I am a great follower of your column, I hardly miss The Zimbabwean every Thursday. I have a six-month- old son and in your column you once talked about having a thermometer and knowing our babies’ temperature. I once had that idea but got discouraged by the fact that it may turn me into an psychologically unstable mother who will always worry what if her baby is sick when I have to check her temperature every day. Please advise on that and also what one should do after a high temperature, is it a cause for panic? – Mum Diana
Dear Mum Diana
High temperature in babies is definitely a cause for concern, but panicking will not be good for your baby because at that point she has you to rely on and we don’t always think straight when we panic, do we?
A temperature is usually the first sign that there is something wrong in your child, and an indication that the body is fighting back against something. She will need medical attention to determine what’s causing it, so you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Having a thermometer of your own in the house is wise because you get to know what is going on with your baby.
You don’t necessarily have to check the baby’s temperature every day – only when there are signs of the baby being ill. There are times when a mother can actually feel the rise in an infant’s body temperature just by holding it. A thermometer will help you confirm this. – Aunty Lisa
Post published in: Health