Babies can run a very high temperature quite quickly, and a dose of a temperature reducing medicine (antipyretic) plus tepid sponging is usually very effective at bringing the temperature down quickly.
Paracetamol is usually recommended for babies over three months who experience
discomfort or a raised temperature. (It should only be used under three months on medical
advice.) It comes in various forms: as a sweet, fruit-flavoured suspension, as a soluble
effervescent tablet or as oral drops. Ensure you buy a preparation suitable for infants,
rather than children. Follow the instructions carefully and do not give for more than two
days without medical advice, as high doses or prolonged use can affect the liver.
Ibuprofen can be used for the reduction of fever and pain relief for babies and
toddlers over a year old. It is also available as a suspension over the counter from your
chemist. It should not be given to babies aged under one year or those weighing less than
7kg (16lbs), and it is also unsuitable for those with asthma. As asthma may not yet be
obvious in babies, this medicine should be used with extreme caution, particularly if
there is a family history of asthma.
