Look at the baby first
Temperature is one sign, not the entire diagnosis. Check whether the infant wakes and responds, breathes without effort, feeds and passes urine normally. Fever generally means a temperature above 38°C, but age and appearance determine urgency. BKUS guidance says any infant under three months with a temperature above 38°C or below 36°C requires immediate medical assessment. Do not delay while waiting for a second reading or to see whether it falls by itself. Follow an individual plan for a premature infant or a child with a significant medical condition.
Measure calmly and consistently
Use a working digital thermometer and read its instructions. At home, an armpit measurement is generally a safe method for an infant: hold the arm snugly against the body until the device signals. Forehead, ear and non-contact readings can vary with age, technique and environment. Confirm a doubtful result with a reliable method, but never postpone help when the baby appears ill. Avoid measuring immediately after a bath, tight wrapping or a very warm room unless illness is apparent. Do not use a rectal method without professional instruction because injury is possible.
Record information that helps
Write down the time, number, measurement site and thermometer type. Add the baby’s exact age, last feed, wet nappies, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, runny nose, rash, recent vaccination and contact with illness. Tell the clinician about prematurity, health conditions and anything already given. “Very hot” is less useful than an accurate reading combined with a behaviour change. Bring the child’s records and the packaging of any product used to an assessment.
Safe actions while getting advice
Do not add blankets or try to make the baby sweat. Choose light clothing and a comfortably cool environment. Offer the breast or usual feed more frequently in small amounts; do not give water to a young exclusively breastfed infant unless a professional instructs you. Avoid cold baths, ice, alcohol rubs and vinegar. A medicine and its amount must be selected for a child’s age, weight and health, so no dose is provided here. Never use an adult preparation or alternate products from an online chart; ask the clinician or pharmacist.
When to make a same-day call
For a baby older than three months, contact a clinician the same day when fever accompanies poor feeding, repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced urine, rash, unusual sleepiness, persistent pain, or continues without improvement. Ask sooner when the baby has a serious underlying condition or reduced immunity. Outside practice hours, use the family-doctor advice line, duty doctor or urgent medical point listed by NVD. A parent’s observation that the baby has rapidly become unlike their usual self is a valid reason to request assessment.
When to call 113
Call 113 if the infant does not breathe normally, the chest pulls in or breathing pauses, colour turns blue or grey, the child is unconscious or unresponsive, has a seizure, stiff neck, a new purple rash that does not fade, or deteriorates rapidly. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions, stay with the baby and do not force fluid into a drowsy or convulsing child. If the phone has no SIM card or is PIN-locked, call 112 in an emergency.
A personal action plan
Information becomes easier to use when it is turned into a small plan. Choose one adult who can help with calls, transport or note-taking when needed. Mark only the next manageable step; the entire list does not have to be completed in one day. This plan focuses on measuring an infant's temperature and acting without delay:
- measure with a reliable digital thermometer and record where the measurement was taken;
- assess breathing, alertness, skin colour, feeding and wet nappies;
- confirm an exact weight-based dose before giving medicine and never use adult preparations;
- seek urgent medical assessment for a baby under three months with a temperature of 38 °C or more.
What to record and ask
Keep the date, key facts, advice received and next review point in one note. This makes it easier to describe the situation accurately when tired and prevents an agreement from being lost. Prepare these questions before speaking with an authority or professional:
- When did the temperature start, how has it changed and has any medicine been given?
- Can the baby be woken easily, breathe comfortably and take fluids?
If wellbeing worsens, do not wait for a planned appointment merely because earlier advice was reassuring. In Latvia, call 113 for an immediate threat to life, unconsciousness or severe breathing difficulty; 112 can also be used in an unclear emergency.