Is My Baby Too Warm or Too Cold?
Your home should be a comfortable low to mid-70 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping in mind the season and how your baby is dressed. The best way to tell if your baby is warm enough is to look at and touch your baby’s skin.
If your baby’s skin looks blotchy and cool or if your baby’s hands and feet feel cold, you may want to add additional clothing such as socks or a hat. If you are with your baby in the daytime you can cover your baby with a blanket. If your baby’s skin looks red or flushed or if your baby appears sweaty, remove a blanket or a piece of clothing. It’s important to practice safe sleep when your baby is napping away from you or at night. Keeping your baby warm and comfortable by dressing your baby in a sleeper or a blanket sleeper. Additional loose blankets, bumper pads, and stuffed animals are NOT recommended in cribs as they increase the risk of SIDS. Keeping your baby safe while sleeping should be your number one priority.
How Do I Take My Baby’s Temperature?
The NICU staff should have shown you how to take your baby’s temperature before discharge from the hospital. The best and most accurate way to take your baby’s temperature is either under the arm (axillary) or in the bottom (rectal). Oral temperatures should not be performed on babies. Temporal (forehead) temperature taking is a growing trend, but the accuracy of this method at home is not reliable.
Taking an Axillary (Underarm) Temperature
Normal temperature is between 97.6 and 99.0 degrees F under the arm. If your baby’s temperature is out of range under the arm, always double check it with a rectal temperature.
Turn the thermometer on by pressing the button. Look for the “L” and the small “f” for Fahrenheit.Place the silver tip of the thermometer under your baby’s armpit, making sure that it is in contact with the skin on the arm and the skin in the cove under the arm.Hold your baby’s arm down next to the side of the chest, keeping the thermometer in place.Keep the thermometer in place until you hear a beep and/or you see the small “f” stop flashing. This step usually takes about a minute, but sometimes feels a lot longer. Be patient; it is very important to wait until the final reading.
Taking a Rectal Temperature
Normal temperature is between 98.0 and 100.4 degrees F rectally.
Use a digital thermometer labeled rectal thermometer. Always have a separate thermometer for taking a rectal temperature. Make sure you use pre-lubricated covers, lubrication gel, or Vaseline on the silver thermometer tip. Hold your baby on their abdomen across your lap or cradle your baby on their side, keeping your baby in a safe and secure position. You can also place your baby on their back with legs in the air (as you would when changing a diaper). Remove the diaper and place the silver tip of the thermometer into your baby’s rectum. Insert no more than a half an inch. Hold the thermometer in place until you hear a beep and/or you see the small “f” stop flashing. This step usually takes a minute, but can sometimes feel a lot longer. It is important to wait for the final reading to get an accurate temperature.
How Do I Know If My Baby Is Sick?
As a parent, you know your baby better than anyone. A change in your baby’s behavior could be a sign that your baby is sick.
Change in your baby’s temperature. Either a fever or a decrease in temperature that is not corrected with environmental changes could be an indication of an infection. Change in your baby’s breathing pattern. Some premature babies are more susceptible to respiratory infections and colds. It’s important to keep a close eye on how your baby is breathing. Is it labored (fast) or does it appear your baby is struggling? Is your baby coughing or wheezing (a raspy sound with breathing)? Excessive crying, unusual fussing, or irritability Blue, pale, or mottled skin color Change in eating pattern. Is your baby not eating as much as before? Do you have to wake your baby for feedings? Is your baby struggling to get in the volume needed?
Premature babies are more susceptible to dehydration and can become sick very quickly from loss of fluid or nutrients. Some additional signs include:
Vomiting most of all of their feeding.Frequent liquid stoolsA decrease in the number of wet diapers, dry diapers between feeds, or urine that is dark in color
When Should I Call My Baby’s Doctor?
If you feel your baby is sick, do not hesitate to call your pediatrician or if needed, bring your infant to the emergency room. When calling your baby’s doctor it is always good practice to have already taken their temperature. Do not just feel your baby’s forehead. It’s important to have accurate information so that the triage nurse can get your baby in to see the pediatrician as soon as possible if needed. If your baby’s axillary temperature is elevated or is low, they will more than likely want you to have a rectal temperature as well. Your baby should be seen by a doctor if:
Your premature baby is under two months of age and has an axillary temperature greater than 99 degrees F or a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees F. Your premature baby has an axillary temperature greater than 99 degrees F or 100.4 degrees F rectally and is showing other signs of illness. Your baby is 3 months old or older and has a fever that has been present for more than two days. Your baby’s temperature is less than 97 degrees Fahrenheit. A low temperature or the inability to maintain a normal temperature range can be a sign of illness or infection.
