While modern medicine has granted us all sorts of thermometers, from traditional to novel, not all of them are accurate all of the time. This is especially true for a young baby who may have hot insides but may only feel slightly warm to the touch. A slightly warm baby may not even prompt a parent or caregiver to take the baby’s temperature. But fevers in young children can be a cause for alarm. That is why it is always good to know the signs of a fever.
Use the kiss method. The abundance of nerves and thinner skin in the lips can often detect slighter changes in temperature than can the nerves in your hand. Place your lips against your baby’s forehead or upper abdomen to check for fever.
Flushed cheeks are another sign of fever in a baby. When your baby’s temperature goes up, blood vessels dilate causing the skin to get flushed. This is usually seen clearly on your baby’s cheeks.
Also check your baby’s breath. If it feels hotter than normal, then there is probably a fever. This is especially true if your baby is breathing more rapidly than normal.
Listen to your baby’s heartbeat. A fast heartbeat or pulse can indicate a temperature. Don’t measure this against your own heartbeat, since children’s beats are faster than adults.
Sweating can also be a sign of a fever in a baby. While in adults, sweating often indicates that a fever is breaking, sweating in a baby may indicate that it is beginning or in full force.
Your first line of defense, really, in detecting a fever in your baby or young child is to really know what is normal for him or her. Most parents can do this instinctively and know when “something doesn’t seem right,” but it doesn’t hurt to pay attention and make an effort to learn about your baby’s physiology. Know how warm he or she normally feels, how moist or dry the skin is and the tone or color of the skin. Having this information programed into your brain can help you spot a problem.
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