Younger babies, especially newborns, are much more susceptible to illness because their immune systems are still developing and strengthening. Many illnesses cause a fever to develop in children, making it a valuable marker for evaluating your child's health. Other symptoms might also accompany the fever, giving you more information to help you or your doctor determine the cause of fever.
Skin Test
The first step in checking for a fever is to feet the warmth of your infant's skin. The best place to do this is the forehead. Use the back of your hand or put your lips next to your baby's forehead and compare its warmth to normal conditions. If it seems warmer than usual, a good chance exists that your baby has developed a fever.
Taking Your Child's Temperature
Most babies have their body temperature taken through rectal readings, which are more reliable and less dangerous than placing a thermometer in the baby's mouth. According to the website BabyCenter, a healthy baby's internal temperature should be between 97 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. If your child's temperature is above this range, your child has a fever.
Other Symptoms
Different symptoms might develop depending on the reason the fever has developed. Small, purplish spots, or large purple blotches, can indicate an infection. Difficulty breathing could suggest a respiratory condition. Other symptoms can include flushed skin, lethargy, persistent crying, rash, neck stiffness, diarrhea and vomiting.
Considerations
When in doubt, take the temperature of your baby or call your doctor to discuss the illness. Fever is much more threatening to children under 3 months of age, so be especially cautious with newborns. Be aware of your child's activity level prior to taking their body temperature -- active infants are much more likely to have a higher temperature than resting babies. It is normal for temperatures to rise in the late afternoon and early evening, according to BabyCenter, so bear that in mind when evaluating your child's temperature.
