours and if the child has a fever of over 37.5ºC, because a lower fever than this is also a defense mechanism of the body, in the fight against viruses and bacteria and therefore, no medicine should be given when the fever is lower than that.

In the case of a viral infection, the fever subsides after 3 days even with the use of medication and in the case of a bacterial infection, the fever only subsides after 2 days with the use of antibiotics.

It is recommended to go to the hospital, emergency room or consult your pediatrician when:

• If the baby is less than 3 months old;
• The fever exceeds 38ºC and the temperature quickly reaches 39.5ºC, indicating a possibility of bacterial infection;
• There is a loss of appetite, refusing the bottle, if the baby sleeps a lot and when awake, shows signs of intense and unusual irritation, which may indicate a serious infection;
• Spots or spots on the skin;
• Other symptoms appear, such as the baby always whining or moaning;
• The baby cries a lot or stays still for a long time, without any apparent reaction;
• If there are signs that the baby is having difficulty breathing;
• If it is not possible to feed the baby for more than 3 meals;
• If there are signs of dehydration;
• The baby becomes very apathetic and is unable to stand or walk;
• If the baby cannot sleep for more than 2 hours, waking up several times during the day or night, because he is expected to sleep longer, due to fever.

If the baby has a convulsion and starts to struggle, you should remain calm and lay him on his side, protecting his head, there is no risk of the baby choking on his tongue, but you should remove a pacifier or food from inside. from your mouth. A febrile seizure usually lasts about 20 seconds and is a single episode, not a major cause for concern. If the seizure lasts more than 2 minutes, the child should be taken to the hospital.

When talking to the doctor, it is important to say the baby’s age and when the fever started, whether it is continuous or if it seems to go away on its own and always come back at the same time, because this makes a difference in clinical reasoning and in reaching the conclusion of what can happen. to be.