5week old baby has temp of 37.3, very fussy. Is this normal?

[Maggie90]

As the title says, my almost 6 week old baby feels very hot and has a temperature of 37.3C. He is quite unsettled but is happy as long as I am cuddling him.

He is drinking milk and having wet nappies. This happened a couple of weeks ago too. Very unsettled and temp went up to 37.4C.

Should I be worried, Would you be? I have read everywhere that 38.0C is when you should be concerned but 37.5C is a mild fever.

I can’t really think of what it could be. We are in all the time so not a virus.

Anybody had any experience of this is newborns?

Please call 111.

Please call 111 OP, don’t wait for strangers on the internet to give you a diagnosis. Hope your little one is feeling better soon

Call 111 you never risk it with such young babies as they can deteriorate very very quickly.

Any medic will tell you they would always prefer to see small children even if you’re not sure, even if something just doesn’t “feel right”. They’d far rather send away 99 parents with perfectly well babies than miss seeing the 1 baby who needed to be seen and wasn’t. Trust your instincts and call 111

Call 111 but also take heed from my anecdote - I called 111 in the early hours with an irritable sleepy 4 month old. I told them his temp had climb from 36.5 to 37.8 within a few hours but I was told it's not a fever until it's 38.5. This is wrong. He was admitted that morning with a severe UTI and fever (temp 38.3). You know your child best. Get them seen in person if you have any concerns.

I wouldn’t class 37.5 or even 38 as anything to worry about, it’s not much of a fever, but if the baby isn’t them self and is fussy you could get them checked. Nobody would blame you being cautious with a baby, I’ve always been told by medical staff they would rather people potentially waste their time to be on the safe side.

I've had 3 babies. I would ring 111 if you're concerned but I doubt they'll even see you as 37.3 isn't even a fever, unless there are other worrying symptoms? Definitely ring and let them decide though!

If the baby is crying he/she will get hot. That's not a fever. Put baby in a vest and nappy as it's rather warm tonight. If you are concerned call someone for reassurance however I'd not be worried.

Personally I wouldn’t worry, that’s not a fever and it’s a hot night (our bedroom is boiling). But If you feel something isn’t right call 111 to be on the safe side.

I found Dd did this a lot when little and still does. After driving myself crackers I have concluded that like her dad she runs hot and goes hot very quickly. He is the first seen standing outside at any large gathering. She is the same.

I think when not hot she is still about 37 and I am 36.4. I was a temperature taking demon.

As others say though when so little always call if you are worried or something doesn't feel right.

Yes definitely check with 111

Ring for advice but also see this https://www.nhsinform.scot/self-help-guides/self-help-guide-fever-in-babies

Also op, all of mine began with colicky symptoms at 5/6 weeks, all after being nice and calm to start with, dd especially was awful with it. She'd start after tea about 6 and would scream till she was purple and sweaty, with me doing everything to help her. Had her checked out obviously and was assured she was fine. She was. It continued every night for weeks until it miraculously stopped.

That's not a fever - it's within normal body temperature range.. The behaviour you're describing sounds very normal for this age baby. Babies this age just want to be held! My 4.5 week old is exactly the same, for most of the day every day! I can't get anything done .

You know your baby best though and I would say trust your instincts. But it doesn't sound at all strange to me

What is he wearing? One layer should be plenty in this weather, assuming you're in UK?

I never found that thermometer readings were very accurate at that age. They're so wriggly and everywhere is so tiny. So, if she feels very hot to the touch and you're not happy with how she's acting, that's more important than the precise reading you're getting on the thermometer and you wouldn't be unreasonable to get advice from 111. I'm sure she's fine though - hope she's herself again soon!

Bah - he!!! Sorry, mine is a girl so I was projecting wildly.

Please get medical attention immediately, my dd was 5 weeks old when she seemed fussy with temp also was taking milk and wet nappies and honestly didn't seem overly poorly, that changed within 20 minutes of getting to a&e turned out she had meningitis

Sorry my dd temp was very high though

Both mine went through a fussy stage when they reached 5 weeks . As far as I remember they go through a development leap at this stage so it’s more this likely that !
37.3 is not a fever BUT mine would have a normal temp of 36.6 so I would always know they would be coming down with something with a slightly raised temp like that .
Ring 111 for advice as baby is so young but hopefully it’s just a leap !

Thankyou for all replies.

He’s been asleep for a couple of hours now. I’m going to see how he is when he wakes up. I think I’ll probably give 111 a call just to get some reassurance.

His temp is now 37.0C but he’s been stripped down to nappy. At least it’s not going up.

It’s so worrying having such a little one. I’m a bit of a worrier anyway so never know if I’m over reacting or not.

It's the most terrifying time of your life when they're so little, but you're doing great, OP. He'll be bigger and less terrifyingly fragile before you know it!

My two are both May babies and we definitely had nights where they got worked up in an already hot house and ended up totally overheated. I slept downstairs on a futon a lot with dd1 because upstairs was just boiling.

Thankyou so much! I feel less stupid now.

I have made a promise to myself not to google anymore. It’s the devil!!

How is your little one today @Maggie90?