How can I bring down my child's fever at home?

Keep them lightly dressed, offer plenty of fluids and rest, and sponge with lukewarm water if they are uncomfortable. Use fever medicine only as advised by your doctor.

What temperature is too high for a child?

Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs a doctor. For older children, how they look and behave matters more; seek care for 39°C or above with other symptoms, or fever beyond 2 days.

Can I give tulsi water to a child with fever?

Mild tulsi water is a common traditional drink for children over one year, but it is not a treatment for fever. Fluids and medical advice come first.

Kids' health10 min

Home remedies for fever in kids: fluids, rest, light clothes and lukewarm sponging

A hot, cranky child with a fever is worrying, but fever itself is the body's way of fighting infection. These home remedies for fever in kids focus on comfort and hydration: plenty of fluids, rest, light cotton clothes, lukewarm sponging if the child is uncomfortable, and light, familiar food.

Important: this remedy is only a supportive home measure. Keep taking any medicine your doctor has prescribed, monitor your readings, and consult your doctor before adding anything new.

Watch the child, not just the thermometer

Most fevers in children are due to viral infections and settle in two to three days. How the child looks and behaves (playing, drinking, passing urine) matters more than the exact number. In India, dengue, malaria and typhoid are also possible, especially in the monsoon, so fevers lasting more than two days need a doctor.

Traditional care in Indian homes includes rest, light khichdi or dal water, and tulsi water for older children, alongside medical advice.

Ingredients

Water, ORS, coconut water, dal water or clear soup
Light food: khichdi, idli, dalia, curd rice, fruit
A soft cloth and a bowl of lukewarm (not cold) water
A digital thermometer

How to prepare

Keep fluids within reach and offer them every 30–60 minutes.
Fill a bowl with lukewarm water for sponging.

How to use

Dress the child in light cotton clothes and use a thin sheet; do not wrap them in heavy blankets.
If the child is uncomfortable, sponge the forehead, arms and legs with lukewarm water for 10–15 minutes.
Offer small, frequent sips and light meals; let them rest. Give fever medicine only in the dose advised by your doctor for the child's weight.

Helpful habits

Check temperature with a digital thermometer and write down readings and medicine times.
Use mosquito nets and repellents suitable for children, especially in the rainy season.
Keep the room airy and comfortable.

Precautions

See a doctor immediately for any fever in a baby under 3 months, fever of 39°C or more in babies 3–6 months, a fit (seizure), difficulty breathing, a rash that doesn't fade when pressed, stiff neck, severe headache, persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, unusual drowsiness or a fever lasting more than 2 days.
Do not use cold water, ice or alcohol rubs, and never give aspirin to children.
Do not give leftover or adult medicines, or antibiotics without a prescription.

Frequently asked questions

How can I bring down my child's fever at home?: Keep them lightly dressed, offer plenty of fluids and rest, and sponge with lukewarm water if they are uncomfortable. Use fever medicine only as advised by your doctor.
What temperature is too high for a child?: Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs a doctor. For older children, how they look and behave matters more; seek care for 39°C or above with other symptoms, or fever beyond 2 days.
Can I give tulsi water to a child with fever?: Mild tulsi water is a common traditional drink for children over one year, but it is not a treatment for fever. Fluids and medical advice come first.