The body maintains a constant internal temperature of around 98.6 F when healthy. An oral temperature above 99.5 F or a rectal temperature exceeding 100.4 F indicates the presence of a fever. A high temperature is the body's way of fending off an infection. Seek medical advice if your child exhibits other symptoms like vomiting, headache, sore throat, rashes or other signs of illness.
Warm Bath
A warm bath often reduces a child's fever. Draw a bath of lukewarm water rather than cold water. While cold water seems like the best option for reducing the core temperature, it will make your child shiver and give her the chills. Her body temperature won't go down but she will feel cold, making her more uncomfortable. The temperature-reducing effect may not last long unless you combine this method with a fever-reducing medication that can help keep the temperature down. Never add rubbing alcohol to the bath, as it also lowers the skin temperature, but not the core temperature. A sponge bath with warm water is an alternative if your child doesn't want to completely submerge herself.
Breathable Clothing
Your child may feel chilly with a fever, but loading up on clothes and blankets won't help his temperature drop. FamilyDoctor.org recommends a pair of lightweight cotton pajamas for a comfortable outfit that allows the body to breathe. Heavy clothing paired with heavy blankets hold in the heat, making it difficult for your child's temperature to lower. Provide a lightweight blanket for your child if he complains of feeling cold. Otherwise, keep the layers light and breathable.
Hydration
Keep your child hydrated to aid in lowering the temperature and avoiding more complications with dehydration. If your child won't drink plain water, try electrolyte replacement drinks, broth-based soups or frozen ice pops to get fluids into her body. If your child feels up to eating, offer her foods high in water like fruit to continue hydrating the body.
Temperature
The room temperature also plays a role in how quickly you child's fever breaks. Like the bath water, you don't want the room temperature to fall too low or your child will shiver and keep his core temperature higher. A thermostat set high makes it difficult for your child to cool down. Aim for a room temperature between 70 F and 74 F, according to FamilyDoctor.org. A cool-mist humidifier can also help cool and moisten the environment. The moisture helps other symptoms your child may experience with the fever, such as congestion or dry nasal passages.
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