Often, parents become anxious to find that their infant has a temperature of 37 degrees or even higher. Elevated temperature is perceived as a sign of illness, it seems that the baby requires mandatory and immediate treatment.
An increase in temperature in a very young child is indeed a sign of a viral disease and, along with other symptoms, can warn parents that their baby needs medical attention, but there are other reasons for the increase in temperature. Slightly elevated, compared with adults, the temperature is 37 degrees or slightly higher:37.1 - 37.5 - not considered by paediatricians as something seriousif there are no other signs of the disease: the child is active, has a good appetite, is not restless and eats well.
This body temperature is due to the fact that the mechanisms of heat transfer in infants are still imperfect and continue to form up to a year after the birth of the baby.
37 ºC - normal or not
In crumbs up to 6 months, body temperature changes as follows:
- A few minutes after the birth of the baby, the body temperature is about 38 degrees;
- After 5-6 hours, the temperature decreases, but during the first few weeks of life remains unstable. In many ways, it depends on the temperature of the room where the baby is;
- During the first five to six months of life in a newborn baby, a temperature of 37 degrees is not considered a disease.
Of great importance is the method of measuring the temperature in a newborn. Measuring the temperature with an ordinary thermometer is not so simple. Optimal use:
- A nipple thermometer, which makes it possible to measure the temperature of even a sleeping child, without unnerving it.
- An ear thermometer (it measures the temperature in the ear canal and provides a very quick result).
- Rectally. At the same time, the child can lie on his stomach on his knees in adults, as well as on his side. The tip of the thermometer needs to be greased with cream and carefully introduced into the baby’s butt. During this procedure, the child should remain motionless, his buttocks must be squeezed, the legs and arms must be carefully held to avoid active movements.
A very detailed article on methods of measuring temperature and on choosing thermometers -https://kid.htgetrid.com/en/uhod-za-rebenkom/kak-novorozhdennomu-rebenku-pomerit-temperaturu-gde-luchshe-izmeryat-i-kakim-termometrom.html
What to do
External factors are of great importance to the temperature of a small child:
- The temperature in the room greatly affects the body temperature of the crumbs. If it is stuffy, hot, it is enough to ventilate so that the crumbs do not overheat;
- No need to wrap the child, put on too much clothing. Excessive warm clothing on the child contributes to its overheating. The same applies to cases of a child’s illness: it is impossible to wrap a baby at a temperature even slightly above normal;
- The body temperature of a sleeping baby will always be lower than a baby who is not sleeping and is actively moving. This is the main difference between this condition of the baby from the high temperature, the cause of which was a viral disease;
- The baby's body temperature may be higher during a scream.
If the temperature is elevated, you need to call a doctor and get advice, as well as observe the behavior of the baby. If such a child looks sick (lethargic, has no appetite, is capricious, does not sleep well), you should immediately seek medical help.
What to do if a baby is sick? At such a tender age, you can’t give anything horrible, and most drugs have a long list of contraindications and side effects. Parents are at a loss: is it really necessary to give him such terrible drugs to cure the baby? Now there is a simple solution: Oscillococcinum. It is designed taking into account the characteristics of the children's body. It can be given from birth, the drug has no side effects and brings maximum benefit.
Output:
The body temperature of a newborn is 37 ºC, this is quite normal!
BUT, if you see that the child is sluggish, consult a pediatrician.
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I liked the article very much, it is of great importance especially for young mothers. I measured the temperature with an ordinary thermometer, like in adults. I was afraid that the thermometer in the ass could harm my daughter, and now I learned that there is a safe nipple thermometer. I will advise my young girlfriends to purchase this particular thermometer. Thank you for the article
Please tell me, I got sick - I’ve got a cold. A breast-fed child ... measured the temperature 37. 5 (in a child) what should I do?
the child is the seventh month in the morning the temperature is 37.1 37.2 and in the evening 37.3 37.4 it’s normal no, you can bathe the child and the doctor says before measuring the temperature you first need to ventilate the armpit and blow it correctly