How Do I Break a High Temperature??

When my first daughter was 3 months old, for four days she had a temperature that peaked at 104, being a first time Mom at the time, I was constantly on the phone with my pediatrician asking if I should take her to the hospital. She assured me that I could bring the temp down at home. She suggested alternating between Tylenol and Motron, because if you give only one medication it takes four hours between doses, which gives the fever time to creep back up. With the two alternating, you can switch every 3 hours, one is ascitaminiphine (not sure that is spelled right) and the other is ibuprophin, which means you aren't doubling up on the same medication. Also, we gave her cool baths, she didn't like it at first, and she was so small I had to get in the tub and hold her, but once we were in for a few minutes she would actually fall asleep in the tub because her little body was so exhausted from fighting off the fever. Also make sure you give lots of water... for hydration. One other thing that I did (because bother were local) is my called both Grandmothers, I knew I would panic without someone around to tell me she would live through this (I was a frantic first mother... so protective), with the support of my Mother and Mother in law (whom I love equally), and my darling husband, we were able to keep the fever at bay, and not go complete psycho with worry... It was scary but a great learning experience at the same time.

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Hi!
A fever is the way that a body fights infection. If he's not showing any symptoms of pain, I normally just let them ride out the fever if its not too high (under 102ish). Let his body fight it on its own.

I have 2 boys (4 and 16 months) and you are doing great with the popcicles, fluids and baths.

Hang in there.
B. :-)

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You are doing everything I can think of. Just so you know, your body temp. is higher at night than in the morning. So just keep doing what you're doing. My three little ones just got over this virus, the fever lasted almost four days and then turned into the WORST cold ever. I gave them all two baths a day and the fever still wouldn't go away. I finally brought them into the doctor and she said everything else was fine with them and to just ride it out. I hope your little guy doesn't have the same thing, but just in case have the kleenex ready.

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My daughter is now 10 yrs old, but, I remember those days, and those moments! I never put her in the bath, because I was worried about shock, and also, she was in no mood, while she was running a fever. I found the best method for me was, to take a cool ( not cold), but cool wash rag, and I would just pat her down by her wrists, her underarms, and in between her legs. I also felt that when fighting a fever MOTRIN worked better, than Tylenol to reduce fever. Now that she is older, there are moms that tell me that they alternate Motrin, and Tylenol. In my personal opinion, MOTRIN works better for fever, and Tylenol works better for pain. I wish you the Best!

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You are doing everything well ~ stay strong, it is going to be a couple of VERY long days. After reading the other respones, <just to add a couple of things> I hate to mention that we always went with Infant Advil. With our youngest boy, who never took ill, one night woke us up SCREAMING - with a fever of 104. We rushed him in and they gave him baby advil ~ in 20 minutes his temp was down and we left the hospital. I have used it ever-since when ever any of the kids took ill. Not over in 36 hours / call the peds office, have them check him out just in case..... Good Luck

About me: Now, A SAHM of kids <six> from age 22 to 5....... :o)

Theres a few old standbys that work well with high temps in combination with tylenol or ibuprofen. If the temperature is extremely high you can put ice packs wrapped in a towel in the arm pits, also a cool bath helps too if you think its to high and needs to be brought down quickly. 101 is not an extremely high temperature though especially for lil ones. when it starts nearing 103 thats when I would start with the ice packs in the arm pits and the cool baths (warning, they really wont like the cool bath.... they are so hot that when you put them in the water it will feel really cold to them)

My thirteen month old gets febrile seizures at lower temps, and all the doctors have said I could alternate between tylenol and motrin - every three hours - to keep the fever down. Now, with my two bigger kids, I would just let them ride out the fever unless they were uncomfortable or the fever got high - 104 has been the highest recorded here. I think everything that you are doing is right, and the fever should break on it's own. Now, if it lasts more than a couple of days, you should call the doctor to make sure that he doesn't have an infection that needs to be treated.

Good luck!

My ped. always says that if Tylenol isn't breaking the fever to switch to Motrin. It always does the trick. It may not keep the fever away but will help, especially at night when baby needs to get good sleep. Also fevers dehydrate make sure your little guy gets fluids.

How long did the fever last, and as soon as it broke did he break out in a rash? My daughter had a high fever for several days, and as soon as the fever broke she had Roseola,a whole-body rash that does not seem to bother the child (thank God!). It's very common, and I was told that most children will get it before the age of 5. There's nothing to do for the rash--it just goes away.

But back to the fever... alternate between Baby Motrin and Baby Tylenol, lots of fluids and lots of rest!

Poor thing! Keep up with fluids for sure. If you find that he isn't taking fluids, try and get him to take some Pedalyte. Give him a luke warm bath and dress him in loose clothing. I would also put a cold wash cloth on his head as well. And I have heard that alternating between motrin and tylenol helps too. If the fever heads up past 101, I would make an appointment with your pediatrican. Hope he feels better soon.

101 is not really that high. Just do what you are doing, lots of fluids, if it gets much higher you can alternate doses of ibuprofen and tylenol (I found ibuprofen works better) but I try not to give too much of that because the body needs to head to that temp to try to fight off the infection. I usually don't give my son that stuff until his temp is over 101 or if he is noticeably cranky/sluggish/feeling bad. If the fever lasts more than 3-5 days and you aren't seeing any improvement, I'd probably take him in to see the doc.

HI C.,

Sorry your little one is feeling bad. I wouldn't be too worried if I was you. Children's (and adult's) bidy temperatures fluctuate during the day. They are usually lowest in the morning and highest when we sleep or at night. A fever is characterized as a fever over 100.4. So, the 99 range is totally normal and I wouldn't even medicate for that unless he seems uncomfortable. Don't take his temp right when he wakes upor has been crying because you won't get an accurate reading. As long as he is drinking fluids and making wet diapers than you can be assured that he is hydrated. I know fever scares many parents, most most stories are just myth. Fever is actually a good sign that shows your body is fighting an infection. It is a symptom not a disease. Good luck.

Check with your doctor first, but our doctor and hospital recommend a teaspoon of Motrin and a teaspoon of tylenol mixed together. It's double the recommended dose on the package, but both medicines together will break the fever.

My son gets very high temps, up to 105, when he gets fevers, and has even had febrile seizures, so we've been in the emergency room a few times. Every time they give him the dosage I mentioned and within an hour, his temp is down considerably.

Good luck!