fever

How can I tell whether my baby has a fever?

Kiss or touch your baby's forehead. If you think he feels hotter than normal, you're probably right.

A fever is usually a sign that the body is waging a war against infection. Taking your baby's temperature can confirm your suspicions and help you and your child's doctor figure out the best way to get your baby back on the road to health.

 a normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 38 degrees Celsius). If your baby's rectal temperature is above this range, he has a fever.

When should I call the doctor?

A temperature reading isn't the only indication of whether a fever is serious. Your baby's age is a factor (fever is more serious in babies under 3 months), as is his behavior (a high fever that doesn't stop him from playing and feeding normally may not be cause for alarm).

Keep in mind that everyone's temperature rises in the late afternoon and early evening and falls between midnight and early morning. The natural cycle of our internal thermostat explains why doctors get most of their phone calls about fever in the late afternoon and early evening.

Ask your baby's doctor when she'd like you to call if your baby has a fever. Common guidelines are:

If your baby is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher, call the doctor immediately. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infection or disease.

For a baby between 3 and 6 months old, call if his temperature reaches 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) or higher.

If your baby is 6 months or older, call if his fever reaches 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) or higher.

When you call, the doctor will probably ask you about other symptoms. The most important thing is how your baby looks and acts — if he has lost his appetite, has little energy, is noticeably pale or flushed, or is extremely irritable and can't be consoled, or if you notice other changes in his behavior and appearance.

Be sure to mention other symptoms, too, such as a cough, signs of ear pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. These can help the doctor make a diagnosis. She will then tell you how to care for your baby and whether you need to come into the office.

Be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms, which could indicate a more serious problem when coupled with a fever:

Your baby has small, purple-red spots on his skin that don't turn white or paler when you press on them, or he has large purple blotches. Both of these can signal a very serious bacterial infection.

Your baby is having difficulty breathing (working harder to breathe or breathing faster than usual) even after you clear his nose with a bulb syringe. This could indicate pneumonia or bronchiolitis.