3 year old with fever, any tips?

[N&B'smom]

My kids rarely get fevers. Never have I had a child with a fever and no other symptom. We're told it's viral and it will run it's course. In the meantime I have a very miserable 3 year old. She just took a nap (something she hasn't done since before she turned 1) and woke up with an even higher fever, 102.7. Even with Tylenol/Motrin it doesn't seem to be coming down all that much. She doesn't want to eat or anything. Anyone have any ideas on what we should do to make her feel at least a little better??

Shelby

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

When my little ones have gotten sick like this, I like to get in the bathtub with them and hold them. The lukewarm water helps the fever, and if I'm in there, too, it comforts them. The most important thing you can do is make sure your baby is drinking enough fluid.

Hope the fever goes away soon!

 

[piglet too]

I assume she has been looked at for ear and throat infections?

Just cuddle, watch TV and offer popsicles/ice pops to keep her fluid intake up. Does she have a favorite food? If she like pasta, make some of that and just leave it for her to nibble on.

 

[N&B'smom]

The Dr checked her out yesterday, checked her ears, throat, Strep test, etc - nothing was wrong. So, we're left just waiting.

Right now she doesn't want to eat anything. I'm going to see if there's anything she wants to snack on. She's had milk, orange juice, and water so far today. My mom is going to drop off a giant thing of another type of juice too.

This is so stressful!! I feel so badly for her. She's curled up on our couch watching Little Bear with a cool rag on her forehead.

Shelby

 

[piglet too]

I wish I could offer more advice. The most important thing is she is getting fluid. I know it is hard to see our babies so sick, but it sounds like she is resting well, and that is important too.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I actually ended up calling our ER after I could not get DD temp down for longer than an hour or 2 (around 102 temp). After talking to the Triage nurse she told me that I could piggy back alternating Motrin & Tylenol every 4hours (our Pediatrician backed this up as well). Cool baths will also help to bring down temp but may not be agreeable to the child if cranky/whiny. We do freeze pops, pink gingerale or regular gingerale (whichever the kid wants), toast, and chicken noodle soup if they are up to food (but will take requests and make anything they want within reason when they are sick ie: no candy diet). Couch is their territory and they can stay on it through the night with cartoons or a movie on till they are feeling better.

When mine are not themselves and I can see they are not feeling well, they are the boss and I take my cues from them....I will lay with them in our bed or on the couch to encourage them to try to nap.

Hope your little one feels better soon!

 

[hydster]

Aww sorry your child isn't feeling well..that's a real bummer.

I know when my kids have a fever I alternate between Tylenol and Motrin. It seems to help better for some reason and my ped told me to do it that way.

Another standby is the lukewarm bath but the water HAS to be lukewarm. If it's too cold it will reduce blood flow to the skin which causes the fever to go up not down. Give her some Tylenol about 30 min before you do the bath as it will help lower it quicker.

Keep her hydrated and just try to keep her as comfy as possible. Hope she feels better soon!

 

[minnieandme]

Keep giving her plenty of juice and some chicken broth. Sit her in the tub to help cool her down and give her motrin every 4-5 hours. Hope she feels better.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I think you may want to change your mindset in regard to fever. A fever is not an illness, or a bad thing. A fever is the body's response to illness. A fever is how your body fights the illness. Automatically trying to "get the fever down" isn't a good thing.

With my own kids, if they are able to sleep, and are not in pain, I let the fever run it's course. By continually bringing the fever down, you are not allowing the body to do it's job, thereby prolonging the illness. If my kids have a bad headache or other pain along with the fever, then I give tylenol or motrin, which also happens to bring the fever down, but if they are just drowsy, then I let it go.

Here's a short article by Dr. Sears on this subject, not very long but he explains it better than I can.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T082100.asp

 

[ToTLaugher]

The baths really help. I wish I had thought of getting in when my kids have needed it - mine always freaked out because it felt so horribly cold!!

Also, have you talked to your doctor about alternating the Tylenol and Motrin so that they are taking one before the other wears off. My daughter had a long bout with a fever that sent us to the ER. We had to give both medicines every 2 hrs. (I think) 24 hours a day for a specific period of time. But don't try that without talking to your doctor first - it is alot of meds! (I am assuming when you mentioned the medicines your were talking individually - if you were already trying this route then I apologize for misunderstanding.)

I really hope your little one feels better soon. I know it is so hard to see your little one sick.

 

[EthansMom]

Strip her down to just a light layer of clothes.... maybe a t-shirt and undies. Give her a popsicle or some ice water. Don't forget to alternate the tyleonol and motrin.

 

[PrincessMommy2]

I feel for you... I've got the same thing going through my house now..It's not fun. I pretty much do the same things that have been posted already...they stay in their jammies, have gingerale and popsicles, and lay on the air mattress in the family room until they feel better. Hope she feels better soon!

 

[briannesmom]

My DD, 3, went through this about a week ago. It lasted almost three days. Lukewarm baths made her feel a bit better and she would usually nap after (highly unusual for her). She didn't really feel like eating much but she would drink. I just made sure she had enough to drink and let it run its course. One thing I could get her to drink right up was a smoothie made with frozen strawberries and vanilla yogurt.
Hope your DD is feeling better soon.

 

[CEDmom]

My DD who's 7 now had a virus like that a few years ago. Other than give tylenol/motrin and push the ice pops there's not much else you can do. For us it lasted about 3 days. I remember watching a lot of Wiggles and Blues Clues videos over and over because she just wanted me to sit and hold her.

Hope your little one is better soon.

 

[ckckc2000]

Keep giving her plenty of juice and some chicken broth. Sit her in the tub to help cool her down and give her motrin every 4-5 hours. Hope she feels better.

DON"T GIVE EVERY 4-5 HRS,Motrin is Every 6-8hrs-Now Tylenol can be given every 4-5hrs!!!! (sorry the Children's ER nurse coming out in me)

and yes fever really isn't a bad thing,as long as your child can keep fluids down and isn't having too many body aches-Hang in there I hope she feels better soon

 

[tkd lisa]

Slushies always worked for my kids. They were a treat, so they liked them.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

When my kids were that age we also slept in the family room. Mom on the couch and kid on the floor in front of the TV. (unless there was more to the illness then I was right there, if you know what I mean )

Back then you couldn't get "Motrin" and "Advil" over the counter it was prescription!!!! Always had to beg the doc for some for her. Tylenol never worked.
My oldest always got HIGH fevers....105... So a 102 would not freak me out in the least.

My strategy is lay off the meds under 103 during the day....unless they are really uncomfortable, of course.
I give it at night so they can rest better and hopefully mom can get some sleep.

 

[mickeyboat]

You have gotten some good advice, but I will throw in my 2 cents. I usually don't worry about fevers, either, except when Motrin will not take them down - which it always does for my kids. If it doesn't start moving down no matter what you try, I would consider talking to your doctor again.

Denae

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks for all the advice. I gave her Motrin once today (this morning) and her fever didn't come down until much later when I had given her Tylenol. It was 2pm before it came down to 100.1. It was down for about 2 hrs and then back up again. She was really feeling sick around 6pm so I popped her in the bath. A little bit after the bath I took her temp and it was 103.7. I was advised by my mother to call my Dr which I did. She had started complaining of a very sore throat and was drooling a lot. I'm assuming instead of swallowing. She was barely eating or drinking. I checked in her throat and there were white spots on her tonsils.

My Dr called in some antibiotics for her. She's sound asleep. Hopefully she gets a really good night's sleep tonight.

Shelby

 

[golfgal]

Thanks for all the advice. I gave her Motrin once today (this morning) and her fever didn't come down until much later when I had given her Tylenol. It was 2pm before it came down to 100.1. It was down for about 2 hrs and then back up again. She was really feeling sick around 6pm so I popped her in the bath. A little bit after the bath I took her temp and it was 103.7. I was advised by my mother to call my Dr which I did. She had started complaining of a very sore throat and was drooling a lot. I'm assuming instead of swallowing. She was barely eating or drinking. I checked in her throat and there were white spots on her tonsils.

My Dr called in some antibiotics for her. She's sound asleep. Hopefully she gets a really good night's sleep tonight.

Shelby

Poor baby. At least you know what it is now. I have to say that I don't usually treat fevers unless they get over 103 or so but have done the motrin/tylenol many times and it seems to work the best.