Fever in Kids: When to Seek Care & How to Lower a Fever

If you believe your child is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Any child under two months old with a fever of 100.4 ℉ or higher should be seen right away by your pediatrician, urgent care, or emergency room.

How to Take Your Child’s Temperature Accurately

An accurate temperature reading is crucial to know if your child has a fever — and if it’s getting better or worse.

Rectal thermometers are most accurate from infancy through 3 years old. Your pediatrician can help you learn to use these types of thermometers with confidence.
Underarm thermometers are second-best if using a rectal one isn’t an option. Use these for any age.
Ear thermometers, while less accurate, become more reliable after your child is older than 6 months.
Forehead thermometers are generally not as accurate at any age, but can be used if there is not another option.

Understanding When a Fever Needs Care

Home Care
These symptoms usually improve with rest and simple care.

A fever that resolves in 24–48 hours, and your child is acting normally (sleeping, eating and drinking okay)

Contact the Clinic
Call your pediatrician for advice if:

Your child is under six months old
The fever persists for three or more days, with or without medication
The fever seems to improve but then increases again (this could indicate another infection)
Your child has stopped drinking or urinating (they are at risk of dehydration)
Your child is acting very ill and not feeling like their normal self
The fever doesn’t decrease with medication
The fever reaches 104 ℉

Seek Emergency Care
For fevers, it’s always a good idea to call your pediatrician first. If they are not available, seek emergency care for:

A temperature at or over 104 ℉ and you child is not acting like themselves
They have not urinated or had a wet diaper in eight hours

Age

Fever in young infants deserves prompt medical attention because their immune system is still developing.

Any child under two months old with a fever of 100.4 ℉ or higher should be seen right away. Call your pediatrician or take them to the nearest urgent care or emergency room. Learn more about the 2–3 month milestone for babies’ immunity.
Children two to six months old with a fever should check in with their pediatrician. They may recommend that you monitor at home or come in, depending on your child’s history, duration of the fever, or other symptoms.
Children over six months old can be monitored at home for 24 hours, as long as they’re acting normally and are up-to-date on vaccinations. Contact your pediatrician if the fever lasts for more than 24 hours.

Vaccination Status

If your child hasn’t completed all of the recommended series of vaccinations, they have a higher risk of a bacterial infection. Bacterial infections carry additional risk and may require a prescription to treat. Seek medical care right away so your child gets the help they need.

After children complete their vaccination series, their fevers are more likely to be caused by a viral infection, which usually will not require a prescription to treat.

At-Home Care That Helps Most Children

Sometimes, you may just need to let the fever run its course. But there are a few things to help your child feel better if their fever has them feeling low.

Lowering Fever with Medications
Fevers don’t always need to be treated with medication. If your child is acting normally, the fever isn’t getting too high, and they’re generally comfortable, they may be fine without medication. But if your child’s fever is making them miserable or edging toward 104 ℉, consider trying medicine.

Use our chart to find the right dose for acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) to treat your child’s fever. Ibuprofen and tylenol can typically reduce a fever by around 2–3 degrees, but they may not eliminate it completely.

Home remedies for fever:

Lukewarm baths: If you want to help lower your child’s temperature, a lukewarm bath can help. Avoid cold water, which can cause more harm than help. Cold water can cause your child to shiver which can actually increase the body’s temperature.
Fluids and hydration: Keep your child well-hydrated with water, soups, and other liquids.
Rest: Keep activity levels lower and encourage them to get plenty of rest so their body can fight the infection more easily.

24 hours tells us a lot

When fevers first start, your child may just be starting to get sick. Without any other symptoms or changes to report, it’s tough to narrow down the cause.

After 24 hours, symptoms such as cough, runny nose, behavioral changes, and breathing patterns can help your pediatrician diagnose what’s going on. If your child is over two months old, consider monitoring them for 24 hours, then contacting your pediatrician with more details if their fever continues.

Fevers are only part of the picture

Fevers point to something more going on. The more symptoms we know, the better picture we can form of the underlying problem.

Tell your pediatrician about:

Other symptoms that started (e.g., rashes, vomiting, stomach pain, etc.)
Fatigue or changes in your child’s energy levels or behavior
Changes in eating or drinking
How the fever responds to medication

Your child’s medical history also informs the plan. Do they have a history of frequent ear infections? Are they taking medication that affects their immune system? Have they received all of their recommended vaccines? These details matter, too.