Fever in Children
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Natural Remedies for Fever in Children: Safe and Effective Treatments

| Modified on Sep 20, 2024
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Potato Slices

Fevers in children, while often a sign of the body fighting infection, can be a source of concern for parents. While medical advice is crucial, especially for high fevers or additional symptoms, natural remedies can help manage mild fevers and ensure your child's comfort.

Understanding Fever in Children: Causes and Symptoms

A fever, typically indicated by a body temperature above 100.4°F (38°C), can result from various causes such as infections (viral or bacterial), immunizations, or overheating. Symptoms accompanying a fever may include sweating, chills, headache, muscle aches, and dehydration.

Gentle and Natural Approaches to Managing Fever in Children

Egg Whites

Egg whites applied to the feet are a popular home remedy for reducing fever in children on Earth Clinic. This method involves soaking clean cloth or cotton pads in egg whites and placing them on the soles of the child's feet, then covering them with socks. The egg whites are believed to draw heat away from the body, aiding in lowering the fever.

Sliced Raw Potatoes

Sliced potatoes on the feet is another popular folk remedy for reducing fever in children. This involves cutting a raw potato into thin slices and placing them on the soles of the child's feet, securing them with socks. The potato slices are thought to absorb heat and toxins from the body, thereby helping to lower the fever.

Adequate Hydration

Ensuring your child stays hydrated is crucial during a fever. Offer plenty of fluids like water, herbal teas, or electrolyte solutions to prevent dehydration.

Lukewarm Baths

A lukewarm bath can help lower body temperature and provide comfort. Avoid cold baths, as they can cause shivering, which might raise body temperature.

Light Clothing: Facilitating Heat Release

Dress your child in light, breathable clothing to help the body release heat. Overdressing can trap body heat and worsen the fever.

Herbal Remedies: Natural Fever Reducers

Herbs like elderflower, yarrow, and catnip can be used as teas to gently reduce fever. These herbs are known for their diaphoretic properties, helping the body sweat and naturally lower temperature.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Folk Remedy for Fever

A compress of diluted apple cider vinegar on the forehead or calves can be a traditional method to help reduce fever. The vinegar is believed to draw heat away from the body.

Conclusion

While fevers in children are a normal response to illness, natural remedies like adequate hydration, lukewarm baths, light clothing, rest, herbal teas, apple cider vinegar compresses, and light meals can offer safe and effective ways to manage mild fevers. Always monitor the child's condition closely and consult a healthcare professional if the fever is high, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms. These natural approaches can help your child feel more comfortable and support their recovery process.

Continue reading to learn which natural remedies worked best for Earth Clinic readers, and please let us know which one you tried!

Related Links:

Natural Fever Remedies: Safe & Effective Relief

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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ACV Bath, Egg Whites, Hydrogen Peroxide

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Posted by Melissamd (Md, United States) on 12/05/2015 9 posts
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

My 7 year old daughter went from playing happily to burning up almost instantly.

Using one of those forehead to ear thermometers, I took her temperature.

106.5

That can't be right...

I popped out the batteries and reset the thermometer. I swiped my forehead first and it read 98.7. Good, it's working. I swiped hers again... 106.3

I tore down the hall into the bathroom with her in one hand and a carton of eggs in the other, put her in the bathtub, turned on the water, dumped in 1/2 a bottle of apple cider vinegar with the mother, grabbed a new trash bag, cracked 2 eggs into it (without the yolk) and put her feet in.

My daughter wasn't lethargic.

Other than her body trying to catch itself on fire internally, she had no signs of sickness.

While waiting for my son to bring my phone to the bathroom, I found an oral thermometer and put it under her tongue.

105.3

It was working and fast. Still, it's dangerously high.

Obviously, I called 911 because fibril seizures are no joke and I've never seen a thermometer go that high. We have never experienced either and I certainly hope we never will/will again.

By the time EMS arrived, (and they were quick), she was down to 103.

Upon returning home from the hospital, I laid her down and filled her ear with peroxide. Usually, it takes 10 minutes on each side until the bubbling stops.

