No parent wants their child to fell sick, especially in those early months when they haven’t reached 3 months. A slight rise in their temperature can cause parents to panic. Since a newborn baby’s immune system isn’t fully developed yet, a fever can mean they caught something serious. So, if you know how to bring down fever in newborn in a safe and calm way is crucial. But the first rule here is, never do this alone. Call your pediatrician immediately when you noticed that your baby feels too hot.
A parent’s first instinctive response to their sick newborn is to be there for them all the time, every whimper and fuss, what you want to do is to comfort them. This is where your infant backpack carrier proves to be the best investment. It keeps your child snug and close to you while you could still prepare their bottles, do a little clean up or talk to the doctor.
In this article we’ll talk about everything under the sun about how to bring down fever in newborn effectively. From the right temperature-techniques to the safe and effective comforting tips. Let’s dive in
Table of Contents
First and Most Important: Why You Must Call the Doctor Immediately
Your newborn’s immune system is not matured enough to fight off infections on their own. So, a fever is very telling that their body is fighting off a serious illness like bacterial infection or a virus. When you’re taking care of a newborn baby below 3 months old, and their rectal temperature reached 100.4°F (38°C) and above this can be serious already. In this case, it needs to be attended to immediately.
It’s important never to wait on your newborn baby’s fever to “go away on its own” especially when they are below 3 months old, call your doctor immediately or better yet rush them to the emergency room. Even if they feed well or alert, their condition should be evaluated immediately, it’s always better safe than sorry.
Now, if your new baby is above 3 months of age and developed a mild fever, without some other concerning symptoms, then you are able to treat it at home. Just in case you still feel concerned about their fever even if it is mild, you can always visit your physician to advise you accordingly.
Accurate Temperature Check: Using Only the Rectal Method
When you’re checking for your newborn baby’s temperature, accuracy matters more than convenience. Rectal thermometers, although it’s pretty uncomfortable to use, is the most accurate and even considered as the golden standard for taking your newborn’s temperature.
Take some notes ‘coz we’ll share a step-by-step guide to do this safely:
- Make sure that the thermometer is clean before using it.
- Sanitize thermometer with a rubbing alcohol or soap and warm water.
- A small amount of petroleum jelly at the tip could help for comfort
- Lay your child on their back and gently lift their legs, just like when you’re changing diapers
- Insert the thermometer tip gently, only at about ½ to 1 inch in. Do not go further
- Keep them still until it beeps or shows reading.
- Clean the thermometer again after use
Never ever use different kinds of thermometer for your newborn baby. Those like ear, forehead, or underarm thermometers can give in accurate readings, they can mislead you into thinking that your newborn has lower or even higher temperature than it actually is.
Dressing Lightly: The Simplest Way to Help Body Heat Escape
A parent’s immediate reaction to a newborn with a fever is to bundle them up a lot, with the thinking that babies feel cold. This has a rather negative impact for a newborn baby with fever, bundling them up can trap more heat which makes your baby more uncomfortable and sometimes makes their condition worse. In learning how to bring down fever in newborn, the number one step is to keep your little one in comfortable clothing.
What you could do instead is to dress them in cotton onesies and soft breathable fabrics would be best. Avoid putting on hats or using thick blankets. Maintain their room temperature comfortable, cold but not so much, and also not too warm. But if you notice that your child may feel a little chilly, you can use a sleep sack or a light swaddle to provide a comfortable warmth.
Remember this – a fever is your baby’s way of fighting off the infection. The goal isn’t to get rid of the fever but to prevent your newborn baby from overheating, while keeping them comfortable as well.
Focused Hydration: Ensuring Your Newborn Gets Enough Fluids
In the duration of your newborn’s fever, hydration is going to be your best friend. More liquids are loss in babies during this time. which could possibly lead to dehydration. A manageable condition for adults but extremely dangerous for babies.
