🩺 Health · From birth to 3 years
🌡️ Baby fever: when to worry and what to do
A young infant’s fever needs prompt assessment; treatment is guided by age, symptoms and local medicine instructions.
The fever toolkit
- Digital thermometer
- Clinician-approved infant medicine if advised
- Product oral syringe
The game plan
1. Young infant fever
For a baby under three months with temperature 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, seek urgent medical assessment now. For severe breathing difficulty, blue/grey colour, seizure or unresponsiveness call 111.
2. Medicines
Use acetaminophen/paracetamol only when appropriate for age and discomfort, with the exact locally sold product strength and clinician/pharmacist advice. Use its oral syringe. Doses depend on the baby’s weight, age and the product concentration. Do not alternate medicines without medical advice. Never give aspirin to a child unless prescribed.
3. Comfort
Offer usual milk feeds often, use comfortable light clothing and watch hydration and alertness. Do not use cold baths, alcohol rubs or strip baby to the point of shivering.
A local detail, or your own experience with this guide? Write to the team
Same topic
Read next
When in doubt, contact your doctor or midwife. For a life-threatening emergency, call 111.