How to Treat a Baby's Fever Without Medication

Your baby's temperature will constantly change over time, depending on her age and activity. Her temperature will also tend to be higher during the late afternoon and late evening. If her rectal temperature is higher than 100 F or her oral temperature is higher than 99 F, she may have a fever. If your baby is less than 2 months old and her temperature is higher than 100.4 F, you should call her pediatrician immediately. Sometimes her fever is not too serious and you can use several techniques to treat her fever without using medications.

Instructions

• 1

  Keep your baby cool by maintaining room temperature at 68 to 70. Dress your baby lightly if the weather is hot. Use air conditioner or fan to cool the room but keep your baby out of the path of the air flow.

• 2

  Keep your baby hydrated. Fever causes the loss of water through the skin. For young infants, breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby frequently. For older infants, have her drink a lot of fluid such as water and fresh juice.

• 3

  Give your baby a lot of rest. Keep clean. Wash your hands every time you need to feed or to touch your child.

• 4

  Give your baby sponge baths. Use a sponge or washcloth to rub briskly over the baby skin. When your baby's at rest, put a wet towel on your baby’s forehead. Change the towel every 30 minutes.

• 5

  Do not give your baby fatty foods. Your baby's stomach activity declines due to fever and fatty foods are difficult to digest.

• 6

  Keep your baby away from other children if her fever is due to a contagious disease.