My 14 month old has a temp of 102. How high should I let it get before I go to the ER? 103? Please help!?

Answer 1

our doc told us and gave us a sheet stating 103.5 and over go to the ER. If its 102 just watch the baby, or give him/her a bath in cool/warm water... If you give him/her Tylenol it may not help with the fever. Our kid only gets his fever down with Motrin...

Plus once when we took him to the ER they gave him both Tylenol and Motrin together.... the doctor said that both can be used since they have different ingredients.... but they can not be given the second time together... since one every 4 hours and one ever 6....

Try Motrin... it has always worked for us...

Plus make sure your son/daughter does not get dehydrated....

Answer 2

102 is not a high fever. Our pediatrician tells us not to even treat a fever 102 unless the child is extremely uncomfortable or has a history of febrile seizures (which one of our children does). A fever is the body's way of fighting infection, and it should be allowed to work.

If your child was younger than 6 months, and certainly younger than 2 months, it would be a different story, but our pediatrician tells us we don't need to call the on-call physician until a fever is higher than 105. (Our febrile seizure daughter runs a temp at the drop of a hat, and can walk around looking and acting completely normal with a temperature of 104 or 105.) 106 would definitely merit a call to the on-call physician and possibly a trip to the ER.

HOWEVER, most high fevers in young children, especially those without other symptoms, are caused by viruses, and there's nothing a pediatrician can do for a virus. They will likely tell you the following: a) dress your child lightly but comfortably; b) offer lots of fluids; c) give a dose of Tylenol and a dose of Motrin at the same time, and then alternate them every 3-4 hours until the temperature breaks or stabilizes (i.e. both at noon, then Tylenol at 3, Motrin at 6, Tylenol again at 9, etc); d) while waiting for the drugs to work, consider giving your child a warm (not cold!) bath and letting the evaporation of the water from his skin cool him. (Don't let him shiver; that only increases the body temperature and makes him work harder.)

Like the first poster said, it's not the absolute number of degrees that matters, but how quickly the temperature climbs. If your child is stable at 102, you're in good shape.

A fever of 105 or 106 is NOT dangerous to a child's brain.

And a febrile seizure, while scary, is not medically significant. If it happens for the first time, you will want to run your child to the ER or the pediatrician to have it evaluated. But we've been told that unless our daughter's seizures last more than a few minutes, or she's significantly altered when they stop, or we can't reduce the fever to below 102 after a course of Tylenol/Motrin, we don't even need to bring her in. We just call to report that it happened.

Good luck.

Answer 3

IT is normal for little ones to spike high fevers. Are there any other symptoms? Can he/she move his neck okay? Does he/she have a barky-type cough? Most importantly - his he/she responding normally to you? Call the pediatrician and in the meantime give him/her Tylenol alternating with Motrin/Advil every two hours to bring the fever down. Good luck hon...
I would say if the fever doesn't come down a few hours after the meds or reaches 104 - go to the ER...

Answer 4

Call your doctor. Do not just take these peoples advice as good as some of it is. You need to talk with your doctor or (on call nurse) to find out what is proper dosage and medicine for your childs weight, as they will take into consideration your childs medical history. Also your childs doctor may know of a particular disease spreading through your area (flu or what have you) which may be causing babies symptoms. Also mixing tylenol and motrin can have adverse affects and should always be given with your doctors advice. I MUST STATE I DISAGREE WITH THE GUY ABOVE 105 or 106 fever can be EXTREMELY dangerous. If you dont beleive it try it sometime.

Answer 5

I was told 101 means tylenol for 8 hours if the fever continues go to the Pedi or ER (whichever is fastest). Above 101 take to the nearest ER.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 6

My doctor stated that anything over 102 +, that the child will need to go in. Their bodies are so small to handle that high of a temp.

Answer 7

Have you tried baby tylenol -- and with a bath -- a bath will normally help. If it is only a fever that is all they are going to do anyway is either give your baby tylenol or tell you to give your baby tylenol when you get home. Then you are not wasting your time in the E.R BUT if that doesnt cool him/her down and temp is still high.take him/her in.

Answer 8

Temperature is only an indicator at that age. Any other symptoms or complaints of illness? If it is fever only it could be something as simple as teething. I would call your local ER or pediatrician either way.

Answer 9

I believe if its 103 for 24 hours or 104 then you take her right away

Answer 10

Alternate between Motrin and Tylenol every 4 hrs. It's not really how high it gets but how fast it gets there. Also call his pediatrician's after hours number they are usually very helpful