Your baby and their temperature

If your baby is sweating or their tummy feels hot to the touch, take off some of their clothing or bedding. 

It’s normal for your baby’s hands or feet to feel cooler than the rest of their body.

A fever/high temperature is 38C or higher, it’s the body’s natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds.  

If your child has a high temperature, they might: 

• Feel hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest 
• Feel sweaty 
• Look or feel unwell 

You can measure your child’s temperature with a digital thermometer; these are usually available at supermarkets and pharmacies. 

You can usually look after your baby at home, and their temperature should go down over 1 to 4 days. 

Don’t  

• Undress your child or sponge them down to cool them in the case of a fever 
• Cover them up in too many clothes, layers or bedclothes 
• Give them aspirin 
• Give paracetamol to a child under 2 months 
• Give ibuprofen to a child who is under 3 months, weighs less than 5kg, has chickenpox, asthma or symptoms of dehydration.

Do give your baby plenty of fluids and breastfeed as normal. Get medical advice if you’re worried or if your child has any of the below symptoms. 

Call 111 or your GP surgery now if your child:

• is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature 
• is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature 
• has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature 
• has a high temperature that’s lasted for 5 days or more 
• does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you’re worried 
• is dehydrated – such as nappies that are not very wet, sunken eyes, and no tears when they’re crying

Call 999 if your child: 

• has a stiff neck 
• has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it 
• is bothered by light 
• has a fit (febrile seizure link) for the first time (they cannot stop shaking) 
• has unusually cold hands and feet 
• has changes to their skin colour such as blue, grey, paler than usual or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin), or blue, grey or paler than usual lips or tongue 
• is drowsy and hard to wake 
• is extremely agitated (does not stop crying) or is confused 
• has difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast 
• is not responding like they normally do, or is not interested in feeding or normal activities 

A room temperature of 16-20 degrees Celsius is comfortable and safe for sleeping babies. 

In the colder months, your baby only needs light bedding or a well-fitting lightweight baby sleep bag. In winter, even when unwell, babies do not usually need extra clothing. Always follow the advice of your health professional. 

In very warm temperatures, your baby may not need any bedclothes other than a sheet. 

Babies should never: 

• Sleep with a hot water bottle or electric blanket 
• Sleep next to a radiator, heater or fire 
• Sleep in direct sunshine 

Click here for more information on safe sleeping.

In the daytime:

Give your baby one extra layer of clothing than what you’re wearing. For instance, if you have a t-shirt and jumper on, dress them in a vest, sleepsuit and jumper.  

If you feel cold, your baby probably does too. 

Once you’re indoors, in a car or public transport, remove hats, coats or extra clothing as soon as possible – even if it means waking your baby up. 

Read about car seat safety here.

At night-time:

Overheating a baby increases the risk of SIDS. Although it might be tempting to wrap up your baby, research shows it’s better for babies to be cooler than too hot. 

A sleepsuit and either a sleep gro bag or lightweight blanket for babies should be all they need. Check the manufacturers recommendations for winter tog thickness. Avoid thick, fleecy or padded blankets. 

If you feel like your baby is cold, add an extra layer of clothing – but not extra blankets. 

Make sure the mattress sheet is well secured so it can’t cover their face or get entangled in the night. 

In the daytime:

Babies less than 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight because their skin does not provide any protection. Keep them in the shade, and don’t cover prams or pushchairs with blankets as this can cause them to overheat. Clip-on parasols or sunshades are safe to use. 

Read more about sun safety here.

When it’s hot, dressing your baby in a single layer of lightweight breathable cotton is best. Ensure they have a wide brim hat to keep the sun off their face. 

If you’re using a baby sling, make sure you know how to use it safely – click here to learn more about safe sling use.

At night-time:

Keep nightwear and bedclothes to a minimum. A vest or just a nappy is ok on warmer nights. 

If your baby pushes off the covers during the night, just leave their nappy on and have a single, well secured sheet. 

Make sure the mattress sheet is well secured so it can’t cover their face or get entangled in the night.