「Bundle up a fever and sweat it out」

Where the claim comes from

People do sweat when a fever breaks, so sweating got mistaken for the cause. The order is the other way round: the temperature starts to fall, and the body sweats to shed heat. Wrapping a child up only traps heat that should be escaping.

What the evidence says

The NHS fever checklist says plainly not to cover a child in too many clothes or bedclothes. The same list also warns against the opposite — undressing the child or sponging them down — because a high temperature is a natural, healthy response to infection. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) likewise says not to overdress: a single layer is enough, with a blanket if the child is shivering. Alcohol baths, ice packs and sponging are no longer recommended and can have adverse effects.

What to do instead

• One light layer of clothing; add a blanket for shivering and take it off once it stops.
• Offer fluids little and often — a feverish child loses fluid faster. Keep breastfeeding as usual.
• Use paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen when the child is clearly uncomfortable. The aim is comfort, not a normal number; follow the label and your doctor for dosing.
• Do not alternate the two medicines on your own, and never give aspirin to under-16s.
• Keep checking on the child, including overnight.