Under 3 months
38°C+
Urgent clinical advice
NICE places babies under 3 months with this temperature in a high-risk group for serious illness.
Contact NHS 111 urgently or seek an urgent medical assessment.
Evidence-led UK guidance
UK Child
Temperature Guide
The number matters — but the child matters more.
A normal temperature varies slightly from child to child. The right response depends on age and how the child looks, breathes, responds, drinks and passes urine — not just the thermometer reading.
38°Cor above is a fever
General safety guideThis cannot diagnose a child or replace assessment by a healthcare professional.
Step 1
Check the child’s age first
Age changes how a temperature reading should be treated.
3 to 6 months
39°C+
Urgent clinical advice
NICE places children in this age group in at least an intermediate-risk group at this temperature.
Contact NHS 111 or seek an urgent medical assessment.
Older than 6 months
Look beyond the number
Check the whole child
NICE advises against using the height of temperature alone to identify serious illness in this age group.
Act on the child’s condition and warning signs.
39°C or 39.1°C does not automatically mean hospitalisation for every child. Age, symptoms and overall condition guide the response.
Step 2
Look at the whole child
A thermometer gives one piece of information. These six checks build the fuller picture.
Alertness
Are they responding normally, waking easily and interested in you or their usual activities?
Skin colour
Are their skin, lips and tongue their usual colour? Look for blue, grey, unusually pale or blotchy changes.
Breathing
Is breathing comfortable, or is it fast, noisy, grunting or visibly hard work?
Drinking
Are they breastfeeding or taking fluids? Are they refusing feeds or unable to drink?
Hydration & urine
Are nappies less wet? Look for reduced urine, dry lips or mouth, sunken eyes or no tears.
Rash & duration
Is there a new rash? Does it fade under pressure? Has the fever lasted five days or more?
Trust your concern. Seek advice if the child is getting worse, seems significantly different from usual, or something simply does not feel right.
Step 3
Know when to get help
Do not wait for the temperature to rise further when warning signs are present.
111
Urgent advice
Contact NHS 111
- Under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or above, or you think they have a fever
- 3 to 6 months with a temperature of 39°C or above, or you think they have a fever
- A rash with fever, signs of dehydration, reduced feeding or the child is not their usual self
- Fever lasting five days or more, the child is getting worse, or you remain worried
999
Emergency help
Call 999 now
- A stiff neck, distress from light, or a rash that does not fade under a clear glass
- A first seizure or fit
- Very drowsy, difficult to wake, confused, extremely agitated or not responding normally
- Severe breathing difficulty, very fast breathing, grunting, or skin pulling in beneath the ribs
- Blue, grey, unusually pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue, or unusually cold hands and feet
If you think a child is seriously ill, trust that concern and get emergency help.
Practical guidance
Taking a temperature
Use a digital thermometer. For children under 5, NHS advice is to place it in the armpit and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
A bath, heavy wrapping, a warm room or recent activity can temporarily alter the reading. Wait a few minutes without allowing the child to become cold or shivery, then recheck.
Forehead strip thermometers measure skin temperature and are not considered accurate for this purpose.
If caring at home
Keep them comfortable
- Offer plenty of fluids and continue breastfeeding.
- Check the child regularly, including during the night.
- Offer food if they want it.
- Avoid too many clothes or bedclothes.
- Do not sponge or undress them to force the temperature down.
About children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen
Consider either medicine only if the child is distressed or uncomfortable, following the label and age/weight restrictions. Ask a pharmacist, NHS 111 or a clinician if unsure. Do not give aspirin under 16, and do not alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen unless a doctor or nurse advises it.
Common in nurseries and schools
Using an infrared forehead thermometer
Forehead thermometers are quick and convenient, but the technique depends on the exact type of device.
01
Non-contact forehead thermometer
Keep the child still. Make sure the forehead is clean, dry and uncovered. Hold the sensor perpendicular to the forehead at the distance stated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not sweep it across the forehead unless the instructions for that exact device specifically tell you to do so.
02
Contact temporal-artery scanner
Some purpose-designed scanners are placed flat against the centre of the forehead and moved horizontally towards either hairline while the scan button is held.
This is a model-specific contact technique. There is no evidence-based reason to prefer the child’s left side.
For the most reliable reading
- Follow the instructions for the exact thermometer being used.
- Allow the thermometer to adjust to the room before use.
- Avoid direct sunlight, draughts and nearby heat sources.
- Remove hats or headbands and make sure the forehead is dry.
- Keep the sensor clean and do not touch its sensing area.
Checked against UK primary guidance