Baby has a fever? This is not necessarily a reason to worry. In fact, it is a way for his body to defend itself and, if the fever is not too high (i.e., below 39 degrees Celsius), here are some tips that will help lower it naturally.
Of course, if your child has a high fever or if you are worried about his condition, the best solution is to consult your doctor and give him medication. The advice we offer in this article can be applied in addition to medication, but obviously does not replace the advice of a doctor.
How do you know if your baby has a fever?
The best way to determine if your child has a fever is to take his or her temperature with a thermometer — ideally rectally until age two, or using an electronic thermometer that fits over the temple.
Be careful, certain elements can cause an increase in body temperature, so be careful when taking your temperature:
- As long as possible after a meal
- When he is dressed normally
- In a temperate environment (neither too hot nor too cold)
- After he has calmed down, if he has done any physical exercise.
A child is said to have a fever when his or her temperature rises above 38 degrees Celsius.
Tip #1: Dress baby lightly
Even if your child is shivering or complaining of being cold, it is recommended to uncover him so that he is lightly dressed. No warm blankets, no comforting sleeping bags… A diaper and a small bodysuit or light cotton pajamas will be more than enough and will allow his body to evacuate heat more efficiently. Leave little feet uncovered if you can, because when the temperature of the feet drops, the body heat also decreases.
Tip #2: Bathe baby in lukewarm water
Yes, lukewarm, not cold. Why? Because cold water could increase the risk of seizures. In fact, contrary to what you might think, cold water is not good for babies — but water that is 1 or 2 degrees cooler than their body temperature can bring down their fever, without being unpleasant for them. The bath will gradually cool down as they play in it, without causing any risk of seizures, since the temperature change is gradual.
Tip #3: Play calmly with baby
To prevent your baby from getting too excited, especially if he or she is starting to move around or is quite active, encourage him or her to stay calm by doing quiet activities with him or her. For example, you could:
- Read him a story
- Listen to nursery rhymes or lullabies
- Make constructions or puzzles
- Drawing or crafting
Tip #4: Encourage baby to drink
When your baby has a fever, he or she may sweat more and therefore become dehydrated more easily. It is therefore strongly recommended to give him or her plenty of fluids to drink, so that he or she can compensate for any water loss.
If baby won't drink water, try different mixtures, such as:
- A little warm broth
- A fruit juice diluted with water
- Water with a few drops of flavored syrup to add flavor
- A cooled herbal tea (see the list of safe plants for young children on the site The Natural World )
Tip #5: Place baby in a temperate environment
If you can, ventilate baby's environment and place him in a room that is neither too hot nor too cool. Dressed lightly after having had a good bath and having hydrated well, he will then be in the best position to return to a normal temperature.
Tip #6: Place a cooled therapeutic bear on the back of his neck
More effective than cold water compresses on the forehead (and less disturbing for baby!), the cooled therapeutic bear greatly contributes to reducing fever in babies.
Simply chill it for 2 hours in the freezer (for easy access, you can simply keep your bear in a small freezer bag in your freezer at all times) and place it on the back of your baby's neck, while you rock him or read him a story, for example. When the bear has warmed up, you can turn it on its side, then when the second side has become warmer, put the bear back in the freezer to reuse it later.
Did you enjoy these few mommy tips for naturally and effectively relieving a mild fever in babies? Feel free to browse our blog to discover the many other miraculous uses of our little therapeutic bear, such as soothing colic, earaches or relieving teething!