Your consistency is crucial here, you should continue with their regular feed, either breastfeeding or bottle-feeding every 2 – 3 hours. Even if they are sleepy or they feed lesser than usual you should continue with them to avoid dehydration. If they can’t finish their bottle, try offering shorter feeds in shorter intervals too. Watch for signs like the number of wet diapers they produce, if they’re getting enough fluids, they’ll likely produce 6 or more wet diapers per day.
Watch out if your child completely refuses to feed and start showing signs of dehydration, like sunken soft spot, dry lips, and fewer wet diapers) reach out to your doctor immediately.
The Role of Lukewarm Sponge Baths (And Why Cold Water is Dangerous)
When you’re figuring out how to bring down fever in newborn, many suggests sponge baths. Sponge baths are pretty helpful but only if they are done correctly. There are times when parents use ice cold water for sponge baths but it’s wrong. Cold baths can cause shivering, and it actually raises your child’s temperature more. A lukewarm water works best, as it helps your baby release the heat naturally.
To safely do this,
- Have a basin of lukewarm water
- Dip a soft cloth into the water and gently wipe these areas, forehead, neck, legs, and arms.
- Do not soak your baby completely, just wipe them and cool their skin’s surface to release heat
- If your baby starts to shiver or they feel uncomfortable, stop immediately
- After wiping them, gently pat dry the areas you’ve wiped and dress them lightly.
Medication Alert: Understanding Which Pain Relievers Are Off-Limits
If we are to discuss medicines, for infant children or younger infants, the less the better. For babies who are newborn, it is best to avoid them from taking medication as much as you can. Never administer your newborn any type of medicine particularly, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) without prescription and advice from your pediatrician.
- Ibuprofen is prohibited to be given to babies under 6 months
- Although, acetaminophen can sometimes be recommended for babies above 2 months, but the dosage should be exact.
- Aspirin should never be given to children due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
If your doctor prescribes a medication, always use the provided dropper and the prescribed dosage based on your baby’s weight and not their age alone.
The Goal is Comfort, Not Normal: Managing the Fever Safely
As worried parents, what you want is your child’s temperature to immediately return back to normal. But the goal is comfort and not really controlling their temperature. A mild fever means their body is fighting off infection and their immune system doing what it should be doing.
Rather than going overboard and overmanaging their temperature, you can focus on these comforting measures.
- Keep their room comfortable, airy with cool breeze
- You can hold them in an upright position keeping them close in your arms or in your infant backpack carrier, closeness helps them regulate their heartbeat and breathing.
- Feed frequently to keep them hydrated
- Stay away from heavy blankets and avoid overdressing
When they’re hydrated, comfortable, and calm helps lower their fever naturally without the need of medical intervention.
When to Seek Emergency Care: Monitoring for Critical Warning Signs
There are moments that even when you know how to bring down fever in newborn, a trip to the hospital is inevitable and necessary. Seek help immediately if you noticed the following:
- A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in babies under 3 months old
- Vomits multiple times and refuses to feed
- Trouble breathing or grunting in each breath
- Develops a rash, especially the ones that doesn’t fade when pressed down
- Unusually irritable, lethargic or floppy
- Shows seizure activity or body stiffness
Trust your gut feel, as parents you know your child best and any concerning changes should be acknowledged and consulted with your pediatrician.
Conclusion
So, how to bring down fever in newborn? It is not about memorizing medical steps. But rather about responding calmly, confidently and safely to their symptoms, particularly in those moments when they need your reassurance the most. You cannot go wrong with a consult with your pediatrician. Concentrate on keeping your baby comfortable, well-hydrated, and taking correct temperatures safely.
Sometimes it is also keeping them close that allows them to recover and feel safe. Having your baby close to you in an infant backpack carrier not only calms them but also keeps you in tune with their breathing, body heat, and overall health.
It may be frightening, and it never feels good to watch your newborn ill, but with the proper information, you might be able to get through the most frightening fever moments together.