Baby's Temperature

[Mel's Belle]

What temp is too high for a baby (my mum reckons 38 degrees)? 7 month old DD had an underarm temp of 37.3 this morning and again 1/2 hour ago. I've given her a dose of panadol this morning and 1/2 hour ago, but just a bit concerned because she's got chicken pox at the moment.

Unfortunately, she caught it off me and who knows where I got it from!!!

[KarniF00l]

Anything from 36-37.5 is fine.. anything over 39 you need to rush to hospital.. Goodluck :fingerscrossed:

[almond eyes]

Hi,

Checked my baby book and it says, 37.8 degrees is considered a fever. Give baby plenty of fluid and like KarniF001 said, if it reaches 39 or even 38.5, maybe you should consult your GP. Hope your bub feels better soon.

[annsam]

Anything over 37.5 is a fever but fever is also the bodys natural way of fighting virus' and bacteria by lifting the body temperature. If the baby is happy and the fever is under 38 I generally dont worry. My DS gets fevers for EVERYTHING..... he'd get it for a stubbed toe given half a chance :rolleyes: . Sometimes it gets up to 41. Highest has been 41.3. I generally give nurofen at 38 (panadol doesn't work so well on him but it will work with nurofen) and only take him to hospital if it hits 40 and I cant bring it down within an hour.


P.S. If you are at all worried, take bub to hospital or at least call them for advice. All the hospital will do is give them nurofen and possibly put them on a drip if dehydrated but thats usually if there is vomiting, diahorrea and its been that way for a couple of days. Nurofen takes up to an hour to kick in as does panadol. They wont pay much notice until an hour has passed.........and keep up fluids.

[rynosmum]

Anything over 37.5 is a fever but fever is also the bodys natural way of fighting virus' and bacteria by lifting the body temperature. If the baby is happy and the fever is under 38 I generally dont worry.

I agree. My DS had severe ear infections when he was about 6-9 months old and temps would spike to 38.5 very easily and up once as high as 40.

Drs always told me that it isn't the height of the temp, it is a how well or poorly bubs reacts to it. A baby may play happily at 38 or may seem limp and lifeless. Any change like that means the emergency room or a local GP asap.

Otherwise, use Paracetamol or Nurofen (Nurofen works better for us too). If they won't take it directly, mix it in with yoghurt or fruit juice. I found a definite decrease in temp after only 20-25 minutes. In the meantime, don't overdress bubs (or underdress in this weather) or put baby in a tepid bath (lukewarm) which works as well. I know it's hard but make sure you keep their fluids up too. And check bubs in the middle of the night. We always found another temp spike at about 11pm.

All the best, it's a trying time - especially when you're sick too.:hugs:

[Mel's Belle]

Thanks for all the replies! Poor bubs didn't sleep well last night and her temp got up to 38.4 degrees. HealthDirect were good and said that it was OK and it's option to give them Panadol if it's under 39 degrees. DD is so itchy and upset today that I'm heading to the doctors to see if she can get something to alleviate the itchy. The Pine Tar baths and calamine isn't helping and the lack of sleep is difficult with DH away at the moment :gloomy:

Hopefully some phenergan will help, as it helped me with my itchy and sleeping when I had the chicken pox a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, you can't buy phenergan for children under 2 at the chemist unless you have a script from the doctor (I assume because it can be used as a sedative).