Fever / High Temperature
If a baby is less than 3 months old and has a fever, it’s more likely to be from a serious infection than if an older child had a fever. So, if your baby under 3 months has a temperature higher than 38°C (100.4°F), you should take them to see a healthcare professional straight away. The only time you don't need to do this is if they get a fever within 48 hours after their vaccinations. In that case, you can give them paracetamol if they seem fine otherwise, without needing to see a doctor.
How to take your baby’s temperature:
To check your baby’s temperature, place the thermometer under their armpit. Hold their arm close to their body to keep the thermometer in place for as long as the instructions say—usually about 15 seconds. Some digital thermometers will beep when they’re done. Don’t check their temperature on the forehead or in the ear, as it won’t be accurate for young children.
Please see Red-Amber-Green tables for advice on when and where to seek care for your child.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
- Temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)
- Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
- Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)
- Breathing that stops or pauses
- Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
- Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
- Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
- Has a fit (seizure)
- Has a rash that does not disappear with pressure (perform the glass test)
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or call 999 - dial 999
If your child has any of the following:
- Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
- Dry skin, lips or tongue
- Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
- Poor feeding (less than half of their usual amount)
- Irritable (Unable to settle them with cuddles, toys or feeding)
- Getting worse and I am still worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111.
If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.
If none of the above features are present
- Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
- If your child has any other symptoms associated with their fever, you may want to look at the information on sore throat, cough, earache, diarrhoea and vomiting or tummy ache or our other pathways
- Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies
- If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, speak to your health visitor, local pharmacist or call NHS 111– dial 111. Keep monitoring your child for red and amber features and seek help if they develop.
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Advice and Guidance
Self care and Prevention
You can give paracetamol to children who are two months old or older for pain or fever (but only give ibuprofen if they are over three months old). However, if a baby under 3 months has a fever, it could mean they have a serious infection, so they should see a health care professional right away. The only time you don’t need to do this is if they get a fever within 48 hours after their vaccinations. In that case, it’s OK to give them paracetamol if they seem fine otherwise.
If your baby gets a rash, do the glass test to check it.
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