How to Break a Fever in an Infant
If an infant has a temperature of more than 99.4 degrees Fahrenheit under the arm or a rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, he has a fever. When a baby has a fever, it is a sign that his body is fighting an infection. Colds and stomach viruses are common causes of fever in infants, and bacterial infections can also cause the body temperature to rise. If a fever is causing your baby to be achy and fussy, you can take steps to lower the fever and make him more comfortable.
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Instructions
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Bring the fever down with infant's acetaminophen. Carefully follow directions on the package, and contact your baby's doctor if you have any questions about the proper dosage. Ibuprofen can be used for older babies, but you should talk to a doctor to determine the correct dosage for your child.
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Give your baby a lukewarm bath if he is willing to take one. Do this after giving him acetaminophen to prevent shivering as the fever rises again after the bath.
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Dress the baby lightly to allow heat to escape. Use a blanket instead of heavy clothing to comfort a baby with chills, and remove it when the chills stop, as recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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Continue offering breast milk or formula to make sure your baby gets enough fluids to cool the body and prevent dehydration.
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Tips & Warnings
If the baby is not bothered by a low-grade fever, there is usually no need to treat it. Fever is a good sign that your baby's immune system is working to defeat the illness.
Let the baby get plenty of rest, and keep the room temperature in the lower 70's to keep your baby comfortable.
Never give a baby, or anyone under 18, aspirin because they could develop Reye's syndrome, a serious illness. Avoid using rubbing alcohol or witch hazel on your baby's skin to lower fever; these substances have harmful fumes, can irritate the eyes and can be dangerous if ingested, according to Merck.
Contact a doctor if a baby under three months of age has a rectal temperature of over 100.4 degrees or if a baby from three to six months of age develops a fever of 101 degrees or higher rectally, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
For babies over six months of age, call the doctor if a fever lasts more than three days or reaches 103 degrees.
Call your baby's doctor if she develops any other symptoms that concern you while she has a fever.
