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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Hi temerature - wot now?

32 replies

Woobie · 31/03/2010 23:39

Hi - first time mum with DS aged 6 months.
1st time he's had a temerature too. (I'm useless sorry!)
it was 37.9 about 35 mins ago & I gave him calpol (its normally about 35.6 ish.)
took him out of grobag & we're sitting up as he's a it restless.
it's now just read 38.5c
I've taken baby grow off & he's in his vest. should I do anything else? & at what point do you need to call doctor?

(sorry again, like i said, I'm useless.)

OP posts:

JaynieB · 31/03/2010 23:41

Calpol would be working by now, but the temp has gone up. I'd ring NHS direct - that way you'll get to speak to a qualified nurse who will ask all the relevant questions.
Don't worry! And why do babies always wait until the wee hours to be unwell...

Original poster

Woobie · 31/03/2010 23:45

tell me about it. I went to work for the first time today & he was with DH all day. I feel terrible guilty as he only seemed to get like this late tonight. (getting his own back! lol)
NHS Direct it is then! thanks

OP posts:

DrivenToDistraction · 31/03/2010 23:45

35.6 are you sure?

3?.5 isn't a worrying temp in it's self but I don't like the sound of it going up after calpol.

You should indeed call NHS Direct.

DrivenToDistraction · 31/03/2010 23:45

38.5

Original poster

Woobie · 31/03/2010 23:47

oooh, just took it again & it's down to 38.
do you think the calpol is working? in which case maybe i should hold off for 5 mins & check again?

OP posts:

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 31/03/2010 23:50

Calpol can often take a while to work, I've known it to take an hour before it kicks in so please don't panic. The normal body temperature is 36.5 - 37.5, I think you need to check your thermometer if it's picking up a temp lower then 36.5. Is it one that goes into your baby's ear? If he's wearing clothes then take them off and leave him in his nappy and a vest, I know this sounds horrid but try not to cuddle him alot as it will make him hotter. Give him a drink. If you have some baby ibuprofen and he's not asthmatic then it's OK to give him some of this, it works better then calpol at bringing a temp down and you can give it to him at the same time if you need to, just make sure you follow the instructions.

Call NHS direct if anything changes or you are concerned.

Original poster

Woobie · 31/03/2010 23:51

i've got an ear thrmometer that stores the last 10 readings. it does sometimes get to about 36, but i was told in the high 35's was fine. does that sound strange?

OP posts:

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 31/03/2010 23:51

Don't keep checking it every 5 mins, it'll drive you and him bonkers. Try it again in another 15 minutes

winnybella · 31/03/2010 23:52

I think calpol can take easily around forty minutes to start working, so if the temp is down then it's probably medecine working.
Does he seem unwell in other ways ie very drowsy, unresponsive, any rash etc?
If there's none of the above, I would wait til morning and then if the temp is not down, go to see the doctor (obviously checking on him through the night).

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 31/03/2010 23:53

Ear thermometers can be finiky to use, my son has different readings in each ear so it's important to use the same one. It's best to gently pull the ear lobe down a little so the ear is a bit straighter and there's less air to mess about with the reading.

Original poster

Woobie · 31/03/2010 23:53

thanks all. so nice to have people to talk to when mums etc ar all in bed & you can't really phone them!!

OP posts:

winnybella · 31/03/2010 23:55

Not sure about that thermometer, though...35.6 is very low, it shouldn't go below 36.5.

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 31/03/2010 23:56

I hope your little one's better soon. Remember to offer him extra to drink, if he's hot he can get dehydrated quite quickly. It's best to pop him to the GP if he's not had a wet nappy in 6 hours. Is he coughing/sneezing/runny poop/rubbing his ear?

Original poster

Woobie · 31/03/2010 23:56

He is a bit grizzly & wouldn't sleep tonight, which is very unusual, but he's responsive etc. (in fact throwing anything he can get his hands on around, - trying to wake DH I reckon as he's got an early start!)
can't see rash or anything, he's just hot to touch & red in face.

OP posts:

winnybella · 31/03/2010 23:57

Sorry, I think that's 36 for the lower end of normal. I also heard the ear thermometers are not that precise.

winnybella · 31/03/2010 23:59

Children can have those one-night fevers as well. Mind you, I'm not a doctor, but I remember DS having a high fever overnight and feeling almost normal next day.

Original poster

Woobie · 31/03/2010 23:59

he's been coughing a little this evening & had runny bum a bit last couple of days.(though i'm not sure about today as DH had him all day & he hasn't mentioned.) possible having sore gums i think.
i've given him water - which he wanted lots of & extra boob.

OP posts:

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 31/03/2010 23:59

ear thermometers are good but there's a technique to using them (see my post above). The forehead strips are unreliable.

Do you think he's teething? Dribbling alot, putting his fists in his mouth?

Original poster

Woobie · 01/04/2010 00:03

yes Belle, all of the above. has been quite bad with it lately, though no teeth just yet & not had a temp before. I just wasn't sure at what point you should worry about the temp, or just deal with it at home. hubby seems to cope fine, he went to bed an hour ago! lol

OP posts:

DrivenToDistraction · 01/04/2010 00:04

Is it really normally saying his temp is 35.6? If so it could be reading up to 2 degees out. Normal range is 36.5 - 37.5. Do you have another themometer you could use?

winnybella · 01/04/2010 00:06

Ah, I think it may well be teething. Also a bit of coughing fits the bill- too much saliva.
How's his temp now?

Original poster

Woobie · 01/04/2010 00:07

we used a digital one under the arm initially & that too read between 35.7 - 36 ish at various times. the HV said it was ok. it does vary quite a bit but generally is in the mid - high 35's

OP posts:

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 01/04/2010 00:09

If he's drowsy, vomiting, not had a wet nappy in 6 hours, if his fontinelle on his head isn't flat (if it's sunken or is bulging), any rash that doesn't go when you put a glass over the top then call the GP. Temp wise, if it's not going down when you give him paracetamol, if he's drowsy or floppy, if it's above 39 or above 38.5 for longer then 24 hours then see the GP.

Babies do often get a temperature when they are teething, there could be other reasons aswell though so look out for other things.

Original poster

Woobie · 01/04/2010 00:10

wow 37.3 - must definately be working now! I think we'll just watch sex in the city together for a bit & hopefully he'll drift off & it'll keep coming down.

OP posts:

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 01/04/2010 00:11

The digital ones that go under the arms are abou 0.5 to 1 degree out

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