It took 30. Each.

THIS is how to minimize something brewing (and brewing large).

1. Peroxide in each ear until it stops bubbling. The sooner you do this, the less your body will have to fight.

2. Egg whites on the feet.

3. ACV in the bath water.

It works.

Apple Cider Vinegar

11 User Reviews
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Posted by Christy B (Turbotville, Pennsylvania, United States ) on 06/27/2024
 ★★★★★

I have been a fan of Earth Clinic for 12 years now, ever since I discovered how to beat pink eye with colloidal silver when my oldest daughter was 4 years old. Since that first visit, I have checked EC whenever the kids or I get sick and have found loads of natural ways to heal us. However, I've never felt compelled to write a review until tonight.

My youngest daughter is 3 years old and came down with what I assume is a summer bug. It's upper respiratory, so she's pretty stuffy, but otherwise she was acting fairly normal today. Her appetite was a bit light, but not alarmingly so, and she played just as happily as ever.

Unfortunately, just before bedtime she started to get a fever. Getting her to take medicine is a total nightmare, so I usually just let fevers run their course. She fell asleep quickly but was resting fitfully. We co-sleep, and around 2:30 a.m., I woke up because I could feel she was burning up. I took her temp and it was 104.3.

I was trying to decide what to do, whether to risk attempting to give her medicine or put her in a like warm bath, but she was still asleep and I wanted to let her continue to rest if possible. Once again, I came to Earth Clinic hoping someone would have a good remedy for me to try.

Apple cider vinegar was at the top of the list and I knew I had some on hand because I had recently used it to help my dog with a yeast infection in his ears. I quietly slipped out to the kitchen, grabbed a small basin and a few paper towels, and filled the basin with 3 parts water to 1 part apple cider vinegar (with the mother).

I returned to my bedroom and tried placing a damp paper towel on my daughter's forehead, but she kept swiping at it in her sleep. I then wiped as much of her body as I could reach with the towels, starting at her feet and working my way up to her tummy, pausing for as long as she would let me on each door, leg, and then her torso.

When I was satisfied that I had covered as much of her body as I could, I took two of the paper towels, rung them out as much as possible, and tried to wrap them around her feet. She of course kicked them off immediately, so I folded one towel and held it against the bottom of one of her feet. Somehow she accepted that and let me hold it there for about 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes was up, the paper towel was nearly dry, so I put it back in the basin and checked her temp again. 99.8! I couldn't believe it. That was about 15 minutes ago and it's holding steady at that temp. She's sleeping peacefully now and her breathing even seems a bit better.

I decided to write the review so that other people would know that even if you can't follow someone else's protocol exactly, it might still work for you. I was so worried that it wouldn't work when I couldn't keep it on her forehead or wrapped around her feet, but thankfully it did! This will forever be my go-to remedy for fevers from now on.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Danzi (Cape Town) on 12/26/2022
 ★★★★★

My 3 year old daughter recently had Herpangina (part of coxsackie virus family). Similar to hand foot and mouth disease, but it's main concerns are high fever and mouth sores. She had a fever of 39.2 Celsius (102.5 F). It kept climbing during the day despite a luke warm bath, taking off her clothes and pain med. I got very concerned and looked at cures on Earthclinic. For her I soaked two paper towels in the whites of two eggs and placed it into two butcher bags (one each). Put her feet in and tied the bag around her feet. Then I dipped a towel in a mixture of roughly 80% water and 20% ACV and wrung it out. Put that on the length of her body. Put her to bed like that, wearing only her night diaper. Every time I checked her fever during the night it was down and by morning it was back to normal.

A couple of days later my 2 year old boy got the same thing. His fever was 38 C (100.4 F) when I acted (which was at 1h00 AM in the morning). The egg whites are messy, so I decided to first see if ACV on its own won't do the trick. His skin is more sensitive, so I watered it down more. Roughly 1 part ACV to 6 parts water and just enough to wet a towel in a little basin. Wrung it out. Undressed him (save for his diaper) and put the towel on the length of his body. He protested a bit (towel was cold), but I stroked his head till he calmed down and he didn't throw it off. By 7 AM in the morning I checked again and his fever was down to normal. So with him nothing but ACV (no pain meds or bath or anything). It is summer here in South Africa, so I wasn't concerned about his temp should the fever break and his has a wet cloth on him.

