My Daughter Has Been Running a Fever...

You should wait a bit before taking her temp after napping, you are hotter when you sleep so it may not be an correct reading. She should be fine wait ti l monday.

I would not worry. 101 in a toddler is not at all uncommon. My son gets it all the time, and sometimes for no apparent reason. I would avoid Motrin unless Tylenol is not working, and then only every other time. My Ped says Motrin should be a last resort for those really stubborn fevers. Most of the time no meds are needed, the fever is just the bodys way of killing off some bug.

I agree with calling the doctor's office or advice nurse. My doctor always has someone on call to answer questions on the phone...
When we had a situation like this last year with an 8 mo old, the doctor told us it would be ok to monitor and wait, as long as she was responding to the Tylenol we were giving her and her fever wasn't rising. But every case is different and I would get a professional opinion.

Also you make sure that you keep her hydrated. This may not be a good time to insist that she drinks from a cup, if she will take more liquid from a bottle. Unless your child is underweight, less appetite is probably not so much of a problem, that's what we were told - again talk to your doctor about your specific concerns.

When it comes to health issues like this, I would advise calling the advice nurse or on call doctor at your doctor's clinic/practice. They have your daughter's medical history and can give more informed and professional advice than any of us can. Plus, any health advice I can give you that worked for me and my child may be outdated compared to what is advised now. Good luck!

B.,

If she is running a temperature of 103F or higher take her to the ER immediately. If the Motrin is helping control the fever, then keep using it as needed. We don't like medicating our kids, so we usually follow the instructions on the bottle, but also give as needed. Example: Tylenol says every 4-6 hours but my daughter really only seems to be having trouble sleeping I'll dose her at naptime right after lunch at noon, then again about an hour before bedtime at 7 pm.

Other than that pamper her and let her know that everything will be okay soon. We just found out that my 2 year old daughter has croup and because of the coughing her throat is pretty raw. Poor baby has been napping on me all day.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Sounds like the flu that is going around, sorry. And after the fevers, the cough and chest congestion are the next phase. On Monday, I would take her to the see the pediatrician. Because she's so young, you don't want her to get a respiratory or sinus infection. Keep pushing the fluids, formula, water, jello water. In order to get the amount of fluids that she'll need to keep hydrated, you may have to forego the weaning to the cup for about a week or so. Again, go see her doctor. This bug is nasty stuff and lasts anywhere from a week to 10 days, uncomfortable days.
Get well soon!!! (ps Make sure that Dad washes his hands before he picks her up when he comes home from work. If you go out shopping, that you take advantage of the wipes at grocery stores and wipe down the handles of the carts. You can't wash your hands enough!!!)

If the fever doesn't break with motrin(every 6 hours) and tylenol(every 4 hours), yes you can do this, just make sure it's been an hour in between doses. Keep her hydrated.(Nothing worse than holding your child down while they put in an IV to re-hydrate) Pedialyte would be a good idea to keep on hand. They have it in generic, less expensive.

As I was reading, I recalled what my friend just went through with her son. After a fever of more than 5 days she took him in. The DR ran labs and found he had something viral and suspected Rosiola. The DR was right. Here is a link: http://www.medicinenet.com/roseola/article.htm

Also with the cough, fever, & runny nose, RSV should be considered if this goes on too long: http://www.rsvprotection.com/what_is/what_is.aspx

This could just be a cold "virus" (get used to the word virus, it's a common diagnosis and you can't do much for a virus but wait it out). Your mom instincts are usually spot on. Go with what you feel. If you feel seeing the DR would be best, make an appointment or urgent care/ER.

Hey there - Just keep monitoring her temperature. If she has a temp at 103 or above take her into the ER immediately. Just keep giving her liquids and keeping her hydrated most importantly. But if you need to call the pediatrics office tomorrow - even though it is Sunday. They may have an after hours clinic. If not you could also call urgent care or the local hospital. Follow your mommy instincts - usually you are right on target. Good luck - I hope your kiddo gets to be feeling better.

Hi B.,

Im so sorry your little one is sick, there is nothing harder than watching helplessly while your little baby is ill. My advice is a little different than the other advice you have been getting, but it has never steered me wrong with my children. Yes she is most likely teething, and when my daughter cut her first tooth she did get an ear infection. And this is what I did.

