Teething and Fever

This is more likely to be a slightly raised temperature than an actual fever. Babies who are teething often develop a mild fever which accompanies other symptoms such as a loss of appetite, runny nose, coughing and drooling. But does your little one have a raised temperature or a low grade fever? What is a normal body temperature? The following definitions may help to clarify things a little bit. Plus it is useful when deciding if your baby has a bit of a temperature or a full blown fever. If you have a thermometer to hand then use this to check your baby's temperature.

Normal body temperature

A normal body temperature in a baby is between 36C and 37C. It is usually 36C when taken in the mouth and 37C when taken under the armpit. But be aware that this varies slightly from one baby to another.

Slight temperature

A temperature of anything above 37.2C and up to 38C is viewed as a slight temperature.

Fever

A fever is a condition in which the body temperature is above normal. Anything above that such as 38 or 39C is classed as a fever and requires medical attention. This differs slightly for babies compared to children over the age of 5. Your baby may have a red, flushed and sweaty appearance.

Does teething cause a fever?

What teething often causes is a slight rise in baby's temperature. Your baby will be off colour and grizzly during the teething process which may cause their temperature to be slightly elevated. But they do not usually develop a fever. If your baby has a fever then this is symptomatic of another condition such as a cold or viral infection. If so then contact your doctor as a high fever can lead to complications.