9 Effective Home Remedies for Fever in Toddlers

A moderate fever is not a matter of great concern, as this is how the body activates the defence mechanism against infection. Usually, a toddler can easily handle a body temperature of up to 100 degrees. Most often, such a mild fever can be dealt with using home remedies. If your toddler has a moderate fever, there are some effective home remedies for toddler fever you can try to treat it. As a matter of caution, it is always necessary to keep emergency contacts handy and consult a paediatrician if your toddler’s fever does not go away with the help of home remedies. So, let’s get started with the home remedies, shall we?

Home Remedies to Treat Your Toddler’s Fever

At times you may find yourself in a dilemma of whether to take your child to a doctor or not when the temperature is mild. On top of that, you may have to wake up in the middle of the night to console your baby if she is crying or in discomfort due to a fever. In either case, it’s better to be ready for the unexpected, and this is when you should know how to reduce fever in toddlers naturally. Following are some home remedies for fever in one-year-olds and above.

1. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is one of the best natural remedies for fever in a toddler.

What You Need?

Chamomile tea leaves and honey.

What to Do?

Bring some water to boil and soak chamomile tea leaves in it for about a minute. Add honey to it and feed a few drops of it to your child twice a day.

2. Raisins

Raisins are a rich source of antioxidants and have antibacterial properties. They can help in fighting against infections and lowering the temperature.

What You Need?

All you need is a handful of raisins (20-25, to be precise), a tablespoon of lime juice, and ½ cup of water.

What to Do?

Soak all the raisins in a ½ cup of water for about an hour. Crush them once they become soft and strain the liquid. Add lime juice to it for better results. Feed this tonic to your child twice a day and see the magic.

3. Sponge Bath With Warm Water

Bath your toddler with lukewarm water to reduce the temperature. A sponge bath provides a soothing effect to the body, helping your child to feel at ease. However, ensure that the water is warm enough so she doesn’t shiver. If you notice your toddler shivering, then take her out of the bathtub and dry her immediately.

What You Need?

Warm water in a tub and a sponge.

What to Do?

Don’t use cold water. Prepare a tub full of lukewarm water to let your baby sit in. As soon as the water starts to evaporate through the skin, it will lower the temperature. You can even do sponging either with lukewarm water or at room temperature. It effectively reduces the temperature by 2 degrees in nearly 30 minutes.

4. Electrolyte Solutions

Sometimes, a fever may induce diarrhoea or vomiting in the toddler, causing your child to lose essential salts, minerals, and nutrients from her body. Experts advise that you make use of electrolyte solutions to replenish the lost fluids from the body. You can easily avail of these electrolyte solutions from your local drugstore.

What You Need?

A sachet of ORS solution.

What to Do?

Pour the content of the electrolyte solution into 1 litre of water or as prescribed. Ensure that you keep feeding your child this solution at frequent intervals.

5. Ginger Bath

Ginger is known for its medicinal value and can eliminate bad bacteria which are responsible for fever. Ginger bath induces sweating, which facilitates the expelling of heat and toxins.

What You Need?

2 tablespoons of ginger powder, a bathtub and warm water.

What to Do?

Add ginger powder to the bathtub filled with warm water. Stir the powder well in the water. Place your child in the bathtub and let her stay in it until she starts to sweat. Ensure that the water is not too hot. Keep it at a lukewarm temperature.

6. Mustard Oil and Garlic Massage

Mustard oil and garlic both of these are known for their medicinal properties. A mixture of mustard oil and garlic is one of the best home remedies for fever in toddlers of the 2-year-old age group.

What You Need?

2 tablespoons of mustard oil and 1 tablespoon of garlic paste.

What to Do?

Mix 2 tablespoons of mustard oil with 1 tablespoon of garlic paste. Heat the mixture, then strain and use this oil to gently massage your child’s feet, palms, neck, chest, and back just before bedtime. It will help in increasing the sweat and bring down the temperature. This oil will also provide relief from body pain.

7. Lemon Juice With Honey

Lemon is known for its immunity-boosting qualities, and honey for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Lemon juice mixed with honey is a powerful remedy against flu and fever. This remedy is only for children above 12 months of age. Refrain from giving honey as a home remedy for fever for a one-year-old.

What You Need?

1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey

What to Do?

Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to a spoonful of honey. Mix well before feeding it to your little one.

8. Onion

Onion is an integral part of the Indian kitchen, but did you know that it also has the medicinal value to reduce a fever? Onions are believed to bring down the temperature gradually. However, there are no studies to prove their efficacy, we suggest that you can first check with a specialist before opting for this remedy and consult a doctor if it fails to work.

What You Need?

A couple of thin slices of onion.

What to Do?

Rub 2-3 thin slices of onion on the back of your child’s feet. Repeat this twice a day for better results.

9. Homemade Fruit Popsicles

With high fever comes dehydration and other symptoms. In this case, experts suggest giving your children popsicles to reduce their temperature and improve their taste buds.

What You Need?

Half cup orange juice and quarter cup yoghurt

What to Do?

Blend orange juice and yoghurt nicely and freeze them in ice cream trays. Once frozen, give your toddler to suck on the popsicles.

When to Consult a Doctor?

These home remedies can do wonders for a mild fever in babies. However, the condition may get more serious in some cases when toddler fever remedies fail to work, so consult a doctor if you notice these symptoms in your child.

1. A temperature higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Irritable throughout the day and is unable to sleep.
3. A fever that lasts more than three days.
4. Seems to be listless, unresponsive, or has trouble maintaining eye contact with you.
5. Refuses or is unable to eat.
6. A cold and cough that lasts more than three days.
7. Diarrhoea
8. Nausea or vomiting that persists.
9. Convulsions or seizures
10. A skin rash that is unusual (not due to heat).
11. Weakness
12. Dehydration

A fever is a common occurrence among toddlers, but it might also be an underlying symptom of problems such as ear infection, teething, tonsillitis, measles, flu, etc. You can deal with a mild fever in toddlers with the help of home remedies without any complications. Home remedies are good as compared to allopathy, as most often, they don’t have any side effects on one’s body. However, if these home remedies fail to work and your child’s temperature has lasted for 5 days or more with severe dehydration and weakness, you must consult a doctor as soon as possible.

References/Resources:

1. High temperature (fever) in children; NHS; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

2. Fever; Seattle Children’s; https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/fever/

3. Fever; Nationwide Children’s Hospital; https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/fever

4. Fever in Children; Stanford Medicine; https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=fever-in-children-90-P02512

5. Fever (High Temperature) In Kids; Nemours KidsHealth; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fever.html

6. Treating Your Child’s Fever; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/Medications-Used-to-Treat-Fever.aspx

Also Read:

Foods to Give During Fever to Toddlers
Home Remedies for Constipation in Toddlers
Home Remedies for Cold & Cough in Toddlers