Knowing the temperature that babies have is essential to know if they may have a fever or not at times when you are unwell. High fevers and temperatures are our body's way of fighting infection. It is important to always keep an eye on the baby's normal temperature to make sure that everything is within the established one.
Today I want to talk to you about the baby's temperature so that you can get an idea about the body temperatures of the little one and what it can mean. Keep in mind that what I am going to explain to you here are not strict rules and if you see that your child is wrong or does not respond as he should, You will have to go to your pediatrician as soon as possible to clear up any doubts.
What is the normal temperature of a baby in the armpit?
The armpit is one of the most common areas to take a temperature. For this reason, it is also one of the first questions we ask ourselves to find out what the normal temperature of a baby is. The normal temperature of your baby will have to be between 36 and 37ºC. Perhaps a little lower, but if it is too lower than 36ºC it is because your baby will have to be warmed up, it is likely that he is going cold. It should also be noted that if when measuring the temperature we get that it is 37,2ºC we should not be alarmed. As we mentioned before, they are approximate figures but not always exact.
What happens if my baby has a temperature of 37,2ºC?
When the temperature starts from 37,6 and reaches 38ºC then we are talking about the tenths that we all know. For what your baby has "distemper", that is, his temperature is a little high but he does not have a fever. So, clarify that it is not considered a fever but it is possible that it is too hot. If it is between this temperature and there are no other symptoms of cold or infection, it is possible that you need to have less clothing on, if after removing the clothing the temperature has dropped, everything is fine, but if not, it is possible that something is incubating.
When is fever considered in a baby?
If your baby's fever is rising, it may be between 37 and 5ºC, this may be because the baby is slightly unwell, if the temperature does not continue to rise, it is possible that with a lukewarm bath it will go away. Instead if he has a temperature that exceeds 38ºC then the baby would already have a fever and it may be that he has an infection or some viral illness that will have to be seen by a doctor, and if it is between 38ºC and 39ºC he will have to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
When to call the doctor?
It is true that as soon as we see how the fever is added to it, we become distressed. But it must be said that it is usually something frequent and in most cases totally harmless. Of course, as we have mentioned before, an exact rule is not always followed neither for the temperature nor for worrying too much. So, you should see your doctor if your baby is less than three months old and has a fever above 38ºC that does not subside.
If it is more than three months old but the temperature is higher than 39 we must also consult it or if we see that said fever lasts several hours. Also, if you have other symptoms, then it is already a clear advance of a disease or even a reaction to the vaccine. So it's also important that we mention it to your doctor. It goes without saying that when the temperature reaches 40º then it is time to go to the emergency room immediately. We already say that we do not want to alarm and that it does not usually reach these terms.
How babies temperature is measured
It can be measured in the armpit or in the mouth, but in the latter it is recommended when the child is over 4 years old.. If you measure it in the rectum, you have to know that the temperature increases half a degree more, so that you take it into account and do not throw your hands in your head. Both in the groin and in the mouth it can reach 37,7 and be within the established limits. That is, it would not really be considered a fever. Now you will have much more clarity about what is the normal temperature of a baby and what is really a fever to scare us.