Many parents panic when their child has a fever. The first time my child spiked a temperature of 102.5 °F/ 39 °C, I was very upset too.
It is a scary thing to hold your child and they are hot, flushed and obviously very uncomfortable.
It is important to learn ways to manage your child’s fever and not lower it artificially with over the counter medications. The journal Pediatrics recommends as much suggesting that parents let fevers run their course in healthy children. (1)
It would be best if you just threw these drugs away and don’t even have them in your medicine cabinet because even infrequent use of an over-the-counter drug like Tylenol has been linked with serious, lifelong illness like asthma.
Instead of panicking, honor your child’s fever and learn to use it constructively to improve your child’s health and vitality over the long term, because, believe it or not, fevers are fabulous and accomplish important things in a child’s developing body.
I am one of seven children, so we had a lot of fevers going around our home during cold/flu season. Despite this, my Father who is a retired Family Physician never succumbed to treating a fever with meds.
Ever.
He taught us that bringing down a fever only prolonged the illness and weakened vitality for the next illness to come. I remember him saying, “No, I can’t bring down your fever because you’ll get sicker quicker and next time it will be worse.”
Repeated forced reduction of childhood fever has been linked to childhood cancer. And eliminating fever will usually cause a secondary infection.
When you bring down a fever you start a domino effect toward antibiotic use.
In other words, if you want to avoid antibiotics, don’t bring down the fever! Fever reduction suppresses the immune system. Your child is trying to get well himself with the fever and when you bring it down you are opening him up to a secondary bacterial infection that will further entrench the virus or bacteria. It cannot be stressed enough that fever has an important role to play in your child’s overall well being.
Why Do We Get Fevers?
Why do our bodies produce fever? One reason is that fevers greatly slow down pathogens. Fevers are a highly beneficial immune response that we suppress to our detriment.
The “germ” – bacteria or virus causing the child’s distress typically replicates every few minutes and the fever slows this process down. Fevers work to slow down the spread and severity of the illness and are your friend in avoiding a secondary infection (usually respiratory illness), a trip to the doctor and a script for antibiotics.
So treating a fever with meds to bring it down gives free license to the virus or bacteria to spread in an unrestrained manner. And don’t panic if your child’s temperature gets to 102-103 °F/ 38-39 °C – this is actually the ideal range for a fever.
I can’t tell you how many times my children have spiked a beautiful fever of about 102-103 °F for a few hours with no other symptoms whatsoever.
When the fever resolved, the illness was over. No cough, no rash, sinus congestion, no nothing. Just a fever and that’s it. I can almost guarantee that if I had forcibly brought the fever down with meds, they would have gotten a secondary illness on top of the fever. Probably a cough or sinus congestion would have quickly appeared morphing from an afternoon of chills and discomfort into a two week ordeal with a trip to the doctor and prescription meds.
Treating a Fever With No Meds
I find that holding your child is the best home remedy for fever. When they are feverish, they want to be with you. Put on a light robe and crash on the couch with your child and hold her for hours if you need to. If you let the fever go and just let the child’s body do what it is trying to do, the fever won’t last very long — just a few hours.
You can take their temperature if you want to, but it is not necessary. Put your lips on your child’s forehead, and if the child seems hot, you know she has a fever. I can tell within a half a degree what the temperature is using this method with no thermometer required. Many children find it distressing to use a thermometer when they are ill anyway. My dad taught me this trick–he never took our temperatures. He knew the temperature.
Sometimes a fever will go for three days. It will go up and down, with peaks and valleys, and it usually peaks about 4-6 in the afternoon. If your child has a fever in the afternoon followed by a good night’s sleep and no fever in the morning, that doesn’t mean he is over it. Don’t send him to school until you know what happens at 4-6 in the afternoon. The fever is likely to come back in a lot of cases. Until you’ve passed a late afternoon with no fever, your child is not yet on the road to recovery.
Should You Feed or Starve a Fever?
My father taught me that food will naturally drop a fever within about 20 minutes. This drop will last for an hour or two. My father always believed that it was fine to feed a child with a fever if the child was willing to eat. But don’t force food if he doesn’t want it. And you don’t have to give your child a lot of food. Just a few bites of scrambled egg or a few sips of homemade broth can bring that fever down a bit. It will not make the fever go away but will manage it hopefully within the ideal 102-103 degree range.
High Fevers
If a child’s fever is very high–over 103.5 degrees F – then you need to take steps to bring it down down. One method for treating a fever naturally to bring it down without any meds is a cool water enema. Enemas have such a bad rap! Nobody likes them but they are a very effective remedy for many things.
You can get an enema bag from any pharmacy for about ten dollars and they’re incredibly easy to administer. If the fever is getting really high, just get a thick beach towel and put it in the tub. Lay your child on his side without taking clothes off. Slide their pajamas down a little. Place 1/2 to 1 quart warm filtered water in the bag and insert the enema nozzle lubricated with a bit of coconut oil. Your child will start to feel pressure and will want to go to the bathroom–the water usually doesn’t run out. Then gently put him on the toilet and let him go. This will bring the fever down by a degree or two.
