How to Manage Your Child's Fever at Night

When your child has a fever at night, you might have some questions about how to care for them. We've put together a helpful guide for you here.

If you are the parent of a baby or toddler, this may be a familiar scenario: A nasty cold or flu has left your little one burning up with a fever all day. A health care provider has assured you that with some TLC and perhaps some fever medication, the temperature would return to normal as soon as the infection clears.

Now that it's bedtime, though, it's natural to have some questions. Should I wake my child up to check their fever? How do I dress them? Ahead, learn more about how to manage your child's fever overnight, and when it's time to seek additional medical care.

managing your child's fever at night, image of parent and child

Brianna Gilmartin

What Is a Fever in Kids?

When it comes to fevers and children, medical professionals consider anything higher than 100.4° Fahrenheit to be a fever, with a "normal" body temperature at 98.6° Fahrenheit. It's important to remember that fevers are not an illness in and of themselves, but rather, a symptom. In babies and toddlers, a fever often accompanies common viral and bacterial illnesses such as croup, flu, colds, gastroenteritis, ear infections, bronchiolitis, and/or urinary tract infections.

As distressing as a fever may be, try to remember that it is a normal part of the body's immune response. It serves as a defense mechanism by stimulating the production of white blood cells (such as T-cell lymphocytes) that actively target, control, and neutralize an infection.

How to Help Your Child Cope With Their Fever at Night

Helpful or not, a high fever can make a child feel absolutely miserable, so there is a good reason to do all you can to relieve it. Fevers lower than 102 generally do not need treatment. If your child's fever is higher than 102, you should consider using fever reducers to bring it down, especially if your child is uncomfortable.

To this end, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you take the following steps to manage your child's fever:

Keep Your Child Hydrated While They're Awake

A fever can cause your little one to lose fluids quickly and become dehydrated. This can lead to serious complications and the worsening of symptoms. To avoid this, make sure your child is drinking frequently throughout the day and before bedtime.

Water is the best option, but you could also consider offering juice or broth to older children, along with an oral rehydration solution like Pedialyte. If you are breastfeeding, nurse your child more often. Breastmilk also provides antibodies to help your baby fight off infection, while skin-to-skin contact can help comfort your child.

Use Fever Reducers When Needed

If your child's fever is causing discomfort, children's Tylenol (acetaminophen) or children's Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen) will usually do the trick. This can be especially useful before bed, if they are experiencing difficulty sleeping.

However, be sure to check the dosage information on the label and contact a health care provider with any questions you may have. Though acetaminophen can be used in children as young as 2 months old, ibuprofen can only be used in children 6 months and older. If your child is younger than 3 months, or you are unsure of the dosage, speak with a pharmacist, pediatrician, or health care provider before giving any medicine.

Note: You should never give aspirin to a child unless under specific direction from your child's doctor. Aspirin use in children with viral infections has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.

Dress Your Child Comfortably

It is important to dress your child lightly at night when they are running a fever. While your first instinct may be to bundle your child up when they are sick, it may only add to their discomfort. Choose lightweight, breathable fabrics, like cotton. If they enjoy sleeping in pajamas, opt for ones with short sleeves and shorts.

Similarly, be sure that your child's room is a comfortable temperature for sleeping (somewhere around 74 or 75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Should You Wake Your Child If They Have a Fever?

It's understandable to be concerned when your child has a fever, but if they are able to fall asleep, don't wake them up just to take their temperature or give them fever medicine. Unless their symptoms are severe enough to warrant an emergency room visit, getting a good night's sleep is more important to the healing process than monitoring their temperature.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, if your child is sleeping restlessly, they may rest better after a nighttime dose of Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil. Similarly, if your child is breathing faster than normal or irregularly, you may want to check their temperature to decide if further action is needed.

When to Contact a Health Care Provider

Typically, fevers can be managed at home with supportive care and fever reducers. However, there are times when you should not hesitate to contact a health care provider or visit an urgent or emergent care facility. Generally speaking, you would need to call a medical professional or seek emergency care if:

  • Your baby is 2 months or younger and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or more. Any fever in a newborn is considered an emergency.
  • Your baby is 3 to 6 months and has a temperature of 101 degrees F or more
  • Your child is over 6 months and has had a temperature of 102 degrees F or higher for more than two days.
  • Your child has shaking arms and legs, trouble breathing, and eyes that are rolling back. These are signs of a febrile seizure. While most are relatively harmless, those that recur or last for more than 10 minutes should be seen without exception.
  • You have difficulty waking the child.
  • Your child is under 2 years old and has had a temperature of at least 100.4 degrees F for more than 24 hours.
  • Your child is over 2 years old and has had a temperature of at least 100.4 degrees for more than 72 hours.

It's understandable if your child's fever is making you feel overwhelmed or concerned. You should absolutely feel free to call a pediatrician or health care provider with any questions, regardless of what your child's temperature is or how long they've had a fever. Fevers can be stressful for parents and for kids, and sometimes seeking out advice from a medical professional is exactly what you need to do to feel better and be confident in your care decisions for your child.

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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Fever and antipyretic use in childrenPediatrics. 

  2. Fever without Fear: Information for Parents. American Academy of Pediatrics. 

  3. Reye syndrome. Nemours Kids Health. 

  4. Fevers in Children. Stanford Medicine Children's Health.

  5. Febrile Seizures. National Institutes of Health.

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