Every parent should know how to reduce heat in babies at home. This is important so that later there will be no confusion when the child has a fever, especially for new parents. For more details, come on, see the following explanation.
Babies can be said to have a fever if their body temperature reaches 380 C or more. This condition can occur due to various things, ranging from bacterial or viral infections, post-immunization fever, too long outdoor activities in hot weather, to wearing clothes that are too thick.
Various Ways to Lower Heat in Babies at Home
Heat in babies is actually normal and mostly nothing to be afraid of, because this is a reaction of the body's immune system which is good when fighting off invading germs that cause infection, such as viruses or bacteria.
Therefore, parents are advised to remain calm so that they can provide the treatment and attention that the baby needs when he has a fever. Some simple steps that can be taken to reduce fever in babies are:
1. Give compress
When the baby sleeps, compress the forehead with a wet cloth as a way to reduce heat in the baby. If the heat is high enough, you can also compress the neck, armpits, or groin. Make sure to compress with warm water or plain water.
2. Wipe or bathe with warm water
Use a washcloth or bathe the baby in warm or lukewarm water. Avoid bathing in cold water because this can actually make the body temperature rise afterward.
3. Give enough to drink
When it's hot, the baby will lose some fluids through evaporation from the skin. To prevent dehydration, you need to make sure your little one's body is hydrated by providing adequate fluid intake such as breast milk or formula.
5. Wear light clothes
If the baby is wearing layered or thick clothing, body heat will be trapped in the clothes and make it harder for the heat to go down. Remove heavy clothing and use one layer of light clothing. Make sure that the clothes are comfortable to wear. If your little one looks shivering, you can put him on a blanket.
6. Keep the room temperature cool
Try to keep the temperature of the baby's bedroom cool. If the room is hot, you can use an air conditioner or fan, but don't point it directly at your baby.
Fever Conditions to Watch Out for
Most fevers are nothing to worry about and can be resolved by lowering the baby's heat above. Even so, you still have to be aware of the signs that a fever requires examination and treatment from a doctor. These conditions include:
- Infants under the age of 3 months who have a fever with a fever reaching 380 C or more
- Infants 3–6 months who have a fever with a body temperature of 390 C or more
- Fever does not improve and lasts more than 5 days
- Fever accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea
- Fever with red rash
- Fever that causes dehydration in infants, characterized by symptoms of dry mouth, dry diaper, and crying without tears
- Fever with convulsions, loss of consciousness
- Fever that makes the baby very weak
With ways to reduce the baby's fever at home, usually the fever in the baby will subside within 3-4 days. If this method does not work, you can give your child a fever reducer, such as paracetamol, which can be purchased directly at the pharmacy. However, make sure you follow the instructions for use listed on the packaging.
If the fever doesn't go down with medication or your little one shows alert signs as mentioned above, you should immediately take him to the doctor to be examined and given the right treatment.