what do you do with a toddler with a fever?

How to Ease a High Fever in Toddlers
By David P Fishman



A fever can be alarming thing for a parent to have to deal with. Often a high fever in toddlers can spring out of nowhere and reach alarming heights.

What can you do to help ease the fever?
When should you contact your doctor?
You might find some answers to these questions in just a bit.

Remember, I am not a doctor, and my advice should not be heeded in place of a professional opinion.

So your toddler is looking flushed, his or her forehead is warm, and you decide to take their temperature. If the readout is anything higher than 98.6F, then it's warm above average, and anything above 100F qualifies as a fever. If the fever is above 101F, you should call your doctor. Remember that to take the temperature of children under the age of 8, the rectal method should be used. Be sure to use vaseline to avoid discomfort.

If the readout is higher than normal, but your doctor just tells you to wait it out until the fever breaks, there are a number of different strategies than can be used to help bring down a high fever in toddlers.

1. Give the child a lukewarm bath. This is to bring the entire body temperature down. Bathe their forehead with the water.
2. Place a cool damp cloth on the forehead and limbs of the toddler.
3. Liquids, Liquids, and more Liquids! I'm sure you've heard "starve a fever". That doesn't apply to liquids. If the toddler is sweating a lot, or vomiting, then the liquids should have electrolytes.
4. Remember that the fever is the body's efforts to fight something wrong inside the body. In most cases, it's appropriate to just let the fever run its course and wait for it to break. Always remember to consult your doctor about anything you do.

Check out my blog for some great other resources for parents of toddlers: http://wisefish99blog.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_P_Fishman

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