Quick ways to reduce fever in babies without medication should be done so that the baby does not become more fussy, and even prevent complications such as seizures. Some of these methods can be done by breastfeeding, giving warm compresses, and bathing the baby with warm water.
A baby is said to have a fever when his/her body temperature reaches 38°C or more. This condition is a reaction of his/her immune system when fighting a virus or bacteria infection that causes disease. However, a fever can also occur after your little one has undergone immunization or is teething .
Fever usually makes your little one more fussy than usual, has difficulty sleeping, and even refuses to breastfeed. Moms can do a quick way to reduce fever in babies without medication at home , before taking your little one to the doctor.
Various Quick Ways to Reduce Fever in Babies Without Medication
Fever usually subsides on its own within 2 days. However, treating fever in babies as soon as symptoms occur should be done so that the condition does not drag on and the little one feels comfortable.
Here are some quick ways to reduce fever in babies without medication that you can do:
1. Get enough fluids
When feverish, your little one’s body will release more fluids through sweat as an effort to lower body temperature. If more fluids come out than enter the body, this condition can increase the risk of dehydration.
To prevent dehydration and as a quick way to reduce fever in babies without medication, make sure that you provide your little one with sufficient fluid intake by giving him breast milk or formula.
In addition, the nutritional content in breast milk can also help your little one’s body fight infections that cause fever. That way, your little one’s fever will quickly subside.
2. Wear comfortable clothes
When your little one has a fever, make sure you don’t wear clothes that are layered or too thick. These clothes will prevent your little one’s body from releasing heat and make it more difficult for the fever to subside.
As a quick way to lower a baby’s fever without medication, dress your little one in comfortable, not too thick clothing. That way, your little one’s body temperature will also drop.
However, if your little one starts shivering, you can cover him with a thin cloth or blanket.
3. Apply a warm compress
When your little one is sleeping, you can give a warm compress as one of the quick ways to reduce fever in babies without medication. To do this, you can soak a clean cloth or towel in warm water, then place it on your little one’s forehead for 10-15 minutes.
To be more effective, you can also compress the folds of your little one’s body, such as the armpits, neck, or thighs. That way, your little one’s fever can quickly subside.
4. Bathe with warm water
In addition to giving a warm compress, bathing your little one with warm water can also be one of the quick ways to reduce fever in babies without medication. The warm temperature of the water used to bathe your little one is effective in lowering body temperature while making his body more relaxed.
However, when bathing your little one who has a fever, make sure the water used is warm enough, not too hot and not too cold. Using water that is too cold will increase your little one’s body temperature and make them shiver. Meanwhile, using water that is too hot can cause your little one to get hurt or get burned.
5. Keep the room temperature cool
The next quick way to lower fever in babies without medication is to keep the temperature of your little one’s bedroom cool. If the room temperature feels hot, you can open the window or turn on the air conditioner, such as an AC or fan, at low speed.
This method will protect your little one from hot air temperatures that can worsen his fever. However, make sure you don’t direct the AC or fan directly at your little one’s body so that he doesn’t get cold.
Those are some quick ways to lower a baby’s fever without medication that Mom or Dad can do at home. If after trying the various methods above but the baby’s fever does not go down or gets worse within 24 hours, even accompanied by a skin rash , vomiting, diarrhea , shortness of breath, and seizures, immediately take your little one to the doctor .
The doctor will perform several examinations to determine the severity and cause of the fever that your little one is experiencing. After that, the doctor will provide treatment, including how to quickly reduce fever in babies without medication or with medication that is appropriate to your little one’s condition.