No, a minor bump does not cause a fever; after a head injury, a raised temperature usually points to infection or a more serious problem.
Parents search for clear answers in the middle of a scary moment. You hear a thud, scoop your child up, and minutes later the thermometer reads high. The link feels obvious, but the medical story is different. A simple bump does not heat the body. Fever in babies most often comes from a virus, less often from bacteria. After a head injury, a temperature spike can still happen, but it usually relates to an illness that was brewing or a complication that needs rapid care. This guide lays out what to check, when to call, and how to keep your child comfortable while you watch closely.
Fever After A Head Bump: Quick Triage
Use the table as a fast screen in the first hour. It does not replace care from your clinician, but it helps you act fast and wisely.
| What You See | What It Means | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Age under 3 months with temp ≥38°C / 100.4°F | Higher risk from infection at this age | Seek urgent medical review now |
| Loss of consciousness at any point | Possible serious head injury | Call emergency services |
| Repeated vomiting or worsening drowsiness | Possible concussion or intracranial issue | Go to emergency care |
| Seizure or abnormal movements | Potential brain irritation | Emergency care now |
| Bulging soft spot, unequal pupils, or skull dent | Possible skull or brain injury | Emergency care now |
| Fever with cough, runny nose, or rash | More likely a viral illness | Call your pediatrician soon |
| Mild bump, acting normal, temp under 38°C | Low concern findings | Home care and observe |
Can A Baby Get A Fever From Hitting Their Head? — What Doctors Say
The short answer is no for a routine bump. Heat rises inside the body when the immune system releases signals that reset the internal thermostat. A bruise on the scalp does not flip that switch. The exception is major brain injury. In severe trauma, damage near the brain’s heat-control centers can trigger a “central” fever. That picture appears in intensive care, not in a quick tap on a coffee table. When a baby has a fever after a fall, the top suspects are an unrelated infection or red-flag head injury features that need rapid review.
How To Tell Illness From Injury
Look at the whole child, not only the number on the screen. Illness clues include a runny nose, cough, poor feeding from a sore throat, or a viral rash. Injury clues lean toward repeated vomiting, unusual sleepiness, irritability that does not settle, a bulging fontanelle, or behavior that seems off for your baby. If any danger sign shows up, seek emergency care now. When in doubt, