Tips on bringing fever down

[supergolden88]

Baby boy 6m is super miserable with fever (but no other symptoms apart from teething) spiking at 39.4. We have been giving paracetamol (not very effective) and ibuprofen (works better) according to guidelines. So Calpol alternating with Calprofen. The fever tends to return when medicine wears off - that is before the next dose of medicine is given.

He was up at 2am for a few hours and went to sleep eventually in our bed on the boob but woke up at 6am. Now very tired but unable to sleep and fever is back.

I have been using a damp cool cloth on his head only. Not sure whether there is anything else I could be doing? He is off his milk and as I am transitioning from breast to bottle currently there is virtually no breastmilk although he will comfort himself at the breast. He will only take very small amounts (20 -60ml) from a bottle. I am a bit concerned about fluid intake. He is not floppy but is overtired and irritable.

Should I be overlapping the medication? The guidelines say no more than 3 doses of Calprofen daily so roughly every 8 hours...

[millie42]

Poor thing - my two both get high temperatures so really feel for you. Also one gets convulsions so I am totally neurotic about their temps!

I generally do overlap the medication but it is important to not reduce the times between each application. Overlapping ensures that at all time there will be sufficient medication to try and stem the temperature rise.

I also strip my childen down to nappies and sponge them down with tepid (not cold water). You may also wish to try having a small fan on in the room but make sure the baby is not in the draft.

Its important to try and ensure they do not become dehydrated and continue to wee.

If it continues for more than 24 hours I would suggest you try and speak to a GP as its important to try and understand what is causing the underlying infection. With my two its usually something as simple as tonsilitis but its good to understand what it is and how to treat it.

Good luck

[Claire29]

When my boys have been ill and not taking milk (when babies) I offered them water with a tiny teeny bit of apple juice/ribena in , as I think it's best for baby to get some fluid even if that means putting a bit of something sweet in it to get them to drink it. Also with toddlers if they aren't wanting to drink, ice lollies are always good to have, again i think it's better when they are ill to get some sort of fluid rather than none....... I know myself when I have a sore throat I always treat myself to some ice cream to help sooth it! Hope baby gets better soon.

[Belle]

When my son has had v high temps with ear infections, we had him in just a nappy, and minimal clothing if we had to go out. Likewise at night, when he'd get very hot, sometimes just a nappy and the thinnest grobag you can get (0.5 tog) or sometimes no grobag and just a little all in one vest. we'd checkc on him regularly to make sure we'd got it right as his temp would fluctuate at night and so sometimes as I went to bed I'd drape a thin blanket over him if I th ought he was cooling off.

Agree re juice, and I gave smoothies too when he wouldn't take water.

[Fuschia]

If you think he is dehydrated - fontanelle sunk or skin stays pinched if you pinch it for eg or you are worried then I would try a and e

7 am is a good time to go IME!

O don't bother now with seldoc as they missed kidney infection And pneumonia in mine!

[buggie]

just to add to above advice (which is all v good), make sure your giving the full doses you can of paracetamol/ibuprofen going by SG junior's weight - this post explains ml per kg for paracetamol (120mg/5ml) and ibuprofen (100mg/5ml).