When you have a child sick at home, it can be a full-time job to help them recover. After you have determined whether or not they need medical attention and get them settled in at home, you have to figure out how to keep them comfortable and supported as they work through their illness.

While at times medication or medical care is necessary, many common childhood illnesses can be overcome with just a bit of patience and care from home. Fever patches are just one way you can keep your kids comfortable and lower their fevers naturally.

What is the Purpose of a Fever?

It can be easy to think of a fever as an illness, but that is actually not the case. A fever is simply a sign or symptom of the body fighting to overcome an illness or infection. A fever actually does the job of stimulating the defenses your body has, like utilizing the white blood cells, in order to fight and destroy the cause of illness or infection.

While fevers are useful to the body as a way to stimulate those bodily defense mechanisms, they can become uncomfortable as they rise, and fevers that get too high for too long can cause damage to the body and brain.

Fevers that are making your child uncomfortable should be treated. However, it is important to remember that you are only treating the symptoms of discomfort caused by the fever, and are not actually fighting the underlying illness by simply lowering the fever itself.

When to Seek Medical Care for Fever in Kids

For children of all ages, a fever is considered to be a body temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above, when taken rectally or in the ear. When measuring a temperature under the arm, a fever is considered to be a temperature above 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

You should call your care provider if your child is over 2 years old and they have a fever that has lasted for more than 3 days. You should also call if your child has had a fever for less than three days, but it is combined with other concerning symptoms such as signs of dehydration or crying that cannot be soothed.

Anytime a child has a fever of 104 degrees or more, you should call your doctor and attempt to lower the fever right away. Prolonged fevers of 104 degrees or higher can cause damage to the body.

Ways to Care for a Sick Child at Home

Even though there are times when medical care is necessary for childhood illnesses, the majority of them will be able to be cared for at home. Helping your child remain comfortable, making sure they stay hydrated, and monitoring symptoms is often enough to help see them through common illnesses.

You can help your child stay cool and comfortable by dressing them in light clothing, giving lukewarm baths (avoid letting them shiver from cold), keeping them hydrated with water, juice, or popsicles, and using cool cloths to wipe them.

Another way to keep your child cool without having to constantly rinse a cool cloth is to use a fever patch. These patches can be placed directly on the skin, and will help cool and comfort for up to 8 hours without needing to be replaced.

MomMed fever patches for kids are safe for sensitive skin and can be used in conjunction with other fever-reducing efforts, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen since they are drug-free.

5 ways you can use fever patches to keep your child comfortable:

1. Lower Fevers

By placing a MomMed fever patch on your child’s forehead, wrists, or other areas, you will be able to help cool their body and lower fevers.

2. Relieve Headaches

As a tool to help relieve headaches, fever patches can be placed on the forehead, back of the neck, or temples. The patches can be cut to size to fit anywhere that helps relieve the tension of a headache.

3. Soothe Toothaches

Toothaches are miserable even for adults! For children, whose teeth always seem to either be growing in or falling out, the pain can be distracting and frustrating. Cooling the area with a fever patch can help draw attention away from the discomfort and soothe toothaches.

4. Avoid Heatstroke

Kids like to play hard, even when it’s hot out! Help them stay safe and cool by wrapping strips of fever patch around their wrists, or applying a patch to the back of their neck or other areas that feel comfortable.

5. Calm Muscles

Children are always running and jumping off of things, which can lead to sore muscles and other bumps and bruises. MomMed fever patches are safe enough to be used for all kinds of owies, without having to worry about side effects.

Final Thoughts

Childhood is full of common illnesses, bumps, and mishaps. Know when to call your doctor, and what symptoms are concerning. When dealing with an illness at home, aim to keep your child as comfortable as possible and well-hydrated. Monitor their symptoms closely until they are well again.

MomMed fever patches are an excellent staple to have in your home medical kit, as they can help lower fevers, provide comfort for bumps and bruises, and are a safe, drug-free option for kids and babies!