HELP My Son Has a Temperature of 102.3 What Do I Do HELP PLZ!!!!!!!!!

Updated on July 25, 2011
A.C. asks from Los Angeles, CA
24 answers

My son aaron has a temperature of 102.3 and he's 1 year old im really worried about it what should i do?

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B.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

To put it nicely . . . RELAX! 102 is not the end of the world. Fevers are good, they are the bodies way of fighting off infection. A couple days and it will be gone. Most Dr.s reccomend fever reducing medicine only if the child is uncomfortable. If he is OK, then let the fever do it works.

5 moms found this helpful

B.L.

answers from Missoula on

Honestly, 102 is a low grade fever. You should go and read The Importance Of Fevers by Dr. Tenpenny. You will feel much better after reading it. My kids have had 105 fevers. I dont sweat it until it reaches that high and then I only give tylenol if they can't sleep or are really uncomfortable. Fever is a good thing and fights off infection. Don't fight it or you will only prolong the illness.
http://blog.fitnesstown.ca/2009/10/16/the-importance-of-a...

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N.A.

answers from Chicago on

CALL HIS DOCTOR. Have you given him any motrin to try and bring it down? If not then I would do so and wait about 20 min's and if it hasn't gone down then call his doctor! Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

102.3 in a one year old is hard (I assume he's your first?) but it's not usually dangerous.
Has he had it for a few days? Does it go down with tylenol or motrin? Is he lethargic?
If he's had a fever for more than a few days, it continues to go up, and he becomes lethargic, then yes, take him to the DR. Otherwise treat with tylenol/motrin and lots of liquid and sleep, I'm sure he will be fine :)

3 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

My son is rarely sick, but recently he came down with a fever and I got super worried as you are. Talking to the nurse at my pediatrician's office and doing a little reading online helped me calm down. My son is only 20 months old, so I know it can be rattling when something is wrong with them and they are so little. What I learned is that anything lower than 102 degrees is low grade and actually a beneficial fever, the body's way to fight illness, and you should not treat it unless the child is very uncomfortable. Once it gets above 102, while not dangerous, it can cause discomfort. Try giving him some Tylenol or Motrin and see if that helps bring it down. Keep him well hydrated. If the meds don't help enough, you can give him a lukewarm bath. Never use cold water to lower a fever, the child can go into shock. If he is having other symptoms, or if the fever last more than a couple of days, then take him into the dr. to get checked out because it may be a bacterial infection that will require an antibiotic to clear up. Good luck, mama! Hope your baby feels better soon :)

3 moms found this helpful

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

How old is he? Is he sick?

At 102.3 I usually don't do anything except keep an eye on them. If you want to give Tylenol or Ibuprofen, you can. They'll reduce the fever. But fevers, within reason, are good at helping them fight off infection. If they seem to be feeling miserable, we'll give the meds to help with that too.

If you're super concerned, often there is a nurse hotline you can call.

Hope he feels better soon!

3 moms found this helpful
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N.F.

answers from Seattle on

You sound just like me when my first son had a "what I thought" was high fever. I was ready to pack a bag to go to the ER. Must mention that this was also during major teething. My hubby works at a hospital and calmly said, "He is too young for anything else other than tylenol, and that's all they are going to give you after you have waited for hours in the waiting room". So, I watched my son like a hawk! He also slept (all night) on my chest while in our rocking chair ;) Took his temp every 3 hours and gave him tylenol when he needed it. The next night his fever finally broke and all was well within a couple of days. Take a deep breath and release a good sigh... Keep your baby boy wrapped in your arms because your love and assurance will help him feel better already :)

3 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Dallas on

B.K.L. is right. The fever is there for a reason. Just be sure to keep him hydrated with water and no sugar. The sugar is just one more thing that his body would have to work to fight off. His little body knows what to do and it has the exact right response at the right time.

3 moms found this helpful

A.F.

answers from Chicago on

We have seen temps in the 104s and 105s... So please relax a bit... 102s is a less scary more manageable fever. Tepid baths if it goes over 103, alternating infant motrin and Tylenol every 3 hours (so Tylenol, 3 hrs later motrin, 3 hrs later Tylenol, etc) and get him seen tomorrow if he is not sleeping or wanting to lay down- could be an ear infection. Good luck and best wishes!

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J.B.

answers from Houston on

Ok, I am assuming that this is 102.3 under his arm which is actually about a degree higher if taken orally. If it were me I would give children's tylenol and motrin alternating every three hours and try to knock out the fever. Does your pediatrician have an on call Dr or nurse line where you can call and ask about the dosage and get some direction. I use the weight guide on the back of the medication and I chart on the fridge when and how much I give so I don't forget and give the same medication back to back and so I don't give it too early or late. I have also called my ER before and talked to a nurse which was helpful. If you see his temperature spike and you cannot control it with medication and keeping him cool, just head to the ER, but I wouldn't worry too much before about 104, which is about 103 under the arm. If you are giving meds and can't bring a fever down that is a good reason to go and get him checked out. For now I would dress him in light weight clothing and above all make sure he was drinking and peeing and give medicine to control the fever, that is how I would handle it in your shoes. Of course, no one can tell you the exact right thing to do and we aren't doctors so if you are too worried, you can always take him in. Wish you the best and hope that baby gets to feeling better

1 mom found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

Take him to the emergency room if tylenol is not taking it down!!!!!!

