Watching your child suffer from a fever is never a pleasant experience. Fortunately, we’re here to show you some simple ways to bring their fever down at home.
Remove their clothing
The first step to bringing a fever down is to reduce your child’s clothing. This helps them adjust to room temperature, which gives them a chance to cool naturally. If your child is lying on your sofa, consider placing a thin sheet beneath them so they can stay cool. When the time comes for them to wear clothes, dress them in light outfits using a breathable material such as cotton.
Open the windows
If it’s hot indoors and there’s a gentle breeze outside, open the windows to lower your child’s fever. However, if it’s too cold, try using your HVAC or a fan instead. Introducing extremes of temperature may cause a negative feedback loop where their brain raises the fever further. In contrast, a balanced temperature will nudge their fever down gently and avoid that negative feedback loop.
Adjust your home’s temperature
During the winter, turn down your central heating and bring the room to a stable temperature. This is especially important if your child’s bed or your sofa is close to a heater as it may exacerbate their fever. If you use a smart home device that allows you to control the temperature throughout your home, make sure it remains cool in the room your child is in.
Paracetamol reduces the number of prostaglandins in your child’s body, which then resets their thermostat in their hypothalamus. Always follow instructions carefully and only ever use an age-appropriate dose and type. If your child is very young, you may find that they’re more receptive to paracetamol when it’s given in a liquid form.
As an alternative to paracetamol, ibuprofen will also reduce the prostaglandins in your child’s body. If your doctor advised you to do so, you may be able to alternate between paracetamol and ibuprofen for the best effect. Be wary of using Ibuprofen is your child is asthmatic, as it’s not usually safe to do so without the guidance of a medical professional.
Use a Fevermates patch
Fevermates cooling patches adhere to your child’s head and provide them with symptomatic relief. The cooling effects last for up to eight hours, making them perfect for regulating temperatures at night. The cooling effect acts as a welcome relief, making it easier for them to feel comfortable. Each patch is the right size for tiny foreheads and it’s as easy to remove them as it is to apply them.
Give them cool fluids
A fever can make your child dehydrated and a lack of hydration may worsen the fever. To avoid this cycle, make sure they sip on clear and cool fluids. As an alternative, you can try giving them ice pops to maintain hydration. If your child is suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea alongside their fever, ask your doctor about giving them an oral rehydration solution.
Give a lukewarm bath
Although it’s no longer recommended that you place children in a cool shower to lower a fever, a lukewarm bath can help. Make sure you test the temperature of the bath with your elbow to ensure it’s neither too hot nor too cold. Alternatively, you can use a lukewarm shower to cool them down if you’re sure you can maintain the temperature settings.
With a gentle approach and some simple tactics, reducing your child’s fever is easy. If you become concerned about them, always seek medical advice.
Monitor their temperature continuously
We want to make sure your little one is monitored the whole time when they are sick. But we know how hard it can be to use a thermometer on them! Try our FeverMates! A convenient, fuss free stick-on fever and temperature indicators. They will allow you to monitor your childs temperature for up to 48hrs. Plus your kids will love them!