I tend to think the very worst right away and have to calm myself down. I want you to remember that fevers have a purpose. Fevers help the body fight off the bad stuff, and it’s usually best for your little one to fight it off by themselves without trying to lower the fever with Advil or Tylenol.

One of my biggest goals as a parent is to build strong immune systems in my kids. The less we use fever-reducing drugs, the faster they fight off the illness. A fever is the body’s natural defense system. The body does the best it can to fight off a virus by raising the body temperature to a point where the virus cannot survive. If we lower the body temperature, the virus will be able to thrive easier and make the individual more sick, even though they will temporarily appear more comfortable. A general rule of thumb (for over 6 months of age); a fever under 104 is a healing fever.

A book that helped me a LOT (especially at 2 am with a sick baby) was “If Your Kid Eats This Book, Everything Will Still Be Okay” by Dr. Lara Zibners, an ER pediatrician. Dr. Zibners covers every part of the body and offers sound advice, telling parents when they may need to take action, and when they might be able to just go back to bed and call their doctor in the morning.

I often say to watch the child, not the thermometer. Is the child floppy or lethargic? Any signs of intense dehydration (skin tenting, not urinating/very dark urine, rapid heartbeat rapid breathing, confusion or dizziness)? These need medical attention. Here are the important things to know- in children under 6 months of age, seek medical attention if fever is over 102 for more than 12 hours or any other signs of dehydration occur. Always seek medical attention if your child has difficulty breathing, blue lips, chest retraction or coughing up blood. And as always see your provider if you’re concerned.

Kids will get sick. Sick days at my house look like lots of snuggles from mom and dad, lots of liquids, lots of sleep, chiropractic adjustments, and lots of vitamins. More on those later. What’s your favorite mom tip for handling sick kids?

That’s my sweet boy as a baby (he’s now 7). Still gets all the snuggles when he’s sick.

❤️ Dr. Sarah Radabaugh