Sponge Baths, Showers, and Wet Towels for a Child's Fever: What Helps
A lukewarm shower, sponge bath, or damp washcloth can help a feverish child feel more comfortable, but cold water and ice baths can backfire by causing shivering that raises the temperature further. Here's how to do it safely, and when a normal shower or bath is all your child needs.
Does bathing or sponging actually lower a fever?
A lukewarm shower, bath, or sponge down can help a child feel more comfortable and may bring the skin temperature down a little, but unlike medicine it does not lower the body's temperature set point, so the fever often comes back within minutes.
Use a lukewarm sponge or shower if your child feels hot and uncomfortable, and only if they like it. Stop if they shiver. Use it alongside medicine if your child needs it, not as a replacement for it. For most fevers, especially milder ones, bathing or sponging is an optional comfort measure rather than something every fever needs.
Do not sponge a baby under 3 months with a fever. Get them assessed.
How to sponge or shower safely
- Use lukewarm water, close to body temperature, not cold.
- Keep it short, a few minutes is enough rather than a prolonged session.
- If sponging, sponge the front of the body before the back.
- Pat your child dry afterward and dress them in light clothing.
- Stop if your child starts shivering, or if their lips or skin look pale or blue. Cover them up and let them warm up before trying again.
Wet towels and cool compresses
A cool, damp washcloth on the forehead or the back of the neck is a simple, low-effort comfort measure that works well for a child who does not want a full sponge down or bath. It only needs to feel cool to the touch, not cold. Change it as it warms up against your child's skin.
What to avoid
- Cold water or ice baths and ice packs. These can cause shivering, which generates heat and can push the core temperature higher, the opposite of what you want.
- Alcohol or vinegar rubs. Alcohol can be absorbed through a child's skin or breathed in, and is not a safe way to cool a fever.
- Sponging for a long time, or leaving your child in wet clothes or sheets afterward. This can leave them feeling colder and trigger the shivering you were trying to avoid.
When a normal routine is enough
If your child seems comfortable, is dressed lightly, and the room is not too warm, a normal shower or bath as part of their usual routine is enough on its own, as long as they are up for it and not shivering. Save active sponging for when your child is uncomfortably hot or restless and wants the extra comfort.
Removing layers and keeping the room comfortable, around 25°C, with light clothing is often enough on its own.
→ Cold sweats and chills with a fever: what they mean
→ Fever at night: when should parents worry?
When to get help now
Call 995 now if your child has a fever and any of these:
- !A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (give rectal diazepam if a doctor has prescribed it, and still call)
- !Struggling to breathe (skin pulling in under the ribs, nostrils flaring, or grunting), pauses in breathing, or lips turning blue or grey
- !Cannot be woken, or floppy and not responding to you
- !A rash of small red or purple spots that does not fade when you press a glass on it
- !Swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, with any difficulty breathing
- !Cold, clammy, or mottled skin, with drowsiness or restlessness
Go to the nearest 24-hour A&E or children's emergency now if:
- !A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38.0°C or above
- !A first febrile seizure, even if it has stopped
- !After a seizure: confused, still drowsy after 30 minutes, or more than one seizure in a day
- !A stiff neck, or crying in pain when bending the head forward
- !Unusually drowsy or hard to wake, but can be woken
- !Dengue warning signs as the fever comes down: tummy pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding gums or nose, or very tired
- !No urine or wet nappy for 12 hours or more
- !No tears when crying, sunken eyes, or a very dry mouth
- !Cannot keep any fluids down
- !Green vomit
- !A temperature above 40°C that is not coming down, and your child seems unwell
Frequently asked questions
Can I shower my child if they have a fever?+
Yes. A normal lukewarm shower or bath is fine during a fever if your child is up for it and not shivering. It is unlikely to make the fever worse, and many children find it comforting.
Does a cold bath bring a fever down faster?+
No. Cold water or ice baths can cause shivering, which generates heat and can push the core temperature higher rather than lower. Lukewarm water is the better choice if you want to sponge or bathe your child.
What temperature should the water be for a sponge bath?+
Lukewarm, close to body temperature. It should feel comfortable on your own wrist or inner arm, not cold. Use tepid sponging if your child feels hot and uncomfortable, and only if they like it. Stop if they shiver. Use it alongside any medicine your child needs rather than instead of it.
Is it OK to use a wet towel or cold compress on a feverish child?+
Yes. A cool, damp washcloth on the forehead or the back of the neck is a simple comfort measure. It only needs to feel cool to the touch, not cold, and can be changed as it warms up.
My child started shivering during a sponge bath, what should I do?+
Stop sponging, pat your child dry, and cover them with a light layer until the shivering passes. Shivering means the water is too cold for them at that moment, not that you need to continue for it to work.
Are alcohol or vinegar rubs safe for a fever?+
No. These are sometimes used as a traditional remedy, but alcohol can be absorbed through a child's skin or breathed in, and is not a safe way to cool a fever. Stick to lukewarm water.