My 4 month old has a fever of 102.4 what should i do?

Question

He has a high fever and i dont know weather i should take him to the hospital or try to take the fever down myself first. And if i should take the fever down what are some different ways of taking it down other then medicine?

Answer 1

Infant Tylenol will help bring the fever down, but you do need to call your pediatrician.

Answer 2

I always try to take it down first.

The fever isn't the bad thing--fever indicates that his body is getting rid of the invading sickness. Give him INFANT tylenol or motrin.
Call the nurse at your doctor's office to get the right dose--it's usually .08 ml, or one dropper to the line indicated, but you'll want to be sure first.

More than that, how is the baby? Is he just a little cranky? That's ok and normal. If he is listless and it's hard for him to move or eat, and he only whimpers, that's a little more serious.

Keep baby comfortable, lukewarm baths, light dressing, extra snuggle time.

If the fever hasn't passed in a couple days, or it goes higher even though you've given him the tylenol, then it's a trip to the doctor right away.

Answer 3

Axillary (armpit) or rectal? 101.1 in infant over 3 mos. rectally is normal. 99.5 axillary is normal (about 1 degree low w/digital thermometer) Does your doc. have a 24 hr. question line? Call and ask. Fever over 3 mos. is serious, but less so than w/newborn. Fever is the bodies way of fighting infection and can be a good thing. How is the baby acting? If fussy, while waiting for doc. to call, wipe down w/lukewarm wet cloth. Do not use ice or alcohol. Keep baby in loose clothes or in diaper w/blanket. Do not bundle tightly. If you're too nervous about waiting, or if baby has seizure (common in prolonged high fever) take to E.R. or urgent care. Don't give meds. unless a doc says so. You need to get specific dosage info. and below a certain temp. docs recommend NOT lowering fever w/med. Try the other ways first or go to E.R. Good luck...stay calm.

Answer 4

Definitely call your doctor. Your doctor should have an on call number. They can give you ways to bring the fever down, and let you know if you should take the baby to the ER to be seen.
Make sure you are giving TONS of liquids. Breast milk or formula is best for your baby. Offer the bottle every 30 minutes.
But, most importantly, call your doctor just in case.

Answer 5

I'd strip him down to his diaper and give him a lukewarm bath, it usually cools the fever right down. Now it won't make the fever go away but it will drop it until you can get in to the doctor to make sure it's not an ear infection or viral infection.

Answer 6

Did he have shots? that sometime produces a fever. He is really to young to be teething. Try a cool bath, the hospital always recommends that, If it does not go down after that take him to the doc.

Answer 7

Baby Tylenol is the only way that I know to get a fever down safely in a child that young.

Answer 8

I'd take him to the hospital. Anything over 101 needs to be seen by a doctor.

Answer 9

you can cool him down by wipeing him over with a cold cloth if it doesnt go dwn take him to hospital my daughter is always getting a temperature if it goes to 104 thats more worrying he could just have a 24 hour bug but if you are really worried take him hospital

Answer 10

try to take it down first, but dont wait too long. luke warm bath, tempera, and cool compresses on the back of the neck, forhead, and the chest may help bring the temperature down before the tempera kicks in.