Are High Fevers Dangerous?
High fevers– those that range between 104 and 105 F – are not dangerous in themselves. But they make the metabolism run very fast and increase the risk of dehydration. Blood sugar often drops with the metabolism running at this high level, which can lead to convulsions. To prevent this, have your child sip fresh fruit juice diluted 50% with filtered water to keep tissues hydrated and blood sugar levels in the normal range. If your child is too lethargic or won’t take anything, you can administer about 4 ounces of diluted fruit juice rectally using a $2 bulb syringe. Again, this is so easy to do! The body will absorb it rectally very quickly. Don’t worry – it won’t run out and make a mess. This may save you a trip to the emergency room.
Fevers rapidly deplete vitamin A so be sure to give your child drops of high vitamin cod liver oil under the tongue while the fever is running its course.
Fever Baths or Infrared Saunas To Hasten Healing
Sometimes a child will run a low-grade fever day after day and not seem to get better. In that case, you can help her generate a higher fever to help resolve the illness more quickly with a fever bath. Put her in the tub. Fill it with water as hot as she can stand. You can get it hotter if you put them in the tub while you are filling it. You want it pretty hot, but still comfortable! No need to fill it all the way as this might be too hot. Just have her sit in the tub and fill it to the navel.
Leave her in the bath for 10-12 minutes, then get her out, dry her quickly and wrap her up snugly. Put her into bed, well covered up. This should help the fever rise to the point where it can be effective in resolving the illness. By morning, she may have a normal temperature.
I have used the fever bath method for treating a fever on myself with great results too! Be sure to be drinking plenty of fluids.
Another option is to use a near infrared sauna to gently raise body temperature by a few degrees to hasten healing by stimulating the immune system. I recently used this method to successfully stave off a serious virus that was going around our community. About 30 minutes in a near-infrared sauna powered by safe incandescent bulbs (I use this one) will successfully achieve this immune system enhancement.
Note that I do NOT recommend far infrared saunas due to the health implications from the EMFs and flicker stress from the LED lights.
References
(1) Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children
(2) The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Childcare, p. 220
(3) Advice on treating fevers from an old-fashioned medical doctor (My Dad!)
My son had a seizure because his fever spiked too fast and I was not using meds if I was i could have prevented it. His fevers last for days every time and I do wonder if its because meds but I’m too scared to not give him anything
In children when the fever reached 104+ for me sponging works best. It helps comfort the child plus gives time to the body to fight. Thanks for sharing these suggestions, very helpful
Sarah is correct about enemas. They have been used as a home remedy for years by moms.
I know many moms who give enemas when needed. Instead of giving OTC medications.
All five of my kids are given an enema when needed. IMHO they are a natural home remedy that work.
The enema bag and bulb syringe are seen as a good home remedy in my house. They are not looked upon as something bad, with shame or to be scared of.
The enema bag or bulb syringe are left out in the bathroom most of the time. Other moms have asked about them. I tell them an enena us one of the best home remedies a mother can give. Most of the other moms told me later they gave theirs an enema for fevers and it worked!
All five of mine know an enema will be given. It will help them feel better and recover from fever, illness or relieve constipation.
Common sense rules. If sever other symptoms are there, I always call the doctor.
Giving a late night enema has prevented a ER trip more than once. It reduced the fever!
No giving an enema, or other home remedies, is not the cure all. But most of the time a good way to start. Especially for reducing fevers.
Check with your pediatric dr, naturopathic dr. Next fever try this remedy.
They are not difficult to give. As told below, and in Catherine’s article if old enough to understand talk with the one who will be given the enema before hand. Talking makes giving the enema easier. If this is his first ever enema explain what it is. That it will not hurt and will help him feel better. Even though mine have gotten an enema before I still sit down and talk with him before preparing the enema and giving it. I always talk with him during the enema and after it. So he knows it helped him feel better.
I do not give in the tub as Sarah says. I place a large towel on the bed. when an enema is given I have him lay on left sid or on tummy. Never had a mess. Give the enema slowly. This prevents cramping.
When giving the enema I talk in a firm reassuring manner. This relaxes him.
Where did this enemas are painful or traumatizing stuff come from? I have never heard of that until I read the replies on here.
My mom and aunt (who was a nurse) gave many home enemas. I never remember enemas hurting, painful or traumatizing. They were a good home remedy. The pill pushers do not like natural home remedies.
Good article about colon health at “PARENTS GUIDE TO COLON HEALTH FOR CHILDREN,” Contemporary Bowel Health Among Children and Teens, By Catherine Cavanaugh, R.N.
Found at: valerie_cct.tripod.com/parentsg.html
I agree with Catherine’s last sentence in her article: “From my personal experience over the years, and what I have learned through my education and from others, the old fashioned enema bag and bulb syringe are the most valuable natural health care accessories a family can have in the home.”
I could not agree more!
Sarah, I agree enemas are not traumatizing or painful. My mom gave us enemas when sick. They were never painful.
Give an enema slowly. I always felt better after getting an enema.
