How to Deal with Fever

I would give motrin. You could also try cool compresses on his head. As far as taking his clothes off, I wouldn't do that, and I'm only saying that because I know when I have a fever I feel like I'm freezing, and when the fever breaks I start sweating.

When my daughter had a fever, my mother-in-law told me to put a white potato or an onion in her sock. The white potato or onion draws the fever from the child. You can also try giving your child Tylenol fever reducer. Please make sure it is for a fever. Tylenol has medicine for cold, etc. I like Motrin fever reducer the best. Please check the age for Motrin, since your son is 13 months old. I find Motrin works quicker and it takes the fever away.

i like to think of fevers not as something to be feared, but as the body's natural defense against germs that are attacking the body.

we don't use medication to treat fevers. when you bring down the fever before the body is "done" you are giving the germs an invitation to multiply and invade further into the body. from what i understand, children can get pretty high fevers without any harm to their body(much higher than an aldult could go), so we just let them run their course.

i try to keep the kids as comfortable as possible when they are sick, keeping them warm, lots and lots of water and tea, i keep it quiet(no tv!). they are usually not sick for more than a day or so. my youngest will get a very high fever when she's sick, she'll sleep it off and wake up fine in the morning. :) neither of them have ever had anything turn into a secondary infection. i really believe in not messing with the body's own self healing system!

I read your son is doing better but thought I'd tell you what I have learned from the many years of experience my grandmothers, mother and mother-in-law have shared with me regarding the topic.

First of all, if it is a low-grade fever and the child is otherwise comfortable, you should let it go because it is the bodies way of fighting the germs.

If, however, the fever is higher there are other things you can try. Two which I saw mentioned were fever reducing medicines such as tylenol and ibuprofen. Along with this which was already mentioned was a lukewarm bath. An alternative to the bath is a lukewarm wet washcloth applied to the forehead and under the armpits. Sometimes, this is an easier and better alternative depending on the child's demeanor. One thing which is of major importance with a temperature is hydration. Try to get at least a couple of tablespoons of fluid into the child each hour to keep them hydrated.

If the fever persists for longer than 24 hours or if it is 102 or higher, you should call the doctor immediately.

I hope this helps.

give him tylenol than a lukewarm bath, not cold bath. Keep giving fluids and wait it out. I know its hard when they are miserable but sometimes thats all we can do. Taking his clothes off is bound to make him cold and shiver which in turn could make his temp rise even higher. Also call your doctor. They will be able to help you more and tell you exact temp i think its 103 maybe that means he needs to be seen ASAP. thats why you should let your doctor know whats going on.

When one of my children have a fever I give them tylenol or motrin and then a lukewarm bath (they don't like it but it cools them fast) then I wrap them in their pj's, I wouldn't take his clothes off, he will feel so cold. I don't leave my child in the bath more than a few minutes and they cry but when I take their temperature 30 minutes later it has come down and they will usually go to sleep.

A cool washcloth is nice. If its high a cool water bath will help.

DEF. NOT A COLD BATH you are dangering your child by doing this because they can go into convulsions!
Give your child a sponge bath to make him or her more comfortable and help bring the fever down. Use only lukewarm water; cool water may cause shivering, which actually raises body temperature.

If your child is fussy or appears uncomfortable, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.

High fevers are dangerous. They can be uncomfortable and can aggravate problems such as dehydration.

Sometimes children with a fever may also breathe faster than usual and may have a higher heart rate. You should call your child's doctor if your child is having difficulty breathing, is breathing a lot faster than normal, or continues to breathe fast after the fever comes down.

Dress your child in lightweight clothing and cover him or her with a light sheet or blanket. Overdressing and overbundling can prevent body heat from escaping and can cause a temperature to rise.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencie...

C.,
a few things, a fever over 101 at his age requires a fever reducer, he is too young to 'fight off' any bacteria or virus on his own. his body temperature may fluctuate within a short time and you may not even know it while he's sleeping.
then never bath a child with a fever in cold water. life threatening.
lukewarm yes just for a few minutes. the whole point for lukewarm baths it to get their heads wet (not with cold water). then dress lightly. lots of fluids if he will take them, not a lot at one time but a few sips here and there. one of my girls hates water so i put water in a plastic cup then i put some juice, just a bit so it gets a different color and she drinks it that way. it's ok, when they're sick all they need is some TLC and anything they want to eat. it will be fine. keep an eye on his temp. and if it gets to a point you're uncomfortable with place a call with the on call doctor to get the correct dosage for fever reducer. just for your info, tylenol has never worked for us. and motrin works great as fever reducer. But if his fever is not really going down after the medication, this is what out doc. said, since motrin is given every 6 to 8 hrs, after 1 dosage of motrin you are allowed to give 1 dosage of tylenol after 4 hours, and then again motrin after another 4 hrs. just for the first 24 hrs. i would also like you to verify this with your son's pediatrician.
good luck
vlora

C.,

Angel K is absolutely correct in saying that a fever is the body's way of fighting infection. In a child, it is especially important to keep the child comfortable, but to allow the fever a chance to do it's work. That's one of the ways that their little bodies build a strong immune system and learn to fight infection. By reducing the fever, you are actually reducing the child's ability to fight what's causing the fever in the first place. If it gets too high, certainly call the Dr and discuss options at that point.

As for alternating Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen, this is a very dangerous and unsubstantiated practice that has emerged in the pediatric field. Please don't utilize this practice even if your Pediatrician tells you it's OK. It's not.

See the following for more information
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/464566_5
http://wb11.empowereddoctor.com/story.php?id=411
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/10...

I hope your son feels better soon.

Blessings,

Rolinda
Wife, Mother, Friend

When my son would get a fever I would always put him in room temp. water. It always worked for me. Maybe you can try it and it will work for you.

HI! What I have found that works for me is to alternate the motrin and tylenol. I give my son a dose of Motrin, then when the 6-8 hours are up instead of giving him Motrin again, I give him Tylenol, then after 4 hours I switch back to Motrin. It seems that just using one or the other doesn't bring the fever down.
Fluids are so important too. When my son was younger I would buy pedialyte, but now since he is older I just use gatorade, its cheaper. The more fluid the better when kids, or anyone is running a fever.

Hi C.,

Make sure he is drinking plenty of fluids and as far as eating, when he wants to. Don't make him, he probably does feel like it any way.

Tylenol works for fevers, Motrin for pain.

I hope he feels better soon!!

P.