Teething Temperature

Many babies develop a temperature during teething which is due to soreness and swelling of the gums caused by the pressure of the emerging teeth. What we say is that whilst it is normal for a teething baby to develop a slightly raised temperature; if he or she develops a fever then that is likely to be a sign of an illness or infection. Ask your doctor for advice if your baby has a high temperature. With teething, the normal pattern is a small increase in temperature.

Use a thermometer to take your baby's temperature (they may or may not agree to this!). Pop the thermometer into their mouth and leave it there for a couple of minutes. Another option is to place the thermometer under your baby's armpits which they may be more receptive to. If baby is reluctant then try and make this into a game.

What is the difference between a raised temperature and a fever?

A temperature of 38C or higher is classed as a fever and is usually the symptom of a medical condition. If your baby has a temperature as high as this or is even higher then contact your GP. This is a difficult symptom to deal with as babies and toddlers often develop a fever or a raised temperature at best which is usually due to a mild infection. So how do you tell the difference? This may help: your baby usually has a body temperature between 36 and 37C which is classed as normal. This is slightly higher in the evenings but only by a tiny percentage, e.g. 1 degree. A small increase in this, for example a temperature of 38C is considered to be a raised temperature rather than a fever. However, your baby will shows signs of a raised temperature such as a flushed red face and light perspiration (sweat). Anything lower than 38C is viewed as a mild temperature and can be treated as a minor concern. But if you