Sick baby- what to do?

[PennyP]

My 10 month old baby has a fever since last night- don't know the exact temperature, but it seems relatively high. I've tried sponge bathing him but it hasn't helped at all.
He also is throwing up. I think probably 3 or 4 times in the last 24 hours. He's nursing a ton, but other than that, is not really interested in eating or drinking. He also has diarrhea/loose stools, i think, but not terrible. I've tried giving him cups of herbal medicinal teas but he just pushes them away and doesn't want to drink them. Don't want to syringe them down especially since he is very vomit prone at the moment.

I don't want to run to the doc bec the doc will just say antibiotics and I am not in such a rush to give that, only as a last resort.

Any suggestions what to do?

[PennyP]

Oh, and he has an 104 degree fever.

[jane-t-mommy]

Do you do fever reducers at all? I always wait until the fever either hits 103 or over or if the child seems really unable to rest. But there is a school of thought to ride the fever out, too. If you are really concerned, a sponge bath with rubbing alcohol, especially at pulse points may be able to help. Does the baby seem in any pain at all? Any tender spots on abdomen? You can always call your DR and just talk to a nurse or doc without having to bring baby in, they can walk you thru what to do and when to take babe in if things turn. Good peace of mind. Good luck. It's nerve wracking to have a sick one and not know what's causing symptoms. On the plus side, my little ones always had a huge developmental shift after fevers. Seriously.

[CrazyCatLady]

If he doesn't seem to be in any pain I'd just ride it out. Lots of cuddles, and especially nursing to keep him hydrated. If he even refuses nursing, I had good luck mixing apple juice and the clear pedylite when my dd was very ill and getting dehydrated. I don't treat fevers. But at 10 months and 104...nobody would fault you for giving some tylenol to help him be more comfortable if you think he needs it.

However if he seems to be in pain on top of that fever and the vomiting, then I'd say it's time to see a doctor. You don't have to give him antibitoics just because they prescribe them.

[Mamacitac]

Try giving him some children's Tylenol or Advil to break the fever. I also don't recommend sponging him down with cold water as it tends to be too much on the child with a high fever...try lukewarm.

I agree with catlady, if fever don't break after meds, and vomiting continues, seek treatment from your ped/dr.

[Mamacitac]

Originally Posted by jane-t-mommy

Do you do fever reducers at all? I always wait until the fever either hits 103 or over or if the child seems really unable to rest. But there is a school of thought to ride the fever out, too. If you are really concerned, a sponge bath with rubbing alcohol, especially at pulse points may be able to help. Does the baby seem in any pain at all? Any tender spots on abdomen? You can always call your DR and just talk to a nurse or doc without having to bring baby in, they can walk you thru what to do and when to take babe in if things turn. Good peace of mind. Good luck. It's nerve wracking to have a sick one and not know what's causing symptoms. On the plus side, my little ones always had a huge developmental shift after fevers. Seriously.

Do not rub down with alcohol. It has proven to be dangerous now.
The alcohol gets absorbed into the skin of the child.
http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/...ail.cfm?id=206

The alcohol rub is now considered dangerous since alcohol can be absorbed through the skin and cause intoxication. The best ways to lower temperature include:

* Pushing fluids. Babies should continue drinking breast milk or formula; older children can have water, juice, Jell-O, ice cubes, Popsicles, or flat 7UP.

* Keeping them cool by removing heavy clothing and blankets and by turning on a fan.

* Giving medication to lover fever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

* Trying a sponge bath that contains an inch or two of lukewarm water.

One medication to avoid is in lowering body temperature is aspirin (including children's aspirin), which has been linked with Reye's syndrome in children and

[Llyra]

It sounds like a bout of gastroenteritis-- fever, vomiting, diarrhea. It's a self-limiting illness, and the only reason to seek medical attention is if there are other troubling symptoms, or if baby is becoming dehydrated. My kids get things like that once or twice a year each.

I do reduce fevers when kids seem really uncomfortable. That can be reassuring, too, because often kids will perk up and look a lot better once the fever goes down, and you can see that underneath the fever the illness itself isn't terribly serious.

What I would do is familiarize myself with the symptoms of dehydration, and then start pushing fluids. I wait four hours after a bout of vomiting, and then start offering tiny sips. You can pump some milk and then offer little baby sips from a tiny cup, for a baby. If those stay down, we try bigger sips. Other things my kids really like when they're sick are pedialyte popsicles. You can breastfeed freely during these illnesses, but be prepared for the milk not staying down...