Fevers in Babies and Toddlers: When to Worry | Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List
Fevers in babies and toddlers can be scary for parents, but how high is too high, and when is medical care really needed? In this episode of Little Lessons, Dr. Lena van der List, a pediatrician with UC Davis Children's Hospital, explains what parents need to know about fever in infants and young children, including what temperature counts as a fever, why fevers happen, and when a child should be seen by a doctor. She shares clear guidance on fever concerns for babies under three months, how long a fever can safely last, and warning signs that may indicate dehydration, breathing problems, or infection. Dr. van der List also walks parents through safe and effective ways to manage fever at home, including when to use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin), how to dose fever-reducing medicine based on a child’s weight, and why aspirin should never be used for fever in children. Learn practical tips to keep sick kids comfortable, hydrated, and resting, along with common fever myths to avoid. This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu. Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: • Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List ... Additional resources -- Kids Considered podcast episode on fever in babies and toddlers: • Kids and Fever | Kids Considered Podcast Acetaminophen Dosing Table: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli... Ibuprofen Dosing Table: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli... —— At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care. UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/s... Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/s... Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/s... See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom Kids Considered podcast: • Kids Considered Podcast Facebook: / ucdavischildrenshospital Instagram: / ucdavischildren Twitter/X: / ucdavischildren —— 0:00 Introduction to fever in kids 0:28 What is considered a fever? 0:46 When to worry about a fever with babies 1:06 When to take your child to the doctor for a fever 2:02 How to treat a fever at home 3:37 How long should kids stay home for a fever? The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 1/5/26. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice. #FeverInChildren #ParentingTips #PediatricianAdvice #BabyHealth #ToddlerHealth