A lady I know says her grandmother always makes vinegar cloths (she used plain spirit vinegar) to wipe their foreheads during a fever and it works well. I figured a cloth down the length of your body will be even better and will also cool the body. And ACV is off course better than regular for various health reasons, but in a pinch, try the regular spirit vinegar.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Yeshai (Brooklyn, Ny) on 02/23/2017
 ★★★★★

My 2 year old woke up with 105.2. I quickly went to the site while waiting for his doctor to call us. I saw the apple cider vinegar cure. I quickly filled up a bath and dumped a little less then a half a bottle of organic apple cider vinegar, and with in 10-15 minutes he was down to 101.7. Amazing!!!!!

P.S. I'm still waiting for the doctor to call me back.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kb (San Diego, Ca) on 09/11/2012
 ★★★★★

When I was a kid and had a fever my grandmother would always strip me down to my underwear and rub vinegar all over my body. I use to hate it because of how bad it smelled but it worked incredibly well. I have always been looking for people who have heard of doing this before and never have until now.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Andreea (Grimsby, On) on 09/11/2012
 ★★★★★

Hello, I know of apple cider vinegar for fevers and I now do it for my son as well. It works. I mix the vinegar with water though as I think vinegar alone is too strong, and I heat it up a little and after rubbing it in I wrap my son in a warm blaket and let him sweat.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Caco_girl (Cebu City, Philippines) on 11/16/2011
 ★★★★★

My brother is really chilling and shivering to death with a 40 degrees centigrade.. His fever lasted for 3 days and continuoulsy taking lots of medicine.. Until someone told us to use vinegar ( not the ACV but the real liquid vinegar) as an alternative for water.. So instead of soaking the towel with a water while applying tepid sponge bath all over his body we use the vinegar.. I was really amazed upon using it especially that I am into a medical field.. It may sound so awful but geeeezzz, I dunno what happened but trust me. On the next day he was well with a normal body temperature.. It's not expensive and very effective.. There's no harm on trying anyways.. But as a first timer, hands up on this...

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Naturmom (Slidell, La) on 02/27/2011
 ★★★★★

My mom has sworn by ACV for years now. After getting up with my 8 year old son about 6 times throughout the night and awaking to a 104. 1 fever. We had been giving acetominaphen and ibuprofin. I immediately searched/found this website. To ensure things moved quickly I gave him about 4oz ACV, honey, water to drink and soaked a wash cloth with ACV and switched between his forehead and stomach/chest. Within 30 minutes he was back down to 102. 3 and still falling. From here on out I will use ACV before I turn to over the counter fever reducers.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rocketruiz (San Jose, Ca) on 10/26/2009
 ★★★★★

I am totally a believer in apple cider vinegar. My mom would use home remedies with us in Africa as healthcare was either not available or very expensivee. My 18 month daughter had a high fever of over 100.2 degrees. I freaked out since she has never really been sick with a fever before. I called my mom, who still lives in South Africa, for advice the next morning, as my daughter's fever still had not broken. She advised me to bath her in a tub of lukewarm water (not hot, but cooled down) with a cup of apple cider vinegar. I did it this evening before bedtime, a 7 pm. At 9pm my daughter woke up crying. I went into the room, to find her wet from sweat, and cooler! Her fever had broken!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ratazayah (Newark, NJ)
★★★★★

When I was an infant the Dr's told my mom I was going to die, due to a particularly high fever. She was told by an elderly friend to soak a wash cloth in acv and place one on my forehead and one on my stomach, while it smells like all get out, my mom was able to check me out of the hospital and from that day onward, it's literally been a life saver to all the children in our family with high fevers. It takes about an hour to break the fever.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ratazayah (Newark, NJ)
★★★★★

When I was an infant the Dr's told my mom I was going to die, due to a particularly high fever. She was told by an elderly friend to soak a wash cloth in apple cider vinegar and place one on my forehead and one on my stomach, while it smells like all get out, my mom was able to check me out of the hospital and from that day onward, it's literally been a life saver to all the children in our family with high fevers. It takes about an hour to break the fever.

