Worried about my baby’s temperature

[VodkaCranberry2]

Posting here for traffic, sorry. My son is 4.5 weeks old and feels quite warm. Taken his temperature numerous times and it’s ranging from 36.9 - 37.2. Is this normal? He’s been a bit fussier today and has had lots of wind but he has been eating lots and his nappies are normal.

Also it’s cooler under one armpit than it is the other?

Have you a tympanic thermometer ( the in the ear one)? They are more accurate than an underarm one. It is hard to get the angle on a little one so young, but it will gave you a better reading.

No I don’t :( @brenna24

Anything over 38 is considered a fever.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/how-to-take-your-babys-temperature/

36.4 is normal. I think 0.3 above that is fine if the child is otherwise well.

Perfectly normal temps for a baby!

I was the same with my first, was obsessed with making sure he wasn't too warm or too cold!

Try not to stress too much!

Completely normal temperature range

OP, you sound like you might be quite anxious?

Apologies if I’ve got this wrong but post natal anxiety is very common although perhaps less well known than post natal depression.

If you are feeling very anxious please talk to your healthy visitor or gp so that you can access support.

If you can, get yourself a braun thermoscan thermometer. They allow you to input the age of the child and will flash up green, orange or red depending on the temp so you know where you are.

Hi op, 37.2 isn't even close to a temperature so don't worry it's a perfectly normal temperature.

NHS recommend using an underarm* thermometer on babies as ear thermometers can give an inaccurate reading as their ears are so small. Sounds like a normal temp.

*a rectal temperature is the most accurate way but thankfully not often necessary

Oh don’t worry OP I’m sure he’s fine, is he eating (well drinking) as normal? My LO is 10 weeks and she quite often feels really hot to the touch and I will say to DH to check her temp and it’s always normal, around what you’re saying. I think they just feel really warm because they’ve been snuggled up to us

It went up to 37.5 but I think our thermometer is dodgy because it’s fluctuating. It was 37.3 when we last checked. He is eating SO much today he’s been constantly hungry. He’s been very fussy and windy today too. Can’t help but worry about CV :( @rainbowchampagne

37.5 is still a normal temperature

37.5 has indicated a fever in my children. What I mean is yes, under that it is not considered a temp but they have always been ill if they've had anything over 37.3 I wouldn't worry about coronavirus, but if the baby is still warm and fussy tomorrow, contact the GP. Might have to do a urine test etc.
PS! All children are different and I haven't had any experience with fever in babies that young so please don't get more anxious from my reply. Just take it easy. And act when you need to. Take a deep breath now and see if the baby cools down when asleep.

My anxiety is going crazy. My health visitor said it would be okay to see family this week because my mental health has been bad and my partner goes back to work in a supermarket next week so we won’t be seeing anyone for long after until this is over so we don’t put our families at risk. Nobody had any symptoms and there have been 0 cases in our area but now I’m bloody terrified and feeling like a bad mum.

If it’s 38 it’s a temperature, if you are really concerned do you have a health visitor you can contact out of hours? If not you could always ring 111.

@Rainbowchampagne I called out of hours and we spoke to a doctor and they said to observe him over night and call GP tomorrow but anxiety is going crazy. It’s going to be a long night :(

Both my children had I bit of a feeding frenzy at 4.5 weeks old. You have to remember it's also close to summer, and so their temps will be a bit higher as they're trying to cope with something new.

If they're feeding well I wouldn't be concerned. If the opposite was happening then I would be.

Just sounds like a normal growth spurt. Generally if they're unwell, they stop taking milk.

Have you downloaded the lullaby trust baby check app? It's really reassuring regarding baby's wellbeing - will give you confidence to look at other things so you don't need to rely on taking temp. Remember that temperatures are not necessarily bad - a fever is the body doing its job to fight an infection.

I’ve just checked again and it’s 37.3 in one armpit and 36.9 in another?! I will download the app, thank you!

The temperature is fine, so don't worry about that. As long as he is eating okay and having wet nappies then don't worry. Also try and relax because babies can pick up on our stress. It's a difficult time for everyone and I should imagine that is amplified after just having a baby. I'm saying this whilst feeding my 1 year old and I check his temp daily so I do understand.

An underarm temp reads lower than ear or oral, up to 1 degree lower. Recheck again and call 111 for advice giving the higher reading of both armpits if baby is not settled.

You are obviously worried OP and I would have a very low bar for seeking medical help with a baby that young. I took my eldest to hospital when he was 6 weeks old because I thought he was breathing a bit funny. He was absolutely fine but I felt much better for taking him and I was repeatedly told by staff that they would always much rather see very small children and that I had done the right thing.

If you are worried call 111 again with the higher under arm temp reading.

How are things today VodkaCranberry?