Fever in One Year Old, Hold Back the Milk?

The only times I've heard to hold back on the milk (and we are BIG milk drinkers) is when the stomach is upset (vomiting) and when there is a bad cold - lots of mucus. Other than that I don't see why to hold back. Hope he's feeling better soon : )

The fever itself doesn't mean that you should withhold milk from him, but the strep does. With strep, there is a lot of pus and mucous drainage at the back of the throat. Milk actually thickens that drainage and can result in a bad cough from trying to cough up all that thick gunk. Trust me on this one, I used to get strep and tonsilitis several times a year before I finally had my tonsils and adenoids out! My daughter also gets strep quite often. And there is potential for vomiting with strep. I say hold off on the milk until he's well =)
And yes, I've woken my kids if I feel them and they are literally scorching hot, only because my older daughter gets dangerously high fevers (105-106) when she has ear infections or strep and I feel that at the point where brain damage can start, she needs meds ASAP

Our pediatrician told us it's not harmful to withhold milk at that age, but it's more for the parents' benefit than the child's, because milk is horrible when it comes back up.

He also said that he is always more concerned with how a child acts with a fever than what the exact temp is. Some kids can be 102 and still be playing and acting fine, while others can be lethargic at 99.

Hope that helps!

Growing up the rule of thumb was "fever means no milk". I have done the same w/ my kids even my daughter who LOVES milk.

Do push the liquids though for two reasons...first, you want to be sure they stay hydrated and secondly, when they have a fever and don't drink the fever thrives and goes higher so staying hydrated will actually help keep the fever at bay. No, it will not necessarily get rid of the fever but it will help keep it from rising. As the fever rises, they tend not to want to drink and then they get dehydrated and causes the fever to rise more.

When my kids are asleep, I do not wake them unless I have to. Our doctor told me that the best medicines in the world won't make someone better if they don't get rest. If the fever is too high, certainly takes steps to lower it even if that means waking them enough to give tylenol or motrin.

Here are some steps to help bring a fever down...you may know most already but here goes: push liquids, ice pops, etc; don't over bundle; cool rag or ice packs on back of neck/wrists; and tylenol/motrin as needed.

In all illnesses from fever to cancer eliminate ALL milk products until fully well.
This is a well known technique in European countries.

the reason to withhold milk is because as it enters the body that has a fever it will sour, and come back up. so withholding milk is a benefit to both the child and the parent. if you give pedialyte and other drinks like that it will keep them hydrated, and not giving milk will help with that. it helps the parent by not having to clean up sour milk that comes back up. good luck, and i hope your child gets better fast!

You probably don't want to give milk while on an antibiotic-the calcium will block the absorption of the antibiotic. Stick to bland foods and protein.

What concerns me is your MIL is a nurse and she is suggesting you withhold milk. On what basis?? Milk is fluid and like you said, if there is no tummy ache....let the child have milk if that what he wants.

As for the temperature reading under the arm vs. orally, I've always been told that a rectal temp is most accurate. Also keep in mind that a child can safely run a higher fever than an adult. Keep alternating the ibuprofen and acetaminophen. I do frown upon placing a child in a tub of water because it can cause a child to go into shock. I understand you stated "tepid" water but what is tepid to you may seem freezing to a feverish child. If anything, a cool, dampened cloth on the forehead and around the neck but not the entire body. IF I know any of my children are running a fever during the night, yes, I wake them to (1) check the temperature and (2) give meds to reduce the fever. With my children, anytime they have had a fever during the night, even though they might not actually wake up, they are restless (I call it hallucinating sleep) and I don't see how that is a restful sleep for a child so if your baby needs fever meds during the night, then by all means I say wake him. It's always a good idea to give ibuprofen and acetaminophen as close to bedtime as possible so you don't have to wake the baby during the night.

I think it's great ato get other opinions! And I hope the baby is feeling better. I agree with your MIL on the milk because during fever the body can get dehydrated very quickly. Water, or Gatorade or Pedialyte--clear liquids are going to keep him more hydrated. Additionally, milk curdles in a hot body and I know there's probably more medical reasons, but that's why I stay away from the milk (I don't want to add vomiting to the problem). My girls are big milk drinkers too but a couple of days away isn't going to hurt them healthwise.
Now witht he meds during sleep: A small child running a high fever the very best thing to do is keep the fever down. Wake that baby if he's due. IF his fever spikes it is MUCH harder to get it to come down and harder on his body and it can cause damage. It's hard to wake them, but if you don't, the fever will. I set my alarm to wake me so I don't miss it.
My children don't ususally wake if I use a medicine syring and barely push it out and let them suck it out. They also sell little nipples with a medicine cup attached, but tylenol is a little thick and my fear is if you add water to get it flow, what happens if the baby doesn't want to take the whole thing? But its on option. I hope some of this helps.
M.

