First Time with a Real Fever: How to be ready for cold and flu season
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This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories. The opinions and text are all mine.
It’s scary. Your baby is fussy, won’t let you put him down and when you pick him up his cheeks are piping hot. What’s a mom to do? I so remember the first time my son got sick. I was terrified at what the thermometer read: 103.5°F. I was all ready to just jump in the car and race him to the emergency room. Thank goodness my husband was home to talk me out of a few hundred dollars ER visit to diagnose that yes, our son did indeed have a fever. What’s a mom supposed to do?
The key to keeping your cool as a mother is to be prepared. I’ve found that the more things I have on hand at home the better prepared I am and as a result, I’m able to be that positive calming influence for my sick child. Kids get sick at the worst possible times: late at night, the weekend, on a major holiday, etc. You name a time when one of my three children has gotten sick and it’s usually the weekend when our clinic is closed. Just trust me, it’s imperative that you’re always ready for the worst.
How to be ready for cold and flu season:
- Have an accurate thermometer, preferably a rectal thermometer for an accurate reading. Using a digital rectal thermometer provides you with the most accurate reading of your baby’s temperature. I prefer using a thermometer such as Safety 1st’s Gentle Read Rectal Thermometer. It has a flexible tip and an over-insertion guard so I trust that my baby will be safe when an adult caregiver is using it.
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Understand that a warm forehead does not always equal fever; when in doubt use your thermometer. Overdressing your child can make them too hot which will, in turn, make them crabby. Use a digital thermometer like the one I described above when in doubt. - According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, fever in babies begins at 100.4°F (please call your physician regarding any concerns you have with fever in your child.
- Be ready by having both liquid and suppository forms of acetaminophen in your medicine cabinet. While the presence of a fever doesn’t always equal the need to use acetaminophen it is helpful to have on hand just in case. There may be times when you baby or child is unable to swallow oral medication (liquid acetaminophen) so using an acetaminophen suppository is a safe alternative.
- Have your pediatrician’s phone number readily available…just in case. You never know when your kid is going to get sick so it’s best to have all of your ducks in a row. If your child is younger than six months of age, please call your pediatrician immediately if a fever is present.
After having three children (and remember that I’m no doctor, so this is purely motherly advice) I’ve learned that how my child is behaving is just as important as that number on the digital thermometer. If my baby (who is over six months) has a fever or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and they’re acting a little tired but overall are in pretty good spirits, I’m not going to give them acetaminophen. A fever is the body’s way of fighting off infection; it’s nothing to be afraid of.
If my baby or child is unable to function and is complaining of being uncomfortable (babies will cry more frequently when they are uncomfortable), then I would give them FeverAll® as directed. If it appears as though my baby or child is not able to take oral acetaminophen, either due to vomiting, nausea or another health reason, I’m prepared because I already have some FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Acetaminophen Suppositories on hand.
There’s nothing you can do to completely avoid cold and flu season but you can be prepared for it so get yourself to your local Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens or Walmart and stock up on Use FeverAll® only as directed. If you have specific questions about fever, acetaminophen or using FeverAll, speak with your child’s pediatrician. FeverAll Acetaminophen Suppositories are available at major retailers and drugstores across the U.S, such as Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens. For more information and current offers, visit www.FeverAll.com.
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories. The opinions and text are all mine.
