How to reduce fever in children naturally can be done by parents before seeing a doctor. However, parents need to pay attention to several things before doing so.
Fever is a natural response of the body’s immune system. If your little one’s body temperature rises, it is a sign that the child’s immune system is working well in fighting off viral or bacterial infections that cause disease. However, as parents, you must be worried if your little one’s body temperature starts to get hot.
Tips for Reducing Fever in Children
While following treatment from a pediatrician, Mom and Dad can also practice how to lower a child’s fever naturally to help relieve your little one’s body temperature. Some ways to lower a child’s fever naturally that can be done are:
- Drink plenty of water
When your little one has a fever, their body will try to cool itself by sweating. However, this can reduce body fluids, even to the point of dehydration. The higher your little one’s body temperature, the greater the risk of dehydration .
To prevent dehydration and reduce fever in children, parents can give their little ones plenty of drinking water. Not only water, your little one can also be given fruit juice , formula milk, breast milk, or soup.
- Cold compress
Placing a cloth or small towel soaked in cold water on your little one’s forehead can also be a natural way to reduce fever in children. In addition to the neck, parents can also put cold compresses on the chest, groin, wrists, or armpits.
But Mom and Dad need to remember, that cold compresses using ice, cold packs , or ice gel directly to the child’s skin will cause the child to shiver or can injure the skin. So try to compress using cold water or wrap ice in a towel.
- Shower or wipe with warm water
Bathing or wiping with warm water is one of the best ways to reduce fever in children naturally. Warm water can relax the body and muscles so that your little one can sleep better. While cold water can make your little one shiver and cause their body temperature to rise.
- Wear thin clothing
Avoid putting layers of clothing on your little one. It is better to give one layer of clothing that is quite thin to reduce the child’s heat naturally. If your little one is cold, give him a thin blanket until he feels warm again.
- Get enough rest
Equally important in lowering fever in children naturally is to let them get enough rest and sleep . Too much movement can increase your little one’s body temperature.
Fever to Watch Out For
Although it is called a natural reaction of the body in fighting infection, fever in children must still be watched out for. Immediately take your little one to the pediatrician or the nearest hospital if he/she is in the following conditions:
- Babies under 3 months old with a body temperature of 38°C or more
- Babies aged 3 months or older with a body temperature of 40°C for more than 24 hours
- Baby aged 3–6 months with a body temperature of 38.3°C
- Babies aged 6 months and over with a body temperature of 39.5°C
- Children under 2 years of age with fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Children aged 2 years or older with fever lasting more than 3 days
- Child’s body temperature reaches 40°C regardless of age
- Fever accompanied by other symptoms, such as coughing, loss of appetite, pulling ears, being more fussy, sleeping more or appearing sleepier, vomiting, diarrhea, pale or red skin, rash, infrequent or no urination, or difficulty breathing.
If you and your partner are still worried when your little one’s temperature rises, don’t hesitate to take him to the doctor . The doctor will help determine the cause of the child’s fever and provide appropriate treatment according to his age and condition.