I do not care for the ready to use enema bottles from the pharmacy. I give enemas with a 6 oz or 8 oz rubber enema bulb syringe. Like the one you mentioned for the juice retention enema. The reusable enema bulb syringe does not cost much. Can be reused many times. Just clean it with warm soapy water and rinse well after giving an enema with it. Air dry for a few days before putting up.
Mine get an enema across my lap face down on a towel. This is a very easy position to give an enema.
I do not like giving one on the toilet.
I try other remedies first. If they do not bring a fever down I give an enema to him.
Of course, always check with your pedi, doctor, before giving an enema.
Not medical advice. Just what I got and have given.
Courtney, I am sure he is doing better now. Good post you made.
I was told by naturopath and pedi best not to give an enema until 2 years or over.
I have given mine a few enemas for constipation and fevers. I feel giving an enema is better than giving meds or harsh laxatives.
I am like you, not against the enema. Just given sparingly. They do work.
You are correct they are not painful. Actually relaxing and soothing. And always work.
My mom also gave us enemas when sick. I remember they did not hurt and I always felt better after getting an enema.
If you do give him enemas when older, I found it is best to sit down beforehand and tell him he will be getting an enema to make him feel better. This has helped mine. Makes giving the enema easier.
I am like Courtney, not against giving the enema. It was never painful.
Also told not to give an enema to one under 2 yo. Without first talking with doctor.
I am glad Courtney and you told that the enema does not hurt. Surprised to read on here a few telling Sarah and others on here that the enema is painful and traumatic for the child. Far from it! Once the child has been given an enema he knows it does not hurt and it will make him feel better.
Giving him an enema is much better than giving tons of the junk OTC stuff.
Both my mom and aunt were nurses. And the enema was given often in our home. Being 8 years older than my siblings I remember the enema given in our home.
Was never painful. The enema was never, that I can remember, given in the tub as Sarah told how to give it.
I remember my younger brothers and cousin getting an enema on the bed, across the lap way or at the infant-toddler age on the kitchen table. Towel on the table.
Sarah has wonderful pages.
If someone has a problem what she tells, then best to politely tell why you do not agree.
I sweat fevers out a lot too. Is it safe to do it while pregnant though? A lot of websites say it isn’t, but I don’t want to do drugs instead. What’s the safest way to sweat it out, to get past a bout of flu while pregnant?
I sweat fevers out a lot too. Is it safe to do it while pregnant though? A lot of websites say it isn’t, but I don’t want to do drugs instead. What’s the safest way to do it, to get past a bout of flu while pregnant?
I’m a first time mom but I believe our bodies Have innate intelligence. We have fevers for reasons and they do a great job helping our immune system. My LO (age 1) at the moment had a temp of 102.5 yesterday and at night it went down a bit but not much. In the morning I did give him a warm but cool bath because I didn’t want him getting any hotter. His temp went down after that to 99.6 but he was also laughing, cooing and was able to play for a bit. I was glad he looked like he was getting better. But in the middle of his morning nap, the fever came back and while he sleeps he jumps here and there. Not like a convulsion but almost like he has nightmares but also he didn’t sleep the whole night, he kept waking and crying. After his morning nap we headed to the Chiropracter and did an adjustment (which boosts the immune system about 400x) and then went to see the doctor to rule out somethings. So the first thing they mentioned as I stated he’s had a fever was “did you give him Tylenol?” i did not because taking meds while having a fever (that is likely viral or bacterial) is unnecessary and its actually counterproductive and may cause another illness. If you only have a fever and no other symptoms, the body has a built in mechanism and won’t allow your temp to go any higher than 106 degrees. But in certain situations like heatstroke, poison etc it will go above that range. So I find out he has some fluid in one ear and redness and start of an infection in the other. I use EOs and know they work through my own experiences so I have used some on him for the ear infection. They also wanted me to get antibiotics to reduce fever and help infection. I told them I’m going to wait it out two more days and to see if the fever dies down. In the evening his temp did go down a bit to 100.8 but tonight it’s back to 102.7. He has been drinking his formula (5oz) and eating only watermelon, beans, avocado and banana. He won’t touch another food. I have been also giving him water throughout the night and day but he doesn’t drink a ton. He is sleeping pretty well tonight, does still jump here and there but he’s extremely exhausted from last night. Just hoping this fever doesn’t go on for more then 3 days. And I am not against the enema, it actually isn’t painful at all. My mom use to use it when we were little. I just wouldn’t use it on my LO at this age.
Courtney what kind of EOs are you using on him? I am just curious cause I want to learn about what to use for that kind of thing! Also, how is your son doing? did you have to use antibiotics?
If you’re convinced you need to reduce a fever, please consider a non-med approach. One solution is to wet tennis socks and put them in the freezer. When they are crispy, but not too stiff, put them on feet and wrapped the rest of body and head in a nice warm comforter. Heat travels to feet to warm them and escapes. Fever reduced to low, tolerable levels. I’ve heard of socks drying within 2 hours due to the amount of heat drawn from the body.