I was still breastfeeding so I fed her as often as she would, I never even took her temperature, it just makes you worry. She was running a fever but I just held her and rocked her and fed her. She slept in my arms for a couple of days. A fever is nothing to fear, it is her body doing what it should do, fighting an invading virus or in her case, her tooth. She did develop an ear infection but I put breast milk in her ear, and mullion and garlic oil tincture I got from the health food store, both powerful antivirus and antibiotic natural remedies. The thing you should fear is the drugs. Motrin and tylenol do more harm than good to her body. ALL drugs have side effects, even Motrin and Tylenol. And they are hard on her tiny kidneys and liver and should be avoided at all costs. Cool compresses help control pain just as well. Mostly she needs rest and fluids. Avoid sugary ones if possible. I avoid antibiotics like the plague. For one thing, they wont help against an ear infection, it's viral, and like any drug, they have side effects. They wipe out all of her body's good bacteria that are fighting disease and open the door to more infections and antibiotic resistant bacteria. I read a wonderful book just after I had my first child, called How to Raise A Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor, by Dr. Robert Mendehlson, a leading pediatrician. His book really empowers parents to take control of their own children's health care, soothed the worries about childhood sicknesses, and gave save, natural remedies for everything you come across. Most viruses pass harmlessly, as do most ear infections. 99% of ear infections do not require antibiotics. The doctors are merely covering their butt's for the 1 % that do by blanketing all babies with dangerous antibiotics. That is why we now have terrifying superbugs. I highly recommend picking up Dr. Mendehlson's book. Copies can be found on ebay or amazon, possibly even at a bookstore. But the short of it is, don't fear the fever. Just hold her, comfort her with Mother's love and use your intuition. If more serious conditions develop, you will know. If her body is allowed to work as it should, she should be getting better after the 3rd or 4th day. A virus is going to last 7 days, with or without dangerous drugs. Remember these products are out there to make the pharmaceutical companies money, not to help our children. Don't fall into the pill for every ill mentality. It kills far more children every year than any virus or bacteria. The # killer in the United States today is Medical intervention. Really! Drug reactions, medical mistakes, dangerous treatments for things that will heal themselves, like ear infections and teething, and experimental drug, which they use ALL THE TIME.

So that is my advice, use mother's love, comfort and make her as comfortable as possible, and if it turns out she has an ear infection, which are common with teething, throw that prescription they give you in the trash where it belongs. In the end it is your child and you will do what you feel is right, but that is what has worked in the past for both of my children and they are extremely healthy and thriving children age 3 and 16. A healthy immune system can knock down any bug that comes along. Good luck and I hope she feels better soon.
Good Health to you.

Both my kids are very sick with a virus right now. We took them to the doctor saturday and he said they are not so concerned about a fever under 103 unless it lasts longer then 5 days. Its the secondary infections they worry about like pnumonia. He said just rotate between tylonol and motrin to keep the fever down. He also said that the meds are for comfort of child as a fever under 105 is not going to physically harm the child, but they arent comfortable or happy, and tend to be listless without the meds. He also said they have been seeing a LOT of the fever with cough lately.
My son got his teeth early and fast. He often would just spike a fever out of no where usually aroun 100. He was on tylonol a lot for the pain anyway so it may have gotten higher if I hadnt medicated him.

It sounds like the same flu that my son is going through right now. He's almost 14 months old and had never had a fever and woke up in the middle of the night Wednesday night with 102.2 fever. The fever stayed until mid-day Friday, going down with meds (I alternated Tylenol & Motrin) and coming back every 3-4 hours, right back up at 102 or so. He wouldn't eat almost anything Thursday & Friday and most of Saturday (yogurt was about all he'd take). He had a minor cough and runny nose through this. Took him to the doctor Friday morning and he said it was the flu and an ear infection (chest was a bit wheezy in the office). We started him on amoxicilin then. He is now playing a bit more (would only lay on my husband's and my lap when awake for the first couple days) and clearly feeling a bit better, but the cough is crazy now. He woke up 3 times last night with his cough and it sounds horrible. It just gags him every time. It's horrible and it just seems to be getting worse. I was hoping the amoxicilin would help his cough as well but so far it doesn't seem to be.
Anyway, it really sounds like the same thing so I would take her in to the doctor to check for an ear infection as well. My doctor offered us cough medicine with codeine while we were in there and we said no. At the time his cough wasn't a problem anyway, but I thought we weren't supposed to give cough medicine to little ones?? Maybe that's just over the counter stuff? I didn't ask as my son was having a meltdown at the time (they were frequent in the first few days of this flu) and we didn't need the cough medicine anyway, but I may call him tomorrow if my son's cough stays as it is now because it's so bad.
Good luck with your daughter - once the fever broke on my son's (after about 30 hours or so) it got easier and less scary.

My son just had the flu, which sounds like what your daughter might have. According to my Baby Book, a fever of 101.8 is still considered moderate, since babies and toddlers are much more likely to run high fevers than adults. If she's in relatively good spirits and the fever doesn't get into the 104 range, I think you're probably fine. Give her the Motrin to bring the fever down and make sure she gets lots of fluids. Then you can check with the doctor Monday. My son's fever was nearly gone after 2 days.

The first time my first born had a fever, I felt the same way...so I called the nurse at our Dr. office. She told me that babies can handle fevers a little higher than adults sometimes, and it is TOTALLY normal for a fever to accompany teething, aslo a runny nose. Those teeth just wreak havoc on a little system. As long as food is going down and drinking is happening, then waiting it out is the best option. Take this time to drop everything and sit and snuggle your baby back to health, that is what my son needed the most, he hasn't ever been an extra cuddly kid, but when he had a fever he wanted to lay in my arms and I cherished that time, I loved being the one that made him feel better and that is waaaayyy better medicine than anything you could give them from a bottle. :) I was told not to panic until the temp was 103 (like the other moms mentioned), just strip her down especially with no socks so the heat can escape from her body and cool her off and maybe put her in a cool bath before bedtime. That's the best advice I have at the moment. I hope I was helpful. :)

Hi there,
may be an ear infection..has she had one before? My son had a fever and was totally grumpy and not able to sleep one night and I thought it was teething until in the morning I saw goop coming out of his ear. He is not one to pull on his ear so i had no idea.

