Fever and startle reflex in newborn

[Ericadm]

My 10weeks old baby has had a high temperature 38-39C for 24 hours with no other apparent symptoms (gp checked ears, chest and glands). Since the fever started he is doing the startle reflex much more often than usual for no apparent reason, for example if I am changing him and he is laying down he will suddenly do it and looks terrified like if he wa dropping, then he will start crying desperately. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced? Gp did not comment on it and I can't find much by googling.

When babies are unwell they often startle more frequently as it seems to lower the threshold for doing this. His fever should not go on for more than 48 hours then taper off over the following couple of days and the startling should go back to normal. Back lying also worsens startling and curling babies up lessens it, but if he is hot it's probably not what he needs.

If after the next few days this startling continues it could be another rare condition entirely unrelated to fever, and which I am not going to mention to you but would need checking on.

If in the meantime the fever doesn't come down with calpol or his condition worsens or you are worried in any way see your GP.

Did he check urine?

Dd had a really strong startle reflex she constantly woke herself up with it to the point she couldn't sleep on her back.

Could it be a urine infection and he's crying when he pees? My DS had this at 16 weeks.

X post!

He is not crying when he pees and pee look and smell normal. We did wonder about urune infection though but gp did not take sampke.

He never did this 'excessive' startling before, only after the fever started.

Fever was not going down with calpol but much better with ibuprofen. My four year girl is the same in that calpol does not seem to have any effect when she has a fever while ibuprofen brings it down more effectively.

I know this was a LONG time ago but just wondering what happened - my baby is going through EXACTLY the same and I’m so confused why. Thank you!! X

I would always get a little baby checked asap.

Hi. Were you able to figure out what happened with your LO? We went through this last month when our baby contracted Covid at 3.5 months. Did the issue continue for you?