Fever Guidelines for the Healthy Child Under 2 Months of Age

Important information about your baby’s body temperature:

What is a normal temperature for a baby under 2 months of age?

• TOO LOW: 97.5 °F (36.4 °C) and below

• NORMAL: 97.7 °F (36.5 °C) to 100.3 °F (37.9 °C)

• TOO HIGH: 100.4 °F (38.0 °C) and above

Understanding your baby’s body temperature:

• Babies 2 months of age and younger do not have a fully developed immune system. As a result, they are more likely than older children to get sick from bacterial and viral infections.

• Sometimes the only sign of illness in a baby is a temperature that is too high or too low.

• An abnormal temperature in a baby is a sign that they may be ill.

Take a temperature if your baby is:

• Showing signs of being sick

  • Cold symptoms

  • Cough

  • Rash

  • Poor feeding

• Crying and will not calm down

• Feeling hot to the touch

  • Babies can have a fever without feeling hot

• Is acting differently than normal

How to take a temperature:

• Rectal temperatures are recommended in children less than 2 years of age.

• Taking a temperature by mouth, under the arm, on the forehead, or in the ear is not accurate for children this age.

If the temperature is abnormal:

• Do not give acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or any other fever medicine.

• Check your baby’s clothing

  • Too many clothes or blankets may cause his body temperature to be high.

  • Remove any extra clothing or blankets

  • Recheck their temperature

• If your baby’s temperature is too low or too high, call your child’s healthcare provider right away. We may instruct you to bring them to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Emergency Department for further evaluation.

Reviewed November 2023, by Lori Worthy, CRNP