You don't HAVE to alternate tylenol with motrin. If motrin works better, stick with that. It lasts for 6 hours, as opposed to tylenol's 4 hours. So even if you do WANT to alternate, at least use the motrin before bed. (We don't use motrin at all, since as children, neither my husband nor myself reacted well to it. We've just never tried it, since sickness during young childhood just seems like a crummy time to discover a bad reaction to something you don't really need, anyway. The extra 2 hours would have been convenient, but not worth it. The point is, not alternating won't hurt anything.)

I've been told that no milk during a fever is an old wives tale. But, yes, it can thicken the mucus, so if he's coughing, leave off.

Hang in there, lady.

My mom is a nurse as well. Clear liquids are best for a fever, but babies and toddlers still need the fat and nutrition from whole milk. So my suggestion would be to limit the milk but not cut it out entirely. (Especially if he has no appetite.) The other thing about milk is that it tends to thicken mucus so with a cold or throat illness it could exacerbate the problem or discomfort. But I still don't think it's necessary to eliminate it entirely. If you are really concerned, ask your pediatrician's office what they recommend.

Haven't heard this for fever...hmmmm....
But, my husband, MIL, and Dr all concur that milk during a cold or resp illness makes mucous thicker so avoid it for that reason. But they'd never mentioned fever.

The reason to avoid milk when your child has a fever is because the internal heat spoils/curdles the milk and causes your child to vomit the milk.

I haven't read any of the other posts. I am adding my opinion so you can get a consensus.

Hope your darling feels better soon!

You may find this interesting:
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/24/suppl_6/547S
It is a study that states that mucous production does not increase with milk.

At this point just keep your little one hydrated by whatever he will drink. The colder the better because it will help numb the back of his throat.

The only time you want to eliminate dairy is if he is taking a tetracycline antibiotic.

Hope this helps.

My pedi has never told me to withhold milk, however, she has told me to withhold it when there's coughing b/c she claims that it thickens the mucuos, but I've researched and haven't found anything concrete, so I skip her advise when it comes to that as long as he's staying hydrated. She's also told me to alternate Tylenol and Motrin, but Motrin alone works for my son, so I just stick to that. I don't wake up my baby when he has high fever, but I do get a lukewarm washcloth and gently put it on his back and his stomach while he's sleeping, it helps the fever go down, I also strip him down to just a little shirt and maybe shorts, no socks. Also, if I were you, I'd call the pediatrician again and advise that you have been giving medicine since Friday and fever is still high, he/she may need to prescribe something different.

Yes--milk is not good during fever or illness or with some meds.

THe only reason I know of to withhold milk while ill is that it tends to create more mucus. I don't know if this is actually true or not.
I would listen to her advice as long as your kiddo is eating and drinking just fine. If he os not and the only thing he will take is milk, then give it to him. Go with your gut!

Fever also has a purpose. It kills the bugs. Granted, a high fever like that is scary. I tend not to treat fevers in my kids unless they have other symptoms and the same medication will also take care of fever. But, my kids are much older now.

when fever is involved hydration is most important; whatever child will drink is what you give them. do not withhold milk. if child is eating/playing without much discomfort, he is fighting infection well and should be fine. that fever is really high though. the fact that it's responding to meds and bath is a good sign.

do NOT alternate meds; i just read that this is one of the most common reasons for kids to be in the ER; overdose or "skipping". my ped does not recommend this. in fact he does not recommend any meds till temp is over 101 (which you are, just to reference that meds not needed in low fever).

get well baby! hope this helps.

I been advised of that too..but to tell you the true I never stop given my kids milk unless they trow up the milk (that happened only once with my oldest).
Go with your feelings is not going to hurt anyone .

My mom is an RN and always says to give my children clear liquids when they are sick.

I give water and juice. I also give them pedialyte to prevent dehydration and restore any vitamins they might have lost.

One time my daughter lost all of her appetite at 2 years old when she was really sick with high fever. I could not get her to eat. My mom told me a story about a man she took care of in the hospital along time ago and the only way they could get the man to eat was with ice cream. I put my concerns for sweets on the side and offered my daughter ice cream. She ate that and I found some vitamin C popsicles. She finally started feeling better and eating.