My baby has a fever / high temperature
If a baby is less than 3 months old and has a fever, it’s more likely to be from a serious infection than if an older child had a fever.
So, if your baby under 3 months has a temperature higher than 38°C
(100.4°F), you should take them to see a healthcare professional straight away.
The only time you don't need to do this is if they get a fever within 48 hours after their vaccinations. In that case, you can give them paracetamol if they seem fine otherwise, without needing to see a doctor.
How to take your baby’s temperature:
To check your baby’s temperature, place the thermometer under their armpit. Hold their arm close to their body to keep the thermometer in place for as long as the instructions say—usually about 15 seconds. Some digital thermometers will beep when they’re done.
Don’t check their temperature on
the forehead or in the ear, as it won’t be accurate for young children.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
● Temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)
● Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
● Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)
● Breathing that stops or pauses
● Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
● Difficult to wake up or very sleepy
● Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
● Has a fit (seizure)
● Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following:
- Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
● Dry skin, lips or tongue
● Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
● Poor feeding (less than half of their usual amount)
● Irritable (Unable to settle them with cuddles, toys or feeding)
● Getting worse and I am still worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS Wales 111 - dial 111
If none of the above features are present
Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
● If your child has any other symptoms associated with their fever, you maywant to look at the information on sore throat, cough, earache, diarrhoea and vomiting or tummy ache or our other pathways.
Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies – click here.
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS Wales 111 – dial 111
What should you do?
You can give paracetamol to children who are two months old or older for pain or fever (but only
give ibuprofen if they are over three months old).
However, if a baby under 3 months has a fever, it could mean they have a serious infection, so they should see a health care professional right away.
The only time you don’t need to do this is if they get a fever within 48 hours after their vaccinations.
In that case, it’s OK to give them paracetamol if they seem fine otherwise.
If your baby gets a rash, do the glass test to check it.
Where should you seek help?
If it is non-urgent, speak to your local pharmacist or health visitor.
If your child has any of the above features, urgently see your GP. For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations.
For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between.
Self-care
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Sound advice
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between.
Self-care
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Sound advice
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Sound advice
- Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP.
- Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately.
- Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Sound advice
- Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP.
- Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately.
- Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Midwives provide advice, care and support for women and their babies during pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period. They provide health education and parenting advice until care is transferred to a health visitor. This usually happens when your baby is about 2 weeks old.
Sound Advice
A midwife is an expert in normal pregnancy and birth.
You can find out more information about your local midwifery team by clicking here.
Midwives provide advice, care and support for women and their babies during pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period. They provide health education and parenting advice until care is transferred to a health visitor. This usually happens when your baby is about 2 weeks old.
Sound Advice
A midwife is an expert in normal pregnancy and birth.
You can find out more information about your local midwifery team by clicking here.
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 Wales if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 Wales if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
