Help please - 3 week old baby temp 35.5

[maloney123]

Hello
Please could someone give me some advice, my baby has been sleepy today and we have just taken her temperature and it’s only 35.5. The midwife told me that anything under 36.4 is concerning. I’ve been worried about her overheating but now I’m scared that her temperature is too low? She’s in a vest, sleep suit, and 0.5 tog sleeping bag. Should I be concerned? Thank you so much x

Is she cold to touch? Have you got a different thermometer that you could try (I'm only saying that as our ear thermometer always says 35 even if there's a raging temperature)? is she feeding normally?I think it would be unlikely that she has a temp that low but if you think the thermometer is accurate I think you would need medical help

What type of thermometer are you using? Does it read low if you take your own temperature with it?

If she seems fine in herself then it's probably a faulty thermometer or user error. Is she hard to wake or just sleeping? I'd expect a 3 week old to sleep a lot(I've had 3)

It’s a digital one and we took her temperature underarm. I’ve got a bug so I’m keeping away but I will ask DH to take his. I’ve told him to wrap her up more and check again in half an hour. She’s waking up now and feeding better but it’s just so worrying isn’t it

Underarm temps do tend to be up to a degree lower than under tongue (impossible in a newborn), and two degrees lower than rectal (possible, but unpleasant in a newborn (or anyone)).

Be careful not to overheat her with more clothes, she can't moderate her own temp yet and it's far more dangerous to make a baby too warm, than to let them get a bit cold (as in, let the room/surroundings get too cold, not their internal body temp).

I'd recommend retaking hers, and then taking DH's. If his is lower than normal under arm, I wouldn't worry. If his is normal, then I'd be tempted to call 111. NOT because I think there's anything wrong (it's far more likely to be user error) but just due to the link between low temp and more serious illness.

Luckily I didn't have a thermometer when my DC were young. All I can say is that you should go on how your child is. Are they eating, drinking, engaging, communicating, having wet and dirty nappies? Do they feel normal temp if you touch their chest and back?
All the above means that your baby is probably well.

Is your thermometer ok? Did you try it on yourself or your partner and does it show ok reading? It seems a bit low if correct, I would want to check that the thermometer is measuring correctly, skin to skin baby on chest with you or your partner can also help to adjust the baby's temp if low, alternatively I would call 111 for advise if temp shows correctly low on correctly working thermometer..

DH reading is 36 and he said he’s really warm he’s in just a t shirt, so maybe the thermometer runs low?

She’s eating and pooing etc okay and back of her neck feels warm

I’d say if she feels ok to the touch, eating and pooing/weeing like normal she’s probably fine.

Just as a side note; we had one of those underarm thermometers and found it unreliable. We swapped to one of the forehead scanners instead and that’s been a lot more accurate

That’s a great idea I’m ordering one now!

I think the thermometer may be iffy, I’ve just checked three times and had theee different readings!

Was your little one born prematurely by any chance? My DS was four weeks early and could regulate his temperature so we ended up back in hospital (his temp was 35.9). He seemed to be absolutely fine, feeding and sleeping well, but they kept us in for a few days to do some blood cultures and make sure there’s no underlying infections. There was nothing wrong with him and he started regulating his temp whilst in hospital, I just wanted to say once you have a correct reading if you still find her temp low I think it’s worth to get it checked out, they’re so little. Although I’m sure she’s absolutely fine ☺️