Your first urge would be to go to a pediatrician when your baby has a cold or fever. However, mild colds and fevers are common so you don't need to visit a doctor, just some management at home. Below are some information and techniques about managing colds and fevers and to let you know when it's time to call a doctor.
Doctors don't really consider under 100F to be a fever, but if you're baby is under 2 months old then you should seek medical treatment. There's no need to panic if the fever doesn't go above 102F, but you do need to treat it if your baby is having problems sleeping or feeling uncomfortable. However, if you notice your baby having purple spots on the skin, showing signs of dehydration like dry lips or infrequent urination, or whose temperature reached 105, then you should immediately seek medical attention.
If you want to keep your baby cool and treat the mild fever, give them a tepid bath or use compresses. Dress your baby loosely and try to ignore the old wives tale of keeping them bundled up. Keep a watch on your baby and feed her/him plenty of fluids. Unless your baby is unable to sleep, you should try to avoid using over the counter medications. It's best to let the body do it's job because fever is its way of fighting infection.
Rest is the best treatment for minor colds. But unless you treat the cold symptoms, your child may not rest comfortably. When it comes to relieving congestion, you can use vaporizers or add vapor treatments in the bath. If your baby is really uncomfortable, only then can you try to use over the counter medication. For guidelines about the dosage, read the bottle or follow your doctor's advice and go by weight, not age.
If the colds hadn't resolve themselves in a week or so, then it's time to look for signs of an ear infection. Signs of ear infection includes tossing and turning while trying to sleep, tugging the ears, or crying when lying down. Take your child to the doctor if you noticed him having these symptoms. Ear infections are very painful and recognizing them in young children is difficult.
Ask your pediatrician when you should call or come in and listen to his recommendations for treating colds and fevers. But if there's a real problem, trust your instincts and don't hesitate to call your doctor.
Doctors don't really consider under 100F to be a fever, but if you're baby is under 2 months old then you should seek medical treatment. There's no need to panic if the fever doesn't go above 102F, but you do need to treat it if your baby is having problems sleeping or feeling uncomfortable. However, if you notice your baby having purple spots on the skin, showing signs of dehydration like dry lips or infrequent urination, or whose temperature reached 105, then you should immediately seek medical attention.
If you want to keep your baby cool and treat the mild fever, give them a tepid bath or use compresses. Dress your baby loosely and try to ignore the old wives tale of keeping them bundled up. Keep a watch on your baby and feed her/him plenty of fluids. Unless your baby is unable to sleep, you should try to avoid using over the counter medications. It's best to let the body do it's job because fever is its way of fighting infection.
Rest is the best treatment for minor colds. But unless you treat the cold symptoms, your child may not rest comfortably. When it comes to relieving congestion, you can use vaporizers or add vapor treatments in the bath. If your baby is really uncomfortable, only then can you try to use over the counter medication. For guidelines about the dosage, read the bottle or follow your doctor's advice and go by weight, not age.
If the colds hadn't resolve themselves in a week or so, then it's time to look for signs of an ear infection. Signs of ear infection includes tossing and turning while trying to sleep, tugging the ears, or crying when lying down. Take your child to the doctor if you noticed him having these symptoms. Ear infections are very painful and recognizing them in young children is difficult.
Ask your pediatrician when you should call or come in and listen to his recommendations for treating colds and fevers. But if there's a real problem, trust your instincts and don't hesitate to call your doctor.
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