How to Dress Your Baby with Fever at Night
It’s horrible seeing your little person feeling feverish and unwell. Even as a trained paediatrician I still feel so worried and sometimes unsure of what to do when my own kids are unwell, especially at night. Here's how to choose the right clothes when your baby has a fever. Here are our parents' top tips on how to dress you baby with fever.
Why Does Fever Happen?
It’s helpful to remember that when your little one has a fever their body is actively trying to make itself hot. It’s a natural (and pretty clever!) way for the body to become an unfriendly place for the bug, so we can get rid of it. This means they may shiver, look pale and even tell you they feel cold. Their hands and feet may be cool while the body and head is warm. Dressing you baby with fever in light breathable clothing and avoiding overheating will help reduce the fever and make them more comfortable.
Now, although cranking up the bodies internal thermostat up is a great way to help clear an infection, the body is often a little too, let’s say, enthusiastic in doing this. It can make us feel pretty rubbish in the mean time. So here’s a few natural ways to help calm your baby’s fever and help make them more comfortable.
Natural Ways to Reduce Fever
One of the things I’ve been surprised by is how much you can do with natural methods to reduce a fever, including choosing the right clothing! It’s a natural instinct to want to bundle them up in lots of warm cosy clothes when unwell, but actually the medical advice is to do exactly the opposite!
Dress in Light Natural Fabric
When choosing how to dress your baby with a fever it is best to select light clothing made of breathable natural fabrics like cotton. Keep the environment cool and stick to one or two layers depending on the time of year. Avoid heavy blankets, sleep suits and swaddles, including in the car, while they have a fever.
What Else Can Reduce Fever?
In addition to choosing light breathable clothing keeping the room your baby in cool. Do this by opening a window and reducing the heating (depending on local climate) can also help to keep your little one comfortable.
Offer regular drinks of cool water or juice. Treat with paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen where the fever is causing discomfort.
Doctors no longer recommend ice water baths and placing wet towels or cloths on babies and young children. This can make the body temperature unstable and can actually worsen a fever.
Take Homes
So while your little one is unwell with a fever, keep clothing light, breathable. Along with choosing the right clothing, keep the room cool, offer regular drinks to stay hydrated, and treat with paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed. Get medical advice if you have concerns about your baby's health.
We hope you found this article useful. Did you know that the Poppet community is a great place to find more helpful tips and resources for your family as well as flexible childcare from local parents and approved providers, all at the touch of a button. Register here today!
And here’s a list of other great resources to keep your family healthy and well
https://www.healthychildren.org/
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/childhood-illnesses
https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/first-aid-advice/paediatric-first-aid/
https://firstaidchampions.redcross.org.uk/primary/first-aid-skills/
https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/183/parent-hub
https://www.savethechildren.org/
Disclaimer: This article is for education purposes and does not constitute medical advice. You should seek advice from a trained medical professional if you have concerns about your child’s health
Written by Poppet Blogs