That temperature is on the low end of the optimum range for the body to help heal an internal issue. If she is teething then that is very common. Motrin and other fever suppressors actually damages their immune system responses then and in the future.
The best is to wait this out, and if it rises above 103 for over a day then there are homeopathic remedies that help the body balance and the fever will go away. It can also help ease teething itself quite a bit.
Be well,
Liz

Put a pause on trying to change anything for her including weening from the bottle until she's feeling better. My daughter has had 2 fevers now that were upwards of 103. It's scary as a parent, but as long as they're getting liquids, it's their body's way of fighting whatever is trying to invade. Don't worry about it yet, but do make sure to give her lots of extra cuddles if she wants them and make sure she's getting fluids even if that means she's getting more bottles than she used to.

I wouldn't give her motrin for a fever- Tylenol works better.. ( Unless you can't give her Tylenol for some reason) You should really call your doctors office and talk to the advice nurse if her fever doesn't reduce with medicine after a few days... Some might disagree with me on only using tylenol but that is what has been used for years... You can also try luke warm baths and hydrate.

I also always question what type of temp device I'm using..they all have a different range.. if it is axillary (under the armpit) that runs lower than say rectal or Oral.

Hello B.,

Our office has a medical nurse hotline that is great - if yours has one, I'd call - it can't hurt.

My pediatrics also has a website with some great info on it. Here is the website - click on medical advice and then bring up fevers under winter illnesses.

http://www.woodinvillepediatrics.com/

I believe keeping her hydrated is very important - dehydration is what gets most kids put into the hospital after a fever/cold.

Positively,
M.

You are right anything 101 or higher is not teeth related. If she has a fever or throws up do not give her milk, it can curdle in their stomach and make them feel worse. My daughter is 14 mos and just went through 9 days of this really bad virus going around puking/fever/diarahea. The best thing to do is keep her hdyrated water/pedialyte, juice and try giving tylenol in small doses same dosage just bit by bit over a 10 min period sometimes that works. Our virus started with that cough which makes them throw up and then the fever and I am just now getting my baby back to herself. They are very restless and just want to be held. Hang in there and i hope it's not this nasty virus doing around...hydration is the key point right now.

I just wrote this for another post but thought it might be helpful to you as well:

It is important for us not to see fever as the enemy but as an ally in treating the underlying illness causing the fever. Here is some good information to help keep us calm as we endure our kids getting sick:

Fever: Phobia And Fever Myths

Fever is one of our most overrated symptoms. Many parents have unwarranted fears of harm from the moderate fevers that all children experience. This is called fever phobia. It leads to lost sleep, over-treatment and unnecessary office visits. Here are some widely-held myths about fever:

FIRST: Fever causes brain damage. Wrong. The brain is not harmed unless the fever goes above 108° F (42.2° C). And natural fevers from viral and bacterial infections don't go above 105° F (40.6° C).

SECOND: Untreated fevers will keep going higher, to 110° F or 115° F (43.3° C or 46.1° C). Wrong. Even untreated fevers stop at 105 degrees, unless a child is trapped in a hot place (such as a car) or is over dressed. The brain's thermostat keeps fevers from infections within a safe range.

THIRD: Untreated fevers will cause seizures. Wrong for 96% of children. Only 4% of children can develop seizures with fever. And these, while frightening, are brief and harmless. Febrile seizures cause no complications.

FOURTH: Any fever is bad for you. Wrong. The ability to produce fever is present throughout the animal kingdom. Fever turns on the body's immune system and speeds up the production of white blood cells, antibodies, and natural infection-fighting agents. Fever also slows down the multiplication of viruses and bacteria.

IN CONCLUSION: Present evidence suggests that fevers are beneficial and sometimes necessary for survival. When your child has an infection, one of our treatment goals is keeping the fever between 100° F and 102° F (37.8° C and 38.9° C), not eliminating it. Fever is not the enemy.

As hard as it is to watch, try not to reach for meds like Tylenol or Motrin at the first sign of fever. Let the fever do its job and your child's immune system will be far better off for it.

Other references:
www.altonpeds.com/MythsAboutFever.pdf
I also recommend the book: "How to raise a healthy child in spite of your doctor". It is actually available online. Here is a link to the chapter about fevers:
http://books.google.com/books?id=yWATg4JNQKEC&pg=PA79...

S.
www.hazelaid.com
All natural, organic, handmade hazelwood necklaces for the relief of eczema, acid reflux, and teething pain for babies and their families.
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I would recommend you call your kid's doctor's office and try to get an oncall doctor to call you back. Also you might try gently tugging on her ears to see if she has an ear infection. My kids never, even at age 8 and 9, were able to tell me when their ears hurt. Certainly at 1, she would have troubel telling you about an ear infection.

BUT call your doctor, that is what they are there for.