Even grandmother knew that calf compresses literally work wonders for fever and increased body temperature. In fact, they are a proven home remedy and are a helpful, natural alternative to chemically produced fever reducers.

Because a baby’s circulation is still quite weak compared to that of an adult, fever-reducing medications can be an additional burden on the little body.

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Fighting Fever In Children Efficiently With Calf Compresses

However,fever is generally not a bad thing. Rather, an increased body temperature helps your baby to fight pathogens in the organism. Therefore, reducing fever is not always the first thing to do.

On the other hand, fever in children is very much a challenge for the organism. Therefore, you are well advised to use calf compresses to reduce fever in infants. And in a particularly gentle and careful way.

Calf Compresses To Relieve Fever In Children

Calf wraps can reduce fever in a toddler, but also in adults. Before using them, however, you should always play it safe and ask your pediatrician for advice.

In general, calf wraps can reduce fever and relieve circulation at the same time. Whether further measures may need to be taken can only be determined by a thorough examination of your child.

The Effect Of Calf Compresses On Fever

Calf wraps primarily have a cooling effect. Thus, they cause evaporative cooling due to the cool moisture. Fever in children leads to increased body temperature. This is lowered and equalized when applying the calf wraps.

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It is important to position the calf wraps correctly. You should always apply calf wraps to the lower legs, because the cooling effect is greatest here with regard to the entire body.

This is where the most heat is released through the skin. In this area, the cold also activates the autonomic nervous system. As a result, the metabolism is revved up and your child’s blood pressure rises.

Tip

The calf wraps should remain on the lower legs until they have adjusted to the child’s body temperature. This has a calming effect on the vegetative nervous system of fever children.

At the same time, your little treasure benefits from a sleep-inducing effect. Calf wraps can reduce fever – and they are also anti-inflammatory.

Note: Babies And Calf Wraps

However, you should not give calf compresses to babies or infants under six months of age. There is a risk that they will strain their circulation and therefore will not be perceived as beneficial at all. However, calf compresses can be used to reduce fever from around 6 months of age.

However, before applying the compresses, check whether your little darling really has warm legs. If you are not quite sure, you should contact your midwife or your doctor.

After a thorough examination, he will determine how to effectively reduce the fever in the infant and whether you should use calf compresses at home or not.

Lowering Fever With Calf Compresses -This Is How You Apply Them Correctly

Soft cotton cloths are best for applying calf wraps. Cut strips of them about five centimeters wide and dip them in lukewarm water. In fact, the water should not be cold, as this could frighten the child and drive the heart activity up.

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Thus, the circulation would be additionally stressed: an ordeal for the already stressed child’s body.

Wring out the fabric strips and wrap them around your child’s lower legs. However, only after you have checked whether the calves are warm or cold. You should only use calf wraps to reduce fever if the temperature is elevated.

Put soft socks over the compresses. It is best to cut off the foot part of the socks beforehand. Then they can no longer slip so easily.

After about a quarter of an hour you should renew the calf wraps. Remove the strips and soak them again in lukewarm water. Wring them out again and drape them on your baby’s skin.

After another 10 to 15 minutes, the fever should go down. If it does not, you may apply calf wraps again after about 120 minutes.

Tip:

Towards evening, a child’s body temperature usually increases. Therefore, you do not have to be alarmed if the reading on the clinical thermometer shows a higher value. Nevertheless, the following also applies in this context: if in doubt, always consult the pediatrician.

Many midwives advise mothers and fathers to put on moist socks to reduce the fever. Of course, the legs and feet of fever children should also be warm and not cool.

To use the socks as a calf wrap, just dip them in lukewarm water, wring them out, and put them on your child. Again, do not leave them on for more than 15 minutes. By the way, to avoid soaking the pad, you should put a pair of dry stockings over the wet socks.

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A Gentle Alternative To The Calf Wrap

For fever: Children also benefit from pulse wraps. This is a very good way to reduce fever in young children. Pulse wraps are also easy to use by cutting three or four thin strips from a soft cloth.

Dip them in lukewarm water and wring them out. Then wrap them around the wrists of your child. Then wrap a dry strip of cloth over them.

To ensure a better fixation of the pulse wraps, you should wrap them with an additional pair of socks or gloves. To ensure that your little bundle of joy can move its fingers easily and does not feel constricted, you should remove the toe part from the socks.

Similar to the calf wrap, you should repeat the process with the pulse wrap about two to three times. After every 10 to 15 minutes, change the wraps.

Tip

If no fever-reducing effect can be determined, you should apply the pulse compresses again after about two to three hours. Do not forget to measure your child’s body temperature at regular intervals.

It is best to make a note of the values so that you have better control. In addition, the notes will help the treating pediatrician if it is necessary to consult him again later.

Then Fever Children Should Not Be Given Calf Compresses

If your baby has cold hands or feet, calf wraps should not be applied. Otherwise, the child’s circulation would be strained too much.

Does your child have chills? Even then, the application of calf wraps is more harmful than useful.

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In the case of an acute urinary tract infection or cystitis, doctors advise against applying calf or pulse compresses.

Do not apply calf wraps if your sweetheart has been diagnosed with arterial circulatory disorders.

In the case of fever in children, it is always advisable to check the reaction of the dear little one to the calf wraps. If the offspring feels uncomfortable after applying the calf wraps, you are better advised to remove them again.

Tip

The ideal temperature of calf wraps for babies is a maximum of one to two degrees below body temperature. If you want to apply calf wraps on an adult person, you are welcome to dip the cotton strips in 16 to 21 degree warm water.

Conclusion

Fever is usually associated with something negative. In fact, fever in young children is an alarm signal or an indication of illness. Lowering the fever is generally recommended. But not at any price. Rather, you should proceed gently and carefully. Calf compresses have always been a very promising way to lower body temperature.

How To Use Calf Compresses Correctly

Although calf wraps are a natural and time-tested home remedy, they are not a cure-all for fever. Thus, calf or pulse wraps should not be applied under certain conditions.

In the case of fever in a small child, it is generally helpful to ask your doctor for advice. After a thorough examination of the child, he or she will provide specific information on whether or when you can use calf wraps and when they are more likely to harm the baby’s health.