Toddler Fever Treatment
Has your toddler got a fever? Worried and don’t know what treatment to give them? Read on for information and basic tips to see your toddler through…
A fever can be a disturbing thing for a parent to have to deal with. Often a high fever in toddlers can come on suddenly and without any warning and reach alarming heights. In such situations it’s difficult to know exactly what you can do to reduce the temperature of your toddler and if and when is the right time to call in the doctor.
The primary signs of your toddler having a fever come when your toddler is looking flushed and their forehead is warm. The first thing to do is to take their temperature. If the temperature is higher than 98.6F, then it’s above average, and anything above 100F definitely constitutes a fever. If the fever is above 101F, you should call your physician. When taking the temperature of child under the age of 8, the rectal method ought to be used. Remember to use vaseline to avoid soreness.
If the readout is higher than normal, but your doctor just tells you to wait it out until the fever breaks, there are a number of different things that can be done to help bring down a high fever in toddlers. Here are a few of the best:
Liquid Intake
Make sure you keep your toddler hydrated and that means drinking a lot of liquids. Any type of natural drinks are fine like water and fruit juices although fizzy drinks should be avoided. During a fever the excessive sweating leads to a loss of fluids which contain important electrolytes needed in order for the body to function properly. An increased amount of liquid intake is needed in order to counter balance the excessive loss of liquids experienced by toddlers during a fever.
Bathing
One of the best ways to bring the body temperature down and reduce discomfort is to bath your toddler in a lukewarm bath. This is really effective as is periodically applying a cool wet cloth to your toddler’s forehead.
Don’t Panic
A fever as discomforting as it may seem, is actually a natural response to something else that has gone wrong in the body. The fever is the natural defense mechanism of the body to fight some other alien substance that has found its way into your toddler. The best thing to do is not to panic or over medicate your toddler but simply to wait it out until the fever breaks. Try to keep your toddler as comfortable as possible and just wait.
Medicines
One needs to be very careful when administering medicines to young toddlers as the risk of complications due to overdose is higher. Its generally better to stick to the specific advice of your doctor on this issue. There are a number of fever medications formulated especially for toddlers and young infants although you should consult your doctor before embarking upon a course of medication.
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