Baby temperature, help please.

[flutterbee]

DS has been really sleepy all day, and when not rubbing his eyes and trying to sleep he has been grouchy and horrible. I just took his temperature to see if it was OK and I realise I have no idea what kind of temperature I should be looking for.!!

It was 37.2 which I am sure is fine, but just for my info for a later date can someone set me straight as to what I should be looking for. DS is nearly 8 months.

Thanks

anyone

How are you taking his temp, I mean under the arm, under the tongue, forehead? I think what is defined as normal depends on where you are taking the temperature from. My ds is normally about 36.5 with a thermometer under his arm.

Hope your ds is feeling better soon.

That sounds fine to me.

bump for you !pretty sure normal body temp is 37 but is it different for babies?

I'm taking it in the ear with a digital thermometer, I may just give him some Calpol and pop him back to sleep. What do you reckon?

I assume there's no rash or anything else worrying? I'd probably do as you suggest, although if in doubt, it's worth calling NHS Direct, provided you aren't worried about it taking four hours for them to call you back!

from a doctor's definition, "real" fever is 38 or above, but anything between 37.5 to 37.9 is slight fever. but it may be a good idea to start taking your child's temp. everyday (when he's not sick) so you'll know what his normal temp is. b/c everyone's normal temp may differ. for ex., may daughter's nom. temp is slightly lower than my son

Well I took him temp again and it is now 37.8 so I will keep an eye on him, he has been asleep now for over 2 hours which is not like him at all.

I think I will take his temp everyday for a week once I have this sorted out just so that I know what his "norm" is.

Think I may try and wake him now.

Thanks again.

Hey Flutter, hows the little one doing now?

flutterbee, don't worry too much hun, he's probably got a slight virus. 37.2/37.8 are not dangerously high, my dd had a fever of 39 at 5 months, and in the end it was just a viral infection. Just give him the calpol and let him rest up. By the way, it might take up to 5 days for him to be back to his usual self (that's what a doctor told me about fevers). I can really sympathise thought, I worry so much when dd is ill.

Thanks ladies, I woke him up earlier but I am sure he would have slept for at least another hour he was so deeply asleep. I checked his temp straight away and it has come right down (magic Calpol)I gave him lunch and changed him and he perked up for about an hour playing and shouting away at me, but then he went back to being a bit sleepy and dozy. I bathed, fed and popped him to bed as usual and will see how he is in the morning.

I suppose I just panic a bit because last time he was like this a few days later I found him limp and lifeless after he had stopped breathing due to bronchilitis. I know it is nothing like that this time (he was only 6 weeks old then) but it does make your heart skip a beat to think about it.

Bloody kids never knew I would worry this much

Jay - I haven't heard from you for so long, how are you and the lo (or not so little anymore) our old thread seems to have died a death doesn't it?

high temp. itself isn't dangerous, my doctor said as long as the child is still playful, is eating than shouldn't worry too much. on the other hand if child's temp's only slightly higher but he seems to be sick, not playful, drowsy,not eating or just want to lie on bed, then should see the dr. right away. but of course whatever the temp is, Calpol should be given to prevent the temp from getting too high.
nevertheless fever that lasts for more than 2/3 days should be seen by a doctor

Temp seems fine to me tbh.

Anything above 38.5 i would be starting to worry about, and stripping off clothes and switching on fans.