“When should I give my baby Tylenol for a fever?”
My baby has a small fever. When should I give my baby Tylenol for a fever?
2 Answers
Hello,
If your baby is under 3months of age, I would recommend you discuss your baby's fever with your baby's doctor since sometimes fever is a warning sign of serious illness from birth to 2-3 months. Over 3 months of age in babies who are immunized and have had no serious past illnesses, hospitalizations, or ER or Urgent Care visits, Tylenol or ibuprofen is not needed for fever unless the infant feels badly with fever. Babies are allowed to be a little tired when they have fever, but they should always be consolable, be aware and able to engage with care takers and not appear to be uncomfortable or in pain. Babies over 6 months of age who feel badly with fever can benefit from Tylenol or ibuprofen in the appropriate dose. In babies under
6 months of age, ibuprofen is preferred. In an unimmunized baby of any age, fever can indicated an early bacterial infection and your doctor should be consulted as to what to do. There are circumstances surrounding fever in a baby who looks well that in today's world if present should be brought to your doctor's attention: recent travel in the past 2-3 weeks preceding the fever, pets in the home (turtles, guinea pigs, snakes), COVID-19 exposures, exposure to others recently significantly ill, etc. Asking if Tylenol should be given to your baby with no other contextual information is like asking if salt or hot peppers should be added to your meal with no other information about the meal or the salt preferences of those who are expected to dine on whatever the meal might be. In general, healthy babies over 6 months old with no unusual circumstances or past significant health problems can use Tylenol if they feel badly with fever. If they do not feel better regardless of the subsequent temperature after dosing, the babies doctor should be called and involved in the decision.
Regards,
Dr. Marc Tanenbaum, MD
If your baby is under 3months of age, I would recommend you discuss your baby's fever with your baby's doctor since sometimes fever is a warning sign of serious illness from birth to 2-3 months. Over 3 months of age in babies who are immunized and have had no serious past illnesses, hospitalizations, or ER or Urgent Care visits, Tylenol or ibuprofen is not needed for fever unless the infant feels badly with fever. Babies are allowed to be a little tired when they have fever, but they should always be consolable, be aware and able to engage with care takers and not appear to be uncomfortable or in pain. Babies over 6 months of age who feel badly with fever can benefit from Tylenol or ibuprofen in the appropriate dose. In babies under
6 months of age, ibuprofen is preferred. In an unimmunized baby of any age, fever can indicated an early bacterial infection and your doctor should be consulted as to what to do. There are circumstances surrounding fever in a baby who looks well that in today's world if present should be brought to your doctor's attention: recent travel in the past 2-3 weeks preceding the fever, pets in the home (turtles, guinea pigs, snakes), COVID-19 exposures, exposure to others recently significantly ill, etc. Asking if Tylenol should be given to your baby with no other contextual information is like asking if salt or hot peppers should be added to your meal with no other information about the meal or the salt preferences of those who are expected to dine on whatever the meal might be. In general, healthy babies over 6 months old with no unusual circumstances or past significant health problems can use Tylenol if they feel badly with fever. If they do not feel better regardless of the subsequent temperature after dosing, the babies doctor should be called and involved in the decision.
Regards,
Dr. Marc Tanenbaum, MD
Small fever is a relative term and the cut off temprature for treatment may vary with age. I recommend that the temprature be checked with a thermometer rather than touch.
Treatment is generally recommended for temprature more than 101 degrees Farenheit but babies under the age of 3 months may be treated at 100.4 degrees F.
Tylenol (Acetaminophen) can be used in all age groups but Ibuprofen is only recommended for chidren 6 months and olde and should be avoided if COVID 19 infection is suspected.
Treatment is generally recommended for temprature more than 101 degrees Farenheit but babies under the age of 3 months may be treated at 100.4 degrees F.
Tylenol (Acetaminophen) can be used in all age groups but Ibuprofen is only recommended for chidren 6 months and olde and should be avoided if COVID 19 infection is suspected.
