If your child has a fever, they’re probably feeling miserable. A high fever can make them feel weak and tired and leave them feeling irritable. They may also have a headache. Unfortunately, their body is having these reactions to the fever. What you need to know is that a high fevers does not mean your child has caught a virus or that they are getting ill for real. Instead, the elevated temperature is a symptom of their viral infection reacting with their immune system in an exaggerated way. Most children recover without any lasting effects from this overreaction by their immune system to the virus. However, there are some things you can do to help support your child through their fever without making it seem worse than it is – or worse still, without making them feel like they’ll never be well again!
Cool your child down
One of the first things you can do to support your child through their fever is to cool them down. This is because a fever can cause them to feel too hot. The quickest and easiest way to cool them down is by placing a damp cloth over their forehead or in a bowl of cold water placed next to them. You can also use ice packs, which are readily available and don’t need any preparation – just wrap an ice pack in a towel, put it on top of your child’s forehead, and leave it there for 20 minutes.
Another helpful strategy for supporting your child during their fever is giving them something cool to drink. There are lots of choices when it comes to what kind of cold drinks you could give your sick kid, but one good idea is fruit juice diluted with water or regular (non-fruit) juice. When the body experiences the heat caused by a fever, blood flow in their extremities (like the hands and feet) slows down leading to reduced body temperature levels in these areas. By giving children something cool that contains sugar or other simple carbohydrates they will be able to help their bodies maintain normal blood sugar levels as they recover from their illness.
Drink lots of water
Elevated body temperature causes your child’s body to consume more water, which can make them feel worse. Dehydration is already a common side effect of high fever. That’s why it’s so important for parents and caregivers to drink plenty of fluids to help their child combat dehydration and prevent any negative reactions from their fevers.
Use a vaporizer or humidifier
to cool the air
If you don’t want to use a traditional vaporizer or humidifier, you can try using a cold-mist vaporizer. These are small handheld devices that release fine droplets of water into the air that makes it feel more comfortable for your child. You should also keep the room well ventilated and close curtains to prevent heat from building up in the room. This will help your child feel less uncomfortable.
Another great idea is to make sure they have lots of liquids on hand and that they are comfortable getting up to drink them when they need too – especially if they have trouble swallowing due to the fever
Make herbal tea
Herbal teas are a great way to help keep your child hydrated and prevent dehydration. You can also try making them hot or cold herbal teas that relax their body.
Some good herbs for this purpose are chamomile, mint, lemon balm, cayenne pepper, ginger, licorice root, rosemary, and skullcap.
Another consideration is honey. Honey is considered a natural remedy when it comes to soothing an irritated throat and relieving congestion. It’s also antibacterial and healing.
If you want to make a stronger tea for your child, consider adding ginger and lemongrass or turmeric in their tea as well as some other essential oils like eucalyptus and thyme.
Apply ice to the neck and feet
Apply ice to the neck and feet if your child is uncomfortable. If they’re feeling weak or having a headache, you can apply ice to the neck and feet which will decrease the pain of their headache. This also helps reduce any fever-related discomfort because it cools down the body.
Offer rest, love and distraction
One of the most important things is to offer rest. Your child may need to take a nap or sleep for a few hours, and you should encourage them to do this. They might also need to take a break from their usual activities, which can include going to school or being active in sports. It’s best if they avoid strenuous activity as this could make their condition worse.
Another thing you can do is send them love and distraction. Try playing up different aspects of what your child enjoys doing like reading, watching movies or playing video games. You can also try taking your child on an outing – maybe even take them on a trip somewhere they always wanted to go before they became too ill!
Finally, it can be helpful to keep in contact with the doctor who has been treating your child’s infection. This will help you troubleshoot any problems that arise during the fever and get advice on how best to support your child through the fever period without making it worse than it needs to be!
Conclusion
1. Cool your child down
2. Drink lots of water
3. Use a vaporizer or humidifier
4. Make herbal tea
5. Apply ice to the neck and feet
6. Offer rest, love and distraction
