5 week old temperature of 37.6

[Benandjerrysbonnoffeepie]

Baby is 5 weeks old and has a cold (which he got from me and I feel awful about). He’s is breathing fine, taken a feed and is now comfortably asleep on me. However he felt hot to touch so I took his temperature and it’s 37.6, should I phone 111 or wait till GP opens in the morning?

Phone 111. Very young babies can go downhill quickly. It’s likely viral but with tiny ones you can never be too safe.

Thank you. I’m phoning just now as his temp became slightly higher when I took it again.

It is a bit borderline, I suspect 111 won't tell you anything (other than stock advice), and you will end up stressed. It's always a bit scary but not having them too warmly covered and see how you go at under 38 degrees. It is a while ago, but a cool damp flannel to the head can work wonders (they don't like it much mind). Baby calpol in a syringe can also help, but I think it is 3months plus.

Don’t give calpol to a baby under 3 months!

@TheM55 Don’t forget newborn’s naturally have a slightly lower body temperature so 37.6 is considered a fever.

You need medical advice due to the age. Don't stress, I'm sure he'll be fine. But you need an expert to advise you.

I was in a similar situation with DD3 when she was 11 weeks. If the temp gets any closer to 38 and 111 are slow to get back to you I would go to a&e. DD3’s consultant quite strictly told me that any baby under 12 weeks with a fever needs to be seen by a paediatrician.

Absolutely 100% don't sponge/flannel.

I hope he's okay and back to normal soon. It's so horrible when they're tiny and ill.

111 or A&E.
I'm sure your baby will be fine but always beat to err on the side of caution with tiny babies. Hope they are OK.

Midwife here. I wish people stopped writing medical stuff when they have no idea.

Newborns DO NOT have a "slightly lower temperature than adults". A normal temperature for a newborn is between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees, and they are very sensitive to losing body heat. 37.5 is not a fever, but you did the right thing rechecking in 1 hour if this is not normal for your baby.

Has your baby behaviour changed in any way from his normal self? Less feeding, altered outputs (fewer wet nappies, has poo changed colour to green or light brown?), difficult to wake up? Has the skin changed cololur or have any marks appeared?

111 will be excessive at this stage, but a call to your midwife, HealthLine or the equivalent in the UK is a good idea.

@aurynne I wish someone who claimed to be a midwife was aware of NHS advice.

Average temp 36.4

Poster stated baby’s temp was 37.6 and higher on second reading

Also has a cold and so has other symptoms alongside the fever. NHS advice in this situation is to contact 111.

111 is the equivalent to health line in the U.K. It’s a non emergency advice line which with a very young baby is the best thing to do as they can speak to the mother and assess the baby for any other symptoms that may require action or simply observation.

Don't use Mumsnet for medical advice for a baby so young op, just go and get them checked out. Already advice on here that's just wrong.

That advice says call 111 if temp 38 or higher @Madwife123

It's not?

@Clymene Or if there are any other symptoms. The baby also has a cold

Thank you for replies. I phoned in the end as temp started rising closer to 38 and he was clearly unhappy and we are getting medical help.

@Ollifer might sound obvious to you but in the middle of the night when your doubting yourself and your alone sometimes threads like these can push you to make the right decision.

So glad you are getting medical help and I hope she gets better soon, OP. I don’t think it’s ever excessive to call 111 about a baby under the age of 12 weeks.

I agree with this. I'd always call 111 under 3 months if you're worried.

Err on the side of caution!

Any temperature less than 36.5C in a newborn (up to 6 weeks) is considered hypothermia in any country I have worked, and in the WHO guidelines. The NHS guidelines you have posted are likely for older babies and children. A newborn has a very different physiology than babies of later age. I can guarantee you a newborn's average temperature is not 36.4C. And the temperature of newborns in the UK is not colder than in any other country.

A temp in a baby that young should always be checked out & especially if they have other symptoms. I am a nurse (paeds) I always advise parents to seek medical advice if they are not sure about something or worried about their baby.

@aurynne

I am not going to keep responding to you because it’s pointless and derailing the thread but the fact remains that you claim to be a medical professional and yet you actively discouraged the parent of a vulnerable newborn from
seeking medical advice from the very service designed for this type of situation and called it “excessive”.

Newborns can deteriorate fast. No one on the internet can accurately assess a baby and therefore the advice for a very young baby should always be to phone 111 where it can be assessed and they can either see the baby or advise the parents to keep an eye on it. Telling a parent it’s excessive to do this is dangerous and can lead to people not seeking help when required.

I won't continue this conversation either because you seem to be quoting my posts but not have actually read them, if you're really implying I discouraged anyone from seeking medical advice if they are worried. I discouraged OP to call 111 for a temperature of 37.6 as by itself that is not an emergency (and knowing how stressed your NHS is, an unnecessary call to 111 doesn't sound like the best idea) and I asked her about other important symptoms and recommended to call a primary health number instead. But you don't care, you seem obsessed about doubting my profession instead which is odd, but hey, whatever makes you feel better.

OP, I hope your baby is feeling better.

OP- How did you get on? Any update?