How Should You Handle First Fever in a Newborn?

If your newborn has a fever, Don’t panic! This guide will tell you everything you need to know about their first fever including what to watch for and when to call your doctor.

You can Handle First Fever in a Newborn/ Infant’s By Following These Guidelines:

Read all about fever in a newborn / infant temperature, and learn how to safely manage the first baby fever. Taking care of a child’s first fever is always challenging, but here are a few guidelines. It is critical to understand fever symptoms in children, how to treat a fever, what constitutes a fever, and when it is time to call the baby’s doctor or seek immediate treatment for fever symptoms.

Guidelines to Follow:

• If you have baby with mild fever, but baby is acting normal, it might not need to go to a doctor. If your baby is younger than 3 months old and has fever, see the doctor.

• In infants, any sign of fever is cause for seeing the doctor, but for babies older than three months, you can do many things at home that will help lower fever. Your doctor may advise you to give your baby acetaminophen, which is intended for infants, to help reduce the fever. Giving acetaminophen (Tylenol) to a baby may help lower a fever, but you should never give a baby more than three months old any medicine for a fever.

• You do not have to give medicine right away when the fever starts (and you should never give meds that lower the fever to babies younger than 2 months).

• If your child is under the age of three months, consult with a doctor before administering any medication (fevers in children younger than 3 months of age should always be evaluated by their healthcare provider).

• For children under 3 months of age, first contact their child’s care provider before giving any medicine. If your baby is younger than 3 months, call his or her healthcare provider about any fever.

• If your baby is younger than 3 months old and you get a rectal temperature of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher, call the health care provider.

• If it is higher than 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit, you should take a rectal temperature to confirm fever (for babies younger than 24 months, it must be higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Fever alert may sound immediately after your baby’s fever hits 98.7 degrees F.

• From the perspective of pediatricians, your baby has a fever if the rectal reading is 100.4 degrees F or higher, or the oral reading is 99 degrees F or higher. A fever is only a symptom, and an elevated temperature does not necessarily mean an unhealthy baby. Instead of basing your baby’s fever severity solely on a temperature reading, pay attention to your baby’s actions, because that may be a more tell-tale sign of what is going on.

• It is difficult not to panic, but knowing beforehand what fever actually is and how you can help to keep your child safe and comfortable will help when that first fever hits.

• Every child is probably going to get a fever at some point during his or her young life, and most are mild and treatable at home. If your baby is drinking lots of fluids, is still sleeping well, and continues playing, you might not have to treat a mild fever. Remember, fevers are useful, and you should only treat them if your baby is not comfortable, or if the fever goes up to 102A. When your baby has a fever, you can help keep him or her comfortable by trying to slowly lower their body temperature. Giving your baby a warm sponge bath may help lower a fever by cooling down their body temperature.

• Make sure you never use frozen water for the sponge bath, because it may lead to shaking, which may actually raise your baby’s temperature.

• Avoid using cold water, as it may cause your baby to shiver, raising their temperature. If your child starts shivering, raise the temperature of the water or finish the bath and put him or her in clothes.

• Cold compress: Placing a cool, damp washcloth over the baby’s head may pull out the fever and help the baby relax. Dressing your child in light clothes may help with a fever as this allows heat to escape from your child’s skin, which lowers body temperature.

• You can lower your baby’s fever by giving him or her acetaminophen, using a cold compress, keeping your baby hydrated, giving him or her a sponge bath, and dressing your baby in light-weight clothes.

• For at least the first 6 months, always call the doctor whenever your baby has a fever. For babies aged three to twenty-four months, you should call your pediatrician if he has a fever of 102 degrees or higher (when taken by mouth), or if your baby’s fever is above 100.4 degrees and appears to be uncomfortable, listless, not drinking enough, or not wetting the diaper. While we realize your baby’s first fever may be an intimidating development, it is important to watch for the other symptoms that a new-born displays. When Your Child Develops a Fever Being awakened in the middle of the night by your crying infant only to discover they are reddened or warm to the touch can be stressful. For older babies, you may be able to treat fever with medications, giving them fluids, and helping cool down the body-but you will want to watch out for more severe symptoms.

• One other reason that causes fever in a newborn is toddler’s teething. If a fever from your toddler’s teething continues for more than 2 days, ask for medical help. Keep feeding your baby breast milk or formula throughout the fever to prevent dehydration.

• Talk with your baby’s doctor about when you should give a fever reliever, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and ask for the correct dosage based on your child’s age and weight. If your child is older than 3 months, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to help lower fevers; if your baby is older than 6 months, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) is another option.

Where to Seek Assistance?

Please seek the assistance of medical professionals providing maternal healthcare services in Pune if you require more information on the same (fever in a newborn) concern. As the best maternity hospital in Pune, Medipoint Hospital in Chandan Nagar is always one step ahead to keep its patients safe and secure.

Book an appointment today to take advantage of the services!