Fever In Babies

How To Cope With Fever In Babies

Illness in children can be very stressful for the parents.  It is hard to watch your child when they are in discomfort.  Before a baby is born there is so much fuss about getting ready for the birth, but then there is all the other stuff which comes along with parenting, and one of the biggest tests is coping when you have had no sleep and when your baby is crying because they just don’t know what else to do.

Why Is Fever In Babies So Common?

There are viruses all around us and as adults our bodies are dealing and processing them all the time.  For babies, this is all new and they all react slightly differently.  There will be some parents who will never have to deal with fever in babies, and some parents will have to manage this symptom every time the baby sneezes.

Fever in babies can also be an indication of infections which your baby is fighting.  Fever in babies is also linked to teething and to immunizations; however, these are not usually too high and are quite easy to manage.

Where To Start When Dealing With Fever In Babies

When dealing with fever in babies it is important to know your starting point, how high is the temperature.  You will need to know this to establish if you are successfully lowering the temperature and if your baby is responding, the doctors will also need to know this if you have to contact them.  Bathing your baby in cool water is no longer recommended as it can put them into shock, as can washing them down with a sponge or flannel.

The current advice is to cool the room down and let your baby lie with no clothes on.  It is useful to be able to create a breeze; however, it must be above the baby and not directly onto your baby.  If you have a directional fan you can use it to blow a draft above the baby, air circulation and breeze will help to reduce fever in babies.

You will not be able to manage a high temperature without medications.  There are two types of medication which will lower fever in babies, paracetamol and ibuprofen.  These can be given together.  Once you have reduced the fever in babies you can then alternate between the two types of medication to manage the fever.  If you have given both sets of medication and cooled the room down and your babies fever is not reduced you should immediately seek medical advice.

For The Mother Who Deals With Fever In Babies Regularly

Having your own baby burn your skin is terribly upsetting and scary.  You will find that you get exhausted very quickly and you will initially sleep fretfully as you are constantly checking the baby.  If you have friends or family who can visit while your baby has a temperature it is a good idea, you can always ask them to watch the baby while you lie down.

They will probably be happy to oblige and the chances are they can simply sit and read a book or magazine next to the cot and you will be able to get some sleep to prepare you for the next night.  When dealing with fever in babies, accept all help which is offered.

Finally, it is worth knowing that convulsions, that are caused by fever in babies, are not killers and usually the most damage is to the mental state of the parents who have to deal with them. When children convulse they will then sleep – this is not a coma, it is their body recovering