What's a good way to keep an infants fever down?

Question

Tylenol just isn't doing it. It will get up to 102 degrees and the Tylenol will bring it down to 99 degrees. Are there any home remedys that can help me? He's 10 months old.

Thanks

Answer 1

FEVER CONTROL:

Various steps may reduce a fever and make your child more comfortable, and there are also some things to be avoided:

1. Offer cool liquids to drink frequently - this will not only directly cool the body by placing something cool in the stomach but will also prevent dehydration which itself can exacerbate a fever.

2. Keep the child lightly dressed - don't wrap him up. Keep the environment comfortable - neither too hot nor cold. Limit activity and encourage rest.

3. Give either Acetaminophen every 4 hours (Tylenol, Panadol, Liquiprin, Feverall, others) or Ibuprofen every 6 hours (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others). Ibuprofen costs more, the liquid tastes better, and it even works a bit faster/better, BUT it may also have more side effects (mostly in the category of stomach upset) than Acetaminophen.

4. NEVER use bathing, tub or sponge, as a means to bring down a fever. Doing this short-circuits the natural means of radiating heat from the body and can actually lead to a rapid RISE in temperature at the body core which could set off a febrile seizure.

5. NEVER use aspirin. This drug has been associated with increased side effects and with possible precipitation of Reyes Syndrome, a very serious disorder.

Ibuprofen is available as:

Children's liquid (non-prescription) 100mg per teaspoonful
Chewable Tablets (prescription only) 100mg each
Tablets (non-prescription) 200mg each

Ibuprofen dosage is calculated:

4 X (child's weight in lbs) = mg every 6h
or
10 X (child's weight in kg) = mg every 6h
(maximum dose = 600mg)

http://www.chmed.com/old/fever.htm
Hope he feels better.

Answer 2

Dear Mommy,
If your baby has seen the pediatrician then be sure and give the medicine properly. But often the fever continues till the meds kick in and helps the body build back up. What do animals do when they are sick? They find a nice warm place in the sun to lie down. The body shivers and the mucles become tense, think about when you run a fever. So I've never understood the practice Americans do of putting people in cool baths. That would be painful. Even the animals are smarter than that. My 109 year old Pediatrician has always recommended that when the fever gets high, first allow the baby to cry, this relieves the tension in the muscles. Crying is actually good for the body. (Not wailing, mind you, thats a sign.) She also has us put baby in a very warm bath. This, again, relaxes the body. The body will cool down as the water cools, gently, versus, a shock of cool water to an overheated skin. Keep him out of drafts and dress warmly and tightly. Give plenty of water to hydrate the body. And Lastly, I did quite a bit of research on Reye Syndrome with the American Academy of Pediatrics and ironically, Reye Synd. is caused when the body is depleated of fluids (from vomiting and diarehea). The heart then stops when blood cannot pump thru the heart. Question: What does the doctor due when our grandparents have heart trouble? Give aspirin to keep the blood thinned. Hummmm.....Be sure and listen to everyone but make up your own mind.

Answer 3

I know this is an obvious answer, but if an infant has a prolonged fever you really need to take him to the doctor. A tepid bath will help. Also, remember, the fever is there for a reason - it is getting rid of whatever bug is in his system, so it is doing a job so to speak. I live in Australia, so I'm not sure how high 102 degrees is in celcius... Good luck, I hope your little boy gets better fast.

Answer 4

Just give him a bath in cool water.


Also do not give ibuprofin if your baby has an upset stomach. I had a stomach flu and high fever and was taking advil. I went to the doctor after 5 days because I kept getting worse. Ibuprofin was making me puke even more. After that I learned cool baths 2-3 times a day work just as well as drugs.

Answer 5

The best advice is to alternate childrens Motrin with the tylenol. Also, use a cool washcloth to wipe down his body. Give him lots to drink, and lots of TLC.
Good luck.

Answer 6

You may want to increase dosage a little. The other thing to try is to alternate Motrin/Ibuprofen and the Tylenol.

Answer 7

keep him sleeping and don't make noise around him and best thing to do is not to leave the house that will probably help with the fever. and u can keep on trying tylenol every 8 hours about!!

Answer 8

Have you taken him to the doc yet? If not you should, you can alternate tylenol and motrin until the fever breaks.

Answer 9

just to be safe, if the tylenol is not working, i would bring him to the hospital. maybe they will have something for you to give him that can bring it down. good luck to you.

Answer 10

i have 4 sons ages 11, 16, 28, 29 and this is what always worked for me be careful around the eyes but take several wash clothes and pour rubbing alcohol and put the wash clothes one on each ankle one on eachinside bend of the arm and careful but one on the farhead hope this works for you if it doe not please go to the doctors