Baby has a high temperature: when to get help

A hot baby is frightening, especially the first time. This page sets out what the NHS says about when a high temperature needs urgent help, and the warning signs that mean you should call an emergency number now. If you’re worried about your baby right now, don’t keep reading: call 999 in the UK, NHS 111, or your local emergency number.

When is a high temperature urgent in a baby?

For young babies, the NHS gives specific temperatures that mean getting medical help urgently:

In short:

• Under 3 months: 38°C or higher means getting medical help urgently.
• 3 to 6 months: 39°C or higher means getting medical help urgently.

For older babies, or if you’re unsure, contact your GP or NHS 111 for advice. You know your baby best. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and get help.

Urgent warning signs in babies

Temperature is only one sign. The NHS lists these signs as reasons to call for emergency help straight away:

In BabyLifeLog, these signs and the emergency number are on the Urgent help screen. It works before you subscribe and without an internet connection.

What about yellow skin or eyes?

In newborns, parents sometimes notice yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. The NHS says:

What to write down when your baby has a temperature

When you call 111, see a GP or arrive at hospital, you’ll be asked questions that are hard to answer from memory under stress. Writing things down as you go helps:

1. Each temperature reading and the time you took it.
2. How you measured it, so the next reading is comparable.
3. Feeds and wet nappies since your baby seemed unwell (see how many wet nappies a newborn should have).
4. Any medicine given: the name, the dose as written on the label, and the time.
5. Anything else you noticed, in your own words: sleepier than usual, a new rash, a different cry.

Only give medicine as the label or a health professional tells you. If you’re unsure, ask a pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111.

Handing over to the next caregiver

Babies often seem unwell at night, when parents take turns. A clear handover avoids repeated doses and missed changes. Before you hand over, make sure the next person knows:

• The last temperature and when it was taken.
• Whether any medicine was given, what, and when.
• When the last feed and wet nappy were.
• What would mean calling for help, using the warning signs above.

Getting ready before you need it

Nobody wants to search for a phone number while holding a hot, unhappy baby. A few minutes of preparation on a calm day helps:

• Save your GP surgery, NHS 111 and your local emergency number in your phone.
• Keep the thermometer in the same place, where every caregiver can find it.
• Show grandparents and your nanny where the warning signs are written down.
• Agree who to call first, and make sure every caregiver knows your address and postcode.

Taking the log to the doctor

A timeline of readings, feeds, nappies and medicine helps a doctor understand the last day or two in a minute. Bring it on your phone or on paper, whichever is quicker to show.

How BabyLifeLog helps when your baby is unwell

In BabyLifeLog you can log a temperature in seconds, with the time filled in. Medicine is logged with its name and the dose as written on the label. The app never suggests doses. Health notes capture anything else you notice, and every entry shows who logged it, so the next caregiver can see exactly what has been done.

If you ask Lumi an urgent question, it shows the warning signs and the emergency number instead of an answer. For appointments, the 7-day summary in Plan puts readings, feeds and nappies together. For everyday tracking ideas, see what to track in your baby’s first year.