Higher temperature (uncomfortable) but not feverish...

[G1nger]

My baby's almost 4 months. For the past 3 days, he's got a bit hot and uncomfortable in the evenings. Nothing's changed: we're not dressing him more warmly; the thermostat hasn't changed, etc. We've needed to give him calpol and strip him to his vest to get him comfortable. His temp hasn't exceeded 37 degrees, which isn't a fever. I don't want to have to put him on antibiotics if he doesn't need them, but also want to make sure he's as ok as I think he is. When he's cool he's a happy, lively, giggling baby. And this is most of the time.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this, please?

If his temp isn't above 37, do you really need to give calpol? How does the discomfort manifest itself? Is he more hungry? Having a growth spurt?

He stops feeding at that temp and gets very grizzly/distressed if we don't cool him down. Last night, we spent 5 hours trying to get him to settle and I was in tears towards the end because he was so distressed. Calpol really helps him and we don't give it lightly. As for a growth spurt, can these affect temperature? He appears to be on one big, long growth spurt (he's put on a pound a week from the start!).

Hmm, 4 months is a funny time, they can get a growth spurt or become unsettled as they pass other mental/physical milestones, sleep can change at around this time. Could he have colic or reflux? I'd be quite surprised if the temp were the issue and he may just like the calpol because it tastes nice! The movement of the stripping down might help release trapped wind or just take his mind off whatever it is. Are you bf or ff?

He doesn't have colic or reflux. I'm bf. He did appear to have a sore belly last night but it was through cooling him down that we finally got him settled. I do wonder if there's some amount of sleep regression involved - although for at least the last hour last night he was hot and very distressed.

This really does sound like colic to me. BF or not it can begin anytime during the 1st year of life (as can reflux) - not always in the 1st month or so. Evenings is the most common time of day for it. The paracetamol will be helping from a pain point of view and not temperature. 37 is absolutely normal and similarly to any age of person from baby to elderly pain can have a mild effect on general temperature. Please don't go for anti-biotics, this is not sounding anything like a bacterial infection whatsoever.
I do feel for you, my DD had colic for months and months and the constant distress was awful to tolerate. Things will improve in time though. Honestly. In the mean time it may well be something you have to put up with.
Maybe you could try infacol but bear in mind it can take a couple of weeks giving it at each feed before you see an effect.
Good luck.

usually infant colic starts around 2-3 weeks and finishes at 3 months, so it is unlikely to be that.

Babies are not brilliant at regulating their temperature and it is apparently quite normal for it to rise in the evening (not quite sure why!)

Teething may be the issue as babies often get hot and bothered though not actually ill. If this is the case then it would explain why calpol settles him as well as physical measures like lighter clothing.

I agree with sneezecakesmum that colic does indeed usually start earlier but far from unheard of to start later so I don't think colic can be ruled out completely.
From what you say, be it teething or colic I think that the Calpol settles his pain for you rather than being a temperature related thing.