Replied by Lexi
(Baytown, Tx.)
10/21/2011

I used the egg whites, potatoes, and onion, worked but my sons temp rose back up to 100.2, so now I got him in a bath 1/4 full of warm water and 1 cup of ACV. I also annointed him with virgin olive oil and prayed over him..

Hope this ACV works this time.

Replied by Karen
(Clarkston)
06/28/2014
★★★★★

Vinegar works for a lot of ails. In the bible, did not Mary wipe vinegar on Jesus in his hour of pain? Nothing I have used it for comes back void. It works every time. Staple in our house!!

Aspirin

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Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 09/19/2024
 ★★★★★

I grew-up in the 1960's and 70's. I remember Mom would quarter a 325mg aspirin and place one quarter (80mg) into a spoon with water. Once it was dissolved, she would give it to us by mouth. It worked for us.

Do NOT give to children under 2 years old.

Baking Soda and Lard

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Posted by Rudy (Hollister, CA) on 04/03/2007
 ★★★★★

(Remedy) Fever. "When we were small growing up my parents alway used home remedies and one which I recall using on my own children. Baking soda and Lard. You rub it on their stomach,feet and back and add the baking soda and rub it in and it reduces the fever instantly.My wife was a non beleiver till she saw it with her own eyes.

Replied by Margarita
(Los Angeles, Ca)
06/10/2010
★★★★★

My grandmother always made a paste of lard and baking soda to reduce fever. She'd apply it on the inside of the elbows, back of the knees, chest, bottom of the feet ... and it always worked -- it reduced a high fever.

Replied by Grateful
(Houston Tx)
06/09/2013
★★★★★

It's a old Mexican home remedy for fever. It actually works, after 1.5 days of fever and giving her motrin and tyleno l and the fever just keep returningl. My mother in law covered my 1 year old in a paste of baking soda and crisco lard right before bed. She woke up fresh with no fever. And the fever didn't return! She said when u didn't have money in Mx. You had to believe and go by home remedies handed down.

Baking Soda Bath

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Posted by Skittles (Clinton, Nc) on 02/28/2017
 ★★★★★

I know for a fact baking soda bath works to reduce fever. My mother used it on me from small child because I was a very ill child have a genetic immune prob so I would get sick often. But it's not just for children - I was running over 103 fever - high dosage of pain reliever wasn't reducing it so had my bf use warm baking soda water (not cold to prevent horrible pain) within in less than 2 hrs I had no fever.

Baking Soda Bath
Posted by Diana (Eureka, Ks.) on 04/22/2010
 ★★★★★

Baking soda bath to drop fevers

You can use a small bowl and bath [face-head], neck, chest, & back or submerge body in tub. If using a small bowl, use 2 parts baking soda to 1 part (cool water-the colder it can be, the better). BE CAREFUL & LIGHTLY APPLY, AS NOT TO SHOCK THE PERSON. Do not rinse and apply often, fever should go down fairly fast. Once person is feeling better, bath to wash off baking soda. If submerging bath, tub does not have to be full. 2-1 parts, same as above. Just enough water to get wet good, (have water as cool as can be stood). Only stay in tub long enough, to soak or wet down entire body,(just a couple minutes). Do not rinse off, wait til fever has dropped. I have personally used this for many years, as my children grew up, passed down in my family. IT WORKS!

Replied by Amber
(Washington Dc)
05/07/2015
★★★★★

It worked for me, I tried this last night for the 1st time with my 7 month old he was having 100.7 fever for 24 hours. One mother told me to try it. I did, and it worked! he is now at the normal temperature! very thrilled!


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