You don't *need* to bring a temp down. You need to focus on making your child comfortable.
Quote:
****But parents just don't appreciate that fever is the body's way of fighting an infection, said Dr. Janice E. Sullivan, the lead author of the Pediatrics report and a professor of pediatric critical care and clinical pharmacology at the University of Louisville.
The fever is a sign that the immune system is doing its job to fight invading viruses, bacteria and other bugs. Studies in animals show that those whose fevers were not lowered with medications recovered from illness faster than animals whose fevers were treated.
"Fever decreases the ability of viruses and bacteria to reproduce," Sullivan said. "It causes white blood cells to increase and fight infection. It may shorten the duration of the illness."****
So far (my kids are 5 & 2) I have ONLY treated a fever once & that was because my child had vomiting for a few days first & fever can increase the risk of dehydration. Other then that - I assess my child & how they act & do whatever I do according to making them comfortable, NEVER for what a thermometer reads. Bringing down a fever is fighting the body's own immune system response. It is NOT what should be foremost on anyone's mind unless your child is at risk for dehydration OR is under 3 months of age & even then, it is best treated/assessed by a Dr.
Edited to add the link from my quote...oops
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/05/health/la-he-fever-kids-20110306 ******************************
Edited again to say don't listen to idiots like Bbylove that don't bother to research & read the link. It is a DOCTOR saying you DON'T bathe a baby in cool water (this is actually dangerous as it can cause a spike in fever which is what causes febrile seizures - spiking in temp - not the actual number) AND that fevers do NOT cause brain damage. The ONLY way a fever CAN go "too high" is if you enclose a child in a hot car or the like where YOU are overheating them, OR if it is meningitis or encephalitis, which are BOTH brain infections, so the brain itself is having an infection & when THAT occurs, you don't treat it at home, it wont' respond to Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen or a cool bath anyway - soooo.... I am not thinking I am smarter than everyone , but clearly I AM more educated on fever then some....like Bbylove for instance.
Here Bbylove - a nice PDF from a pediatrics practices that CLEARLY states that "Fever is NOT a danger to your child"...read it - it will HELP you. ;)
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFUQFjAA&url=http://www.tamalpaispediatrics.com/tampeds_docs/md_articles/fever.pdf&ei=GB7HT4KvEqbp6gHbouz9Dw&usg=AFQjCNHBOJ2lHrPBrz0rSIQ_LrXp-dSpsQ&sig2=dTH7SYdFix2H-EnYjQ1ukA I am not the one proving myself to be ignorant - give me a SOURCE for your claims - show me ONE source that says fever causes brain damage AND that febrile seizures are actually dangerous...ONE source. Good luck with that.
And yes, there ARE ways to comfort a child WITHOUT interfering with the immune system doing it's job - like cuddles & such. I have been mothering for a while now (I have 2 older children I adopted as well) and so far I have rarely ever used a pain reliever....and if I did it was never due to as number on the thermometer & all about observing my child;s behavior. My Dr completely agrees & I am pretty sure attended med school. ;)