Allergies Don’t Cause a Fever — At Least, Not Directly

My Kid Has A Fever. When To Go To The ER And Other Tips For New Parents

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What Is Considered A Fever In Babies?

One of the scariest times in my life was right after my child was born. New moms have a lot of anxiety and I have a question from a concerned new mom who asks, \"What is considered a fever in babies and when should parents be concerned?\"

Dr. Bhargava

Sure. Well a fever is considered 100.4 rectally. In babies it's really important to take the temperature rectally because that is the most accurate way of doing it. When kids become older then you can do it orally but certainly you don't wanna be putting a thermometer into a baby's mouth.

Dr. Bhargava

Really, when you should be concerned depends on the age of the child. Generally less than six months of age we get a little bit --we take that fever a little more seriously than over six months of the age, and there's a number of reasons that is.

Dr. Bhargava

One of the reasons is the immune system is not quite as developed as it is in older children. Also even though the child has had vaccines and of course it's really important for all children to have their vaccines, the vaccines take a little while to actually take to the system so that child is not as well protected as an older child might be.

Dr. Bhargava

The most important thing about a fever in a baby or an older child, no matter what the age of a child is how the child looks as well. So if you have an older child that's four years old and has a 100.5 fever but they're lying there looking lethargic not active, you know looking sick to you, and as a mother you have a gut instinct, follow that instinct. If your child looks sick to you, you need to have that child seen it doesn't matter the age of the child or the temperature.

Joy Brown

So in an infant lethargy can be a pretty serious signal?

Dr. Bhargava

Absolutely!

Joy Brown

To What?

Dr. Bhargava

To sickness of some sort. So, in an infant, a young infant if you're talking to new mother the fever, the infant may not need to have a fever to actually be sick as well. So as I said before the way the infant looks is really important: whether they're eating, whether they're peeing and pooping, whether they have any energy or are interacting with you is a really important sign.

Joy Brown

You mentioned vaccines and the fact that their immune system hasn't quite had time yet to get going in a new born to six months to a year. When are the first vaccines administered?

Dr. Bhargava

It depends. The vaccines that actually prevent against most of the infantile infections are first administered at two months. There is a Hepatitis B vaccine that is administered in the hospital or at 1 month of age.

Dr. Bhargava

But that's really not one that protects you against most of the infant illnesses. So, you have the one at two months, four months, six months and those are all booster shots to actually get to close to 100% immunity.

Joy Brown

It's been a while since mine had those vaccines, so I couldn't quite remember. But the fever isn't always indicative of the of—

Dr. Bhargava

Especially under one month of age, if the child doesn't look well that is not a good sign and you should always trust your gut about how your child looks, because you really do know your child best.

Joy Brown

Good advice. I remember that feeling, that new mom feeling, but when is it okay to use over-the-counter fever medicines in an infant or is it?

Dr. Bhargava

An over-the-counter product is okay to use probably about two to three months of age and specifically acetaminophen. Ibuprofen, we usually don't like to use until six months of age.

Joy Brown

What's the difference?

Dr. Bhargava

Well, great question. It's actually a different drug and it has different ways of lowering the temperature in the body. With ibuprofen, there seems to be a little bit of gastritis sometimes related to it and with little infant's stomach being so delicate, it's not something we really want them to be exposed to earlier than that.

Joy Brown

I know none of us want to upset those stomachs when they are infants I know.

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Joy Brown

One of the scariest times in my life was right after my child was born. New moms have a lot of anxiety and I have a question from a concerned new mom who asks, "What is considered a fever in babies and when should parents be concerned?"

Dr. Bhargava

Sure. Well a fever is considered 100.4 rectally. In babies it's really important to take the temperature rectally because that is the most accurate way of doing it. When kids become older then you can do it orally but certainly you don't wanna be putting a thermometer into a baby's mouth.

Dr. Bhargava

Really, when you should be concerned depends on the age of the child. Generally less than six months of age we get a little bit --we take that fever a little more seriously than over six months of the age, and there's a number of reasons that is.

Dr. Bhargava

One of the reasons is the immune system is not quite as developed as it is in older children. Also even though the child has had vaccines and of course it's really important for all children to have their vaccines, the vaccines take a little while to actually take to the system so that child is not as well protected as an older child might be.