1 mom found this helpful

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Tepid bath and if you have peppermint put it in with the bath. It lowers body temperature. Remember this for the next time he runs a high fever.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.C.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I haven't read the responses, so I'm sorry if this is a repeat.
Fever in a person is not bad. Fever is actually a good thing if someone is sick. It is the way the body fights infection. The fever burns off the infection, bringing healing to the body. You do not want to interfere with a fever unless it is getting very high, which depends on the person. If it gets up to the 104 range, then you might want to try to bring it down. For some people, that is a normal range for when they are sick. Just watch for more serious side effects. Keep your son hydrated because the fever also burns off fluids. Does he have other apparent symptoms? You might want to take him to a chiropractor to see if that will help. Often, the adjustment will fix whatever is wrong and the fever will naturally disappear on its own very quickly.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.!.

answers from Phoenix on

Call your doctor. If you decide to put him in the bath, make sure the water temp. is luke warm, not cold or it could cause a seizure. Don't bundle him and try not to hold him too much, because they need to let the heat out or the temp. will continue to increase. If it were my child, I would treat a fever of 102.3

1 mom found this helpful

S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

First give him some medication to bring down the temp. You don't say the age of the child. Sometimes 102 is not too high for some kids....but if it gets to 103-105 then that is very high and should go to the er.

I would call the ped office to give you some relaxation about what too do. It could be teething, it could be the flu, it could be ear infection. You just don't know. But having Advil and Tynoel together every 4 hours would be good ( Alternating the two different doses. ) BUT CALL YOUR DR. Don't take my word for it.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Oh this is the worst time to be a parent...sick babies make your heart ache and your fears sore!! Call the doctor immediately when this happens, there should be an on call operator or an emergency number to get hold of somebody right away.

I learned a couple of wonderful things from my pediatrician years ago.

1st: make sure that the child can place his chin to his chest. Use your finger to his belly button or something that will take his eyes downward enough to lay his chin to his chest. This is a way to see if it could be menangitis.

2nd: If your baby has a high fever but is still alert, the fever is doing it's job. It is not necessary to continue to take a temp unless you see your baby is becoming listless and weak. If that be the case (as my dr. states) regardless of 99 degrees or 103 the baby needs to be seen.

Just make sure that you have a very supportive pediatrician and when all else fails, take him to the ER if you are frightened..better safe than sorry.

good luck :)

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N.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Dilute vinegar with water (50:50)...temperature goes down right away

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J.W.

answers from Fayetteville on

You poor dear! You sound just frantic. You did not mention how you took his temp but I agree with much of the advice given so far. Fever is the body's way of fighting infection. So your little one is doing exactly what God designed him to do. Ibuprofen is great, very catholic. To help lower his temp, take a towel and put in very cold water. Wring out well. Lay this down. Now take a thick dry towel and lay on top of this. Then strip baby down to just his diaper, and lay him on top of the dry the dry towel. Cover baby with thin sheet . You have essentially made a cooling blanket. When the dry towel gets wet, remove it and place another dry towel between him and the wet towel. You won't want to do this for any longer than an hour at a time. And probally won't have to do this but once. I have brought down many patients' fever down this way. Don't place baby directly on wet towel. I tell you this method because very young children sometimes seizure if their fever gets very high. Although that is normal, it is extremely traumatizing for parents. Let us know how it goes. Keen him hydrated. His pediatrician will help guide you through this. A light fan will also him stay comfortable. Also a wonderful site is the APA.com. Stands for the American Pediatric Association.

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J.K.

answers from Kansas City on

You could give him a bath, maybe that will cool it down, with some Tylenol also. Good luck.

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F.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Before you do anything visit the hospital or call the hotline and the on-call nurse will guide you, especially before you administer medicine.

My daughter had a fever a few weeks ago and her doctor prescribed Moltrin w/ ibuprofen. I found that more affective than children's Tylenol. There is also a generic over the counter brand (dye free).

Lastly, I always take her temp rectal to get an accurate reading.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

When my son was that age occasionally he'd spike a fever of up to 103 and by the time I checked it 30 min later it would be gone with out doing anything.
Our pediatrician wouldn't have us bring him in until it was 104 and not responding to tylenol/motrin.
A tepid bath can help, keep him lightly dressed, alternate tylenol/motrin, continue to monitor symptoms (is he uncomfortable, pulling ears, cranky, etc).
You can call your Dr's nurse line and they'll tell you what to do and look for and when to bring him in.
Try to be calm and just hang in there.
He should be fine.

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C.T.

answers from Denver on

Hi Mandy - sorry your little guy is sick. It's such a helpless feeling. He's probably okay - kids get higher fevers than adults do. Dont try to cool him off in a bath or anything, that can actually cause his fever to spike.

Follow your doc's advice on dosing some advil. If his temp doesnt come down by a full 1 degree, then call your doc. Also, if your son has other symptoms like a stiff neck, lethargy or a weak cry, then you should call your on-call doc right away. Also, if he has signs of an infected bug bite, a rash, or a scratch on his face that appears red, let your doctor know that as well.

L.T.

answers from New York on

102.3 isn't that high for his age, and he's probably fine. My (also 1 year old) son just had a 102 fever a couple weeks ago. I've found that Advil (ibuprofen/Motrin) works better than Tylenol, obviously use the infant kind; I've also found that a full dose isn't usually necessary.

If Advil or Tylenol doesn't bring the fever down, or he has other worrisome symptoms (signs of dehydration, obvious pain, more lethargy than you'd expect in a sick child), then it's time to call the doctor. My son's pediatrician told us not to bother bringing him in unless he hit like 104 :)

Also, you have to trust your gut. You know your child better than anyone, and you can tell if he just seems "not right". When my son had his fever a couple weeks ago, I never worried at all because aside from the fever and some rough teething, he was himself. He was fine within a few hours. (Well he had a cold for the next week, but was otherwise ok.)

Hopefully by now your son is fine and you don't even need this response anymore :)

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B.V.

answers from Los Angeles on

Go to the doctor or hospital for advise.

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