Preeti Shah Preeti Shah Asked 4 months ago

How do i know if my infant has a fever?

My 6-month-old baby has been a bit cranky and feels warm to touch today. I'm a new mum, so I'm not sure how to properly check if she has a fever and what signs to look for. What's the best way to tell?

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10 answers

Sunita Deshmukh Sunita Deshmukh Joined Feb 2026 4 months ago
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Don't just rely on touching the baby's forehead with your hand as it can feel warm due to warm clothes. Always use a digital thermometer under the armpit or a rectal one for infants to get an accurate reading. Anything above 100.4°F (38°C) is a fever, and you should call your pediatrician immediately.

Amit Patel Amit Patel Joined May 2026 4 months ago

Agree with using a digital thermometer instead of guessing by touch. Also, watch out if the baby is unusually sleepy or feeding poorly.

Sana Sheikh Sana Sheikh Joined May 2026 4 months ago

My 2-month-old baby feels a bit warm to touch and has been crying a lot since evening. I checked with a thermometer and it shows 99.8°F. Is this considered a fever for a small infant, or should I wait and check again in some time?

Preeti Khurana Preeti Khurana Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

Hey, don't stress too much, babies get warm very easily if they are wrapped in too many blankets! Just dress them in light cotton clothes, keep giving milk, and use a digital thermometer to check their temperature. If it's high, just call your doc for the right drops.

Shreya Sen Shreya Sen Joined Feb 2026 4 months ago

My pediatrician always emphasizes that for infants under 3 months, any temperature of 100.4°F or higher is a medical emergency requiring immediate evaluation. Along with checking the temperature, monitor their breathing, skin color, and wet diapers. Never self-medicate a newborn, always consult a doctor first.

Satish Kamble Satish Kamble Joined Feb 2026 4 months ago

Instead of buying expensive fancy infrared forehead thermometers, a basic digital thermometer worth 150-200 rupees is actually more accurate for infants. If the baby is warm, irritable, or refusing to feed, check their temperature. Keep a simple paracetamol drop prescribed by your doctor ready at home.

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Consult a pediatric cardiac surgeon

Siddharth Kamat Siddharth Kamat Joined Feb 2026 4 months ago

Actually yaar, touching the baby's tummy or chest is a better way to feel if they are unusually hot compared to their hands and feet. But you really need a proper digital thermometer to be 100% sure. If the temperature is high and they are very cranky, just consult your pediatrician.

Ganga Prasad Ganga Prasad Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

In our family, we used to wipe the baby's forehead gently with a damp cotton cloth to help cool them down if they felt warm. However, for a small infant, you must check with a digital thermometer and consult a doctor immediately if the body temperature is high.

Shubha Srinivasan Shubha Srinivasan Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Please be extremely cautious with fevers in infants, as their immune systems are still very weak. If your baby is lethargic, refusing to breastfeed, or has a high fever, do not wait or try any home remedies. Take them directly to the pediatric emergency or consult your doctor immediately.

Varun Grover Varun Grover Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago

When my niece felt warm, we all ran around like headless chickens trying to check her forehead! Take a breath, pop a digital thermometer under the arm, and get the actual reading. If it's a real fever, your pediatrician is just a quick phone call away.

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