Dr. Bhargava

The most important thing about a fever in a baby or an older child, no matter what the age of a child is how the child looks as well. So if you have an older child that's four years old and has a 100.5 fever but they're lying there looking lethargic not active, you know looking sick to you, and as a mother you have a gut instinct, follow that instinct. If your child looks sick to you, you need to have that child seen it doesn't matter the age of the child or the temperature.

Joy Brown

So in an infant lethargy can be a pretty serious signal?

Dr. Bhargava

Absolutely!

Joy Brown

To What?

Dr. Bhargava

To sickness of some sort. So, in an infant, a young infant if you're talking to new mother the fever, the infant may not need to have a fever to actually be sick as well. So as I said before the way the infant looks is really important: whether they're eating, whether they're peeing and pooping, whether they have any energy or are interacting with you is a really important sign.

Joy Brown

You mentioned vaccines and the fact that their immune system hasn't quite had time yet to get going in a new born to six months to a year. When are the first vaccines administered?

Dr. Bhargava

It depends. The vaccines that actually prevent against most of the infantile infections are first administered at two months. There is a Hepatitis B vaccine that is administered in the hospital or at 1 month of age.

Dr. Bhargava

But that's really not one that protects you against most of the infant illnesses. So, you have the one at two months, four months, six months and those are all booster shots to actually get to close to 100% immunity.

Joy Brown

It's been a while since mine had those vaccines, so I couldn't quite remember. But the fever isn't always indicative of the of—

Dr. Bhargava

Especially under one month of age, if the child doesn't look well that is not a good sign and you should always trust your gut about how your child looks, because you really do know your child best.

Joy Brown

Good advice. I remember that feeling, that new mom feeling, but when is it okay to use over-the-counter fever medicines in an infant or is it?

Dr. Bhargava

An over-the-counter product is okay to use probably about two to three months of age and specifically acetaminophen. Ibuprofen, we usually don't like to use until six months of age.

Joy Brown

What's the difference?

Dr. Bhargava

Well, great question. It's actually a different drug and it has different ways of lowering the temperature in the body. With ibuprofen, there seems to be a little bit of gastritis sometimes related to it and with little infant's stomach being so delicate, it's not something we really want them to be exposed to earlier than that.

Joy Brown

I know none of us want to upset those stomachs when they are infants I know.

How To Avoid Baby Fever With This Cold Weather

 Having a baby is not just something that should happen over a Netflix and chill session (Photo: Courtesy)

The cold season is classily known as 'baby making weather'. It comes with baby fever where you get the sudden urge to make a mini version of yourself.

Baby fever can be very strong but don't be intimidated. You can escape with these tips:

Pause for a minute

Our emotions are a powerful part of human nature. This is a strength but also a weakness when you let them control you.

When you feel strong baby fever, recognize that your emotions might have taken the driver's seat in your life. Allowing yourself to be manipulated by emotions that fluctuate can bring some serious consequences so the best way to handle this is to simply pause and reflect.

This will help you avoid the impulsive decision to have a baby.

Think of whether it is the right time

Reflecting about it also means checking whether it's really the right time to have a baby. For some people baby fever signals that the right time has come but most of the time, it's really not.

If you're not ready financially and you're not at a place where you can handle being a parent, don't do it. Remember that the decision to have a baby means that you've already created a healthy environment for your baby too.

 Are you really in a position to have a baby right now? (Photo: Courtesy) Investigate why those emotions are so strong

Baby fever is often an emotion that comes up out of the blues. One minute you're confident that you don't intend to have kids and the next you get this overwhelming feeling that you should have one.

For some people though, it could also reflect underlying emotions that have been suppressed for a while. It might mean that you have actually wanted to have kids for a long time.

Check whether what you're feeling is something that needs your deep attention so that you know which direction to take from there. But of course, you still need to wait unit you're sure about what you're feeling.

Have a conversation with your partner

Deciding to have a kid is not a one-man thing. You need to talk about it with the person your baby fever is directed to so you can have clarity.

Communicating how you feel will help squash the overwhelming urges that come during baby making season. Your partner will help restore a level-headedness atmosphere which will definitely save you from making impulsive mistakes.

Calm down and let it pass

It would also help to let those emotions come and go peacefully. It helps to just be aware that baby fever is real and it can come at any time.

When it comes, don't panic and don't assume that they mean you need to get a child right away. Most of the time they're just emotions that come and go.

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