higher than normal temp

giggler25

FTM noob question probably but here goes...

DD is 12 weeks old and has had sporadic higher-than-normal temps (between 99.0-99.4) off and on over the past several days. (Her normal temp is around 97.8-98.0.). The pedi said anything under 100 doesn't count as a fever. It has been unusually cool where we live and we have AC so I don't think it is the weather. She's been a bit fussier than normal, sleep is more sporadic and she keeps acting like she's hungry but then not really eating for long (she's EBF). She also has been spitting up a lot more than usual but she does have reflux. I kind of assumed it was a growth spurt at first, but the high temp has me stumped. Any ideas??

ETA: she's also been shoving her hands in her mouth like a maniac but it is too early for her to be teething isn't it??

kendy20

Maybe she's teething? My sister had told me that her son got a slight temperature when he was teething and wanted to "eat", which meant he really just needed something in his mouth for comfort. He was also pretty fussy. He didn't actually have the teeth break through for a few months but the teething had started around three months. Hope your LO starts to feel better soon!

giggler25

@kendy20‌ - wow, I thought it was way too early for teething troubles but I guess maybe not? Thx for the info!

kendy20

Yeah I thought it would be to early as well, but my sister told me not to freak out if this kind of thigh happened because she could start teething. But of course if her temp ever went over the 100.4, I'm taking her to the ER just to be safe. At least that's what I was told before we left the hospital after I had my DD. Poor babies, teething lasts a little more than two years :-/

caballo718

Having the same thing also. Temp is 99.1 and DS has been super fussy. He's been noming on his hands too. Ugh DH said he could be teething and I wrote it off as too early. Maybe he's right.

Snowflake312

Although fever in a neonate or young infant less than 60 days old may warrant evaluation in the ER, fever in a well-appearing baby older than 60 days would be best served by seeking the care of your pediatrician.  The ER would be unnecessary.

Junebug060609

Snowflake312 said:

Although fever in a neonate or young infant less than 60 days old may warrant evaluation in the ER, fever in a well-appearing baby older than 60 days would be best served by seeking the care of your pediatrician.  The ER would be unnecessary.

This. A temp of 100.4 in a 3-4 month old is a different animal.

Also, OP, how were these temps taken? I ask because a temp of 99 rectally is approximately equal to an oral temperature of 98. Temporal or brachial you add degrees, but rectally you subtract... and most docs want rectal temps for infants.

giggler25

@kendy20‌ - teething lasts 2 years??? Oh man, what rock was I living under..... I agree with @snowflake312 though about a fever at this age.... Probably best to avoid the ER and call the pedi instead if that happens.

@Scotty138‌ and @caballo718‌ - sorry your LOs are in the same boat.... Good luck!

giggler25

Junebug060609 said:

OP, how were these temps taken? I ask because a temp of 99 rectally is approximately equal to an oral temperature of 98. Temporal or brachial you add degrees, but rectally you subtract... and most docs want rectal temps for infants.

These temps were rectally.  Ugh, I didn't know I was supposed to subtract -- thanks for that info!  I knew that ear thermometer wasn't as accurate and that you had to add to it but thought rectal thermometer was the correct reading for infants.  Thanks for that info!  The weird part though is that I only took her temp because her head felt really warm to me . . .

kendy20

Snowflake312 said:

Although fever in a neonate or young infant less than 60 days old may warrant evaluation in the ER, fever in a well-appearing baby older than 60 days would be best served by seeking the care of your pediatrician.  The ER would be unnecessary.

I live on a military base and that's what they told us to do if the temp reached that degree. Our DD gets seen at our family doctor and not a pedi. That's just the way they do it at the base we live at. I would call the nurse line first just to make sure we should take her in but just a little different since we live on a military base is all.

Katzalia

This is us, too. 99.3 axillary temp last night, gnawing on her hands constantly but not really wanting to eat any more than usual. Otherwise she seems well, just a little more fussy and wanting to be held than usual.

Rant: Why do symptoms show up on Friday nights?

giggler25

Katzalia said:

Rant: Why do symptoms show up on Friday nights?

Right?! Just luck...