My baby has Fever / High Temperature
If a baby is less than 3 months old and has a fever, it’s more likely to be from a serious infection than if an older child had a fever. So, if your baby under 3 months has a temperature higher than 38°C (100.4°F), you should take them to see a healthcare professional straight away. The only time you don't need to do this is if they get a fever within 48 hours after their vaccinations. In that case, you can give them paracetamol if they seem fine otherwise, without needing to see a doctor.
How to take your baby’s temperature:
To check your baby’s temperature, place the thermometer under their armpit. Hold their arm close to their body to keep the thermometer in place for as long as the instructions say—usually about 15
seconds. Some digital thermometers will beep when they’re done. Don’t check their temperature on the forehead or in the ear, as it won’t be accurate for young children.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
- Temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)
- Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
- Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)
- Breathing that stops or pauses
- Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
- Difficult to wake up or very sleepy
- Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
- Has a fit (seizure)
- Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)
You need urgent help
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following:
If your child has any of the following:
● Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
● Dry skin, lips or tongue
● Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
● Poor feeding (less than half of their usual amount)
● Irritable (Unable to settle them with cuddles, toys or feeding)
● Getting worse and I am still worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111
If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to
either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your
child has not developed any red features
If none of the above features are present
- Watch them closeley for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms.
- If your child has any other symptoms associated with their fever, you may want to look at the information on sore throat, cough, earache, diarrhoea and vomiting or tummy ache or our other pathways.
- Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies -Click here
- If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you.
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111
This content has been developed by healthcare professionals from across the UK in collaboration with the RCPCH.
What should you do?
You can give paracetamol to children who are two months old or older for pain or fever (but only give ibuprofen if they are over three months old). However, if a baby under 3 months has a fever, it
could mean they have a serious infection, so they should see a health care professional right away. The only time you don’t need to do this is if they get a fever within 48 hours after their vaccinations.
In that case, it’s OK to give them paracetamol if they seem fine otherwise. If your baby gets a rash, do the glass test to check it.
How long will your child’s symptoms last?
Fever caused by a viral infection tends to improve within 2 to 3 days.
If your child’s fever lasts for more than 5 days, get them seen by your GP.
The chart below shows how long fever lasts in a child with viral infections. The faces represent 10 children who have seen their GP with a viral infection. Green faces are those children whose fever has recovered within that time period.
Where should you seek help?
- If it is non-urgent, speak to your local pharmacist or health visitor.
- If your child has any of the above features, urgently see your GP. For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
- You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations.
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- offering immunisations
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.