Fever in Young Children: When to Watch, When to Go to Hospital
Fever is the body's protective response, not an illness. What you need to watch is how alert your child is and how well they can play, not just the number on the thermometer.
But · 5 min read · Sep 5, 2026
When a child catches a virus or a bacterial infection, the body deliberately raises its temperature to fight off the cause. Fever is therefore a sign, not an enemy.
Taking a temperature properly
A digital thermometer is the safe choice; never use a mercury thermometer because of the risk of breakage.
- Young children are usually measured under the arm or rectally; the underarm route is more convenient and safer
- An underarm reading is usually a little lower than the core temperature
- A child is considered to have a fever when their temperature is around 38 degrees C or above
- A reading taken just after your child has been crying, wrapped in blankets or bathed in warm water will not be accurate — wait a while
When you can watch at home
If your child is over 3 months old, still alert, still feeding or eating and drinking, and able to play between bouts of fever, you can care for them at home and watch closely.
- Give water, breast milk, or oral rehydration solution mixed exactly as directed to replace fluids
- Dress them in light, airy clothing and keep the room well ventilated
- Sponge them with warm water if they are uncomfortable
- Bring the fever down with medicine at the dose for their weight and at the dosing interval your doctor or pharmacist has given you
- Write down the temperature by the hour so the doctor can assess it more easily
Common mistakes
- Cold or ice packs, or wiping with surgical spirit or alcohol: these cause blood vessels to constrict and shivering, poisoning through the skin, leaving the child uncomfortable and not bringing the fever down well
- Wrapping the child up warmly or piling on blankets while they have a high fever
- Giving antibiotics on your own: antibiotics do not lower fever and are useless in most cases of viral fever
- Giving aspirin to a child
- Combining several fever medicines on your own, or giving doses closer together than recommended
- Coin rubbing, skin pricking or herbal poultices
Go to hospital immediately if
- A child under 3 months old has a fever — seek care right away, do not watch at home
- Lethargy, difficulty waking, drowsiness, or constant crying that cannot be soothed
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, chest indrawing, blue lips
- Vomiting a lot, refusing to feed, unable to drink, no urine for many hours
- Bleeding under the skin, spots or patches of bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds
- A stiff neck, a bulging fontanelle, sensitivity to light
- Fever lasting more than two days, or fever that keeps coming back
- You feel your child is not themselves and cannot explain why
A parent's sense of worry is a signal worth trusting. When in doubt, take your child to be seen early.
This information is for general reference only and does not replace advice from your doctor.
