The appearance in the family of a newborn dramatically changes the lives of others. Mom and Dad understand the responsibility that now lies with them, and try to do everything for their child to make him comfortable. An increase in body temperature in a baby quite often leads young parents into a state close to panic. To avoid unnecessary worries and stresses, you need to know what the normal temperature of the child should be. By and large, it does not matter much whether a small cub or already a schoolboy, an increase in temperature, is at least alarming, because this is a clear sign that any changes are occurring in the body and most often not the best. The immune system of newborns is far from ideal, so a fever in them becomes more dangerous than in others.
While still in the maternity ward, a young mother can learn a lot about her baby. For example, the fact that the temperature norm in infants is slightly different from the norm for an adult. The normal temperature in the baby in the first few days of his life ranges from 37.0 to 37.4 ° C. Such indicators can be obtained by measuring the temperature in the armpit. When placing a thermometer in the oral cavity or in the rectum, you should be prepared for the fact that it will show other results, increased by about half a degree, results. Finally, the normal temperature in the baby is set closer to the first birthday.
In order to determine what the normal temperature in the baby is, it is necessary to measure it at the same time every day with a healthy and calm state of the child for several days using the same method. Thus, you can get a specific figure, a deviation from which will be a signal of an increase in temperature.
By measuring the temperature in the armpit, the most accurate results can be obtained using the most common mercury thermometer. In order for it not to fall or crash, you should hold the handle of the baby. The measurement time is five to ten minutes. Most often, pediatricians strongly recommend acquiring electronic thermometers during pregnancy. Their indicators are also quite accurate and will be needed from the first days of the baby's life. Such thermometers are excellent for determining the temperature in the rectum, because here the mercury device can never be used, as when measuring in the oral cavity. For this, special dummy thermometers were invented.
If the normal temperature in the baby has changed, then this can speak not only about the onset of the disease. The most common causes, of course, are viral or bacterial infections, but in the same way, an increase can be a result of overheating and dehydration of the body, as well as the onset of a teething period. Among other things, stresses or reactions to vaccination are quite common culprits.
If, nevertheless, young parents noticed an increase in the temperature of their child, a newborn or older, you should know that it is not always necessary to reduce it, especially in a medication way. The temperature does not need to be performed, below 38 degrees, and sometimes even 39. Pediatricians explain this by the fact that when a disease occurs, the body begins to fight it and develop antibodies, which is accompanied by fever. If it is reduced, then antibodies will cease to be produced and complications of the disease may occur. Doing something is necessary when the thermometer shows more than 39 degrees. In this case, you should first call the doctors who will provide assistance, otherwise there is a high probability of not improving, but rather worsening the situation.