Your baby might be sweating and feeling cold due to a fever breaking, which is a common occurrence. This often happens after your baby has been ill with a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection.
Understanding Cold Sweats
Cold sweats, also often referred to as night sweats, are fairly common, especially in children. Here’s a breakdown of why this might happen:
- Fever: When a baby has an illness like a cold or the flu, their body temperature rises, causing a fever.
- Fever Breaks: As the body starts to recover, the fever begins to break. This means the body is trying to cool itself down.
- Body Temperature Regulation: Even after the fever subsides, the body's temperature can still be a few degrees higher than normal.
- Sweating: To lower the body temperature, the body will sweat. This is the body's natural way of cooling itself.
- Feeling Cold: Although your baby is sweating, they may still feel cold because their body is working to bring down the temperature, and the skin may have cooled faster than the core.
What To Do
Here are a few things you can consider doing if your baby is sweating and feels cold:
- Monitor Temperature: Keep an eye on your baby's temperature to ensure it doesn’t rise again.
- Keep Them Comfortable: Dress your baby in lightweight, breathable clothing to help regulate their temperature.
- Ensure Hydration: Make sure your baby is getting enough fluids.
- Consult a Doctor: If you are concerned or if these symptoms persist, reach out to your pediatrician.
| Symptom | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sweating | The body is trying to cool itself down after a fever. |
| Feeling Cold | The body’s temperature is still adjusting after the fever breaks. |
| Recent Illness | The child may have recently had a cold, flu, or sinus infection. |
It is important to note that "Cold sweats, or night sweats as they are often known, happen during the night and are fairly common. If your child has a cold, the flu or a sinus infection, they may have a fever. When a fever breaks and the illness is gone, the body's temperature is still a few degrees too high." as noted in our reference (October 1, 2024).
