Newborn Temperature
Most of the new parents would have experienced this scenario: you wake up in the mid of the night, you find your little one hot and sweaty in the bed, you kiss her forehead, and suspect a fever, you are frightened to the core, but not sure what to do next.
If you feel your baby is hotter than normal, then you can use a thermometer and measure the temperature. One of the most important things on the baby's shopping list is the thermometer. Though we have variety of ways to measure a baby's temperature, the rectal temperature is the most accurate one. The ear or auxiliary thermometer will give out a number 2 or 3 degrees less than the actual temperature.
I still remember my first experience of measuring my baby's temperature rectally. If cutting the baby's nail is a nerve-wracking experience, here is another one which scares me out of my mind. But once you start taking the rectal temperature often, you get used to that and become an expert of thermometers.
What is a fever?
Newborn Babies and younger children normally have higher temperatures than adults. Normally the temperature rises in the late evenings and nights and drops down between midnight and early mornings. In healthy kids, fevers usually don't indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child's temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it's often the body's way of fighting off infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and aggravate problems such as dehydration.
When to call your pediatrician? Call your doctor if:
1. Your baby is less than 3 months old, and the temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher.
2. For a baby between 3 and 6 months old, call if the temperature reaches 101 degrees or higher.
3. If your baby is 6 months or older, call if her fever reaches 103 degrees or higher
Don't judge the illness of the baby just by considering the temperature alone. Other factors like your baby's age, how active she is, her appetite must also be taken into account.
When you call the doctor, the doctor will ask for questions like how your baby's activities, are, has she lost her appetite and are there any changes in behavior and appearance. You got to look out for symptoms like cold, cough or ear pain which you can tell the doctor to make the treatment easier. Remember whatever the thermometer shows, you are the best person to judge how ill your baby is. If you feel she is not normal, you can always take her to the doctor.
If you feel your baby is hotter than normal, then you can use a thermometer and measure the temperature. One of the most important things on the baby's shopping list is the thermometer. Though we have variety of ways to measure a baby's temperature, the rectal temperature is the most accurate one. The ear or auxiliary thermometer will give out a number 2 or 3 degrees less than the actual temperature.
I still remember my first experience of measuring my baby's temperature rectally. If cutting the baby's nail is a nerve-wracking experience, here is another one which scares me out of my mind. But once you start taking the rectal temperature often, you get used to that and become an expert of thermometers.
What is a fever?
Newborn Babies and younger children normally have higher temperatures than adults. Normally the temperature rises in the late evenings and nights and drops down between midnight and early mornings. In healthy kids, fevers usually don't indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child's temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it's often the body's way of fighting off infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and aggravate problems such as dehydration.
When to call your pediatrician? Call your doctor if:
1. Your baby is less than 3 months old, and the temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher.
2. For a baby between 3 and 6 months old, call if the temperature reaches 101 degrees or higher.
3. If your baby is 6 months or older, call if her fever reaches 103 degrees or higher
Don't judge the illness of the baby just by considering the temperature alone. Other factors like your baby's age, how active she is, her appetite must also be taken into account.
When you call the doctor, the doctor will ask for questions like how your baby's activities, are, has she lost her appetite and are there any changes in behavior and appearance. You got to look out for symptoms like cold, cough or ear pain which you can tell the doctor to make the treatment easier. Remember whatever the thermometer shows, you are the best person to judge how ill your baby is. If you feel she is not normal, you can always take her to the doctor.
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