8 weeks old temperature 37.9

[san2018]

For the last week my LO temperature has bern going from 36 degrees to 37.9 degrees. I measure it every hour and it’s never the same. We took him to hospital and they did a blood test and a urine test which were both fine. Than the doctor said it’s fine, it can be normal unless it reaches 38 degrees celsius. But in my opinion its not much of a difference between 37.9 and 38. He’s 8 weeks.
Has anyone had any similar experience? Please need some help here

Anything below 38 is normal. 38 or above is a fever
measuring every hour seems a little much. If your baby’s has dirty and wet nappies and is generally them selves then likely they are ok.

Why are you taking his temperature every hour?

My advice is you just need to put the thermometer away.

I would only take a child's temperature if I had a suspicion they had a fever. Is he presenting with any other symptoms?

What kind of thermometer are you using? Apparently the cheap underarm ones are best at that age.

If you're worried, take him to GP as he's so little. Bronchiolitis is very common at this time of year. I had to take my son in to hospital twice with a fever before he was 3 months - Dr told me they'd rather check babies out if they have a fever and often send to hospital for tests (some can be unpleasant unfortunately).

Unless there's other worrying symptoms you haven't mentioned, ie a sinister looking rash, unusual cough, etc, I think you should put the thermometer away.

As you say, there's no fever, and blood and urine tests have come back normal, so what is your concern here? Is baby screaming a lot, for example?

First aid taught us to remove baby's clothes so they are lightly dressed such as nappy and cotton singlet to help lower a mild fever. It's very easy to worry about your newborn baby, totally normal. Make sure baby is comfortable, feeding normally and having usual amount of wet nappies. Make sure the room temperature is a comfortable temperature. If you have the heater going make sure the room doesn't get too hot. Young babies can't regulate their own body temperature very well yet so check baby isn't too cold by placing your hand on their tummy. Tummy should be warm not cold. If baby's tummy is cold add more clothes. Hands and feet can be warm or cold to the touch so is not as reliable indicator as the tummy is. If your baby becomes pale and floppy call an ambulance as that is an emergency. Hope you and baby are well. Try not to worry too much and look after yourself too. Eat well, have a nap while baby is napping so you get a rest too.

Personally I’d take your baby right back to a children’s a and e immediately. A temp that high is a massive red flag in a baby so young.
Please go. If they are well nothing is lost but a bit of time. If they aren’t then you risk them dying as little babies can deteriorate fast.

www.westsuffolkccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/NICE-CG-160-Feverish-Illness-in-Children-Toolkit-080813-Final.pdf

As you point out 37.9 is nearly 38 and 38 is a red flag in the nhs’s Own guidance. Please go to a and e immediately.

And I would be asking them did the blood test show any signs of infection (white blood cells raised)?
If it did I would refuse to leave until they had checked out everything including baby’s heart and lungs.

There has to be a cut off point though. So there has to be a point where the temp is normal then 0.1 degrees higher is a fever.

If your baby feels hot, is lethargic, crying excessively, not feeding, breathing changes, or you're worried in anyway then of course get him checked but if all he has is occasional temp of 37.9 then I don't think you need to worry.

What thermometer are you using? Even in hospitals you would only check someone's temperature every 4 hours so I wouldn't check it more than that. It will vary hugely depending on so many variables

Jo - that advice would hold if he was over 3 months but I simply do not agree when he is 8 weeks.
Drs do not give an 8 week old a blood test unless they have some concern.
Young babies should not have temperatures - end of. If they do it’s usually serious.

Ps am assuming of course that he’s not just had his 8 week vaccinations?!

I took him twice to a&e and both times they said its fine. The blood test didn't show any sign of infection and neither did the urine test. And that's why they discharged us. And he doesn't have any other symptom, feeding well, enough wet diapers. But as you said 37.9 is not too far from 38 which is absolutely a red flag. Thats why I was so concerned and didn't know what to do. His immunisation is due this week

And I would like to thank you all so much for your responses!!

Forgot to say that I have 4 thermometers and measured it any possible way lol

Forgot to say that I have 4 thermometers and measured it any possible way lol

Frankly a lot of the variation is probably down to that. It makes the data totally meaningless.

Stop taking your baby's temperature unless other indications suggest a fever. There does not appear to be anything wrong with him.

But as you said 37.9 is not too far from 38 which is absolutely a red flag

But it's not 38. Even at its highest, it's below 38. Thresholds are not flexible.

Redskyandrainbows sorry but the child has already been checked over by medical professionals.

If you take a babies temperature every hour you will see fluctuations, and this baby isn't actually hitting the 'fever' temperature.

For all we know it's just hot because it's wrapped up well.
Or the OP is incorrectly using a digital thermometer and getting false readings.
Or the baby just naturally fluctuates

Whatever is going on an otherwise well baby doesn't need it's temperature taking (hourly or otherwise), and even with an 8 week old baby you would give calpol first with a 'temp' of 37.9 and then seek medical advice if that didn't bring it down.

It took me so long to write that OP that I cross posted.

You still haven't said why you are taking his temperature every hour. What is it that is concerning you?

san2018 I'm glad he is showing no other symptoms is feeding well and has usual amount of wet nappies, that's a good sign. Keep monitoring him but try not to become too worried. Make sure you are taking care of yourself too. Have you got people who can support you? I'm not in the UK so was just wondering if you have a hotline for parents to talk to a nurse or a midwife. If there is a medical professional you can call it might give you piece of mind. Take care and congratulations on your baby, you sound like a great mum

I just googled the following helpline info for you if you are in the UK.

NHS 111
NHS 111 is much more than a helpline – if you're worried about an urgent medical concern, you can call 111 to speak to a fully trained adviser.
Depending on the situation, the NHS 111 team can connect you to a nurse, emergency dentist or even a GP, and can arrange face-to-face appointments if they think you need one.
NHS 111 advisers can also assess if you need an ambulance and send one immediately if necessary.

I spoke to the NHS 111 two days ago and basically they said the same thing, they don't consider it a fever unless it hits 38 :/
I keep measuring it because sometimes he feels hot and I don't want to miss it if it goes 38, because that can be dangerous for my so little one. (My family lives abroad and I only have some friends here in uk)
Once again thank you all for your support! 🙏🏻

OP, sorry but that level of anxiety is not healthy or normal.

You have been told by NHS111 he doesn't need to see anyone. They literally send everyone to a&e usually!

You have been to a&e twice with a perfectly well baby and subjected him to uncessesary blood tests.

If your baby is unwell he will have more symptoms than just feeling a bit hot. You won't miss it.

You need to speak with someone in real life about how you are feeling my love, please speak to the health visitor or your GP because this level of vigilance will destroy your mental health.

What pastabest said. And checking hourly with FOUR different thermometers is going to make the readings complete gibberish. Your baby is going to end up with a whole raft of unnecessary tests and maybe hospitalisations unless you STOP.

Pasta. But she’s his mum and she’s concerned. Writing women off as ‘anxious’ is horribly sexist and very damaging.
Drs can and do it get wrong. In my own case for example (I was laughed at for being an anxious mum but my baby actually had a heart problem).
Op - I would consider what they’ve managed to rule out by the tests and what possibilities it could be.
Ultimately trust your own instincts above everything else.

Tympanic membrane thermometers or forehead scanners are not recommended for very young babies. Tempa Dots are more accurate. If your baby has had a septic screen with blood and urine taken and is feeding well with no other symptoms then it is highly unlikely anything is wrong. Stop measuring it! At the very least talk your concerns over with a GP and don’t rely on Mumsnet for clinical advice. For support it’s fair enough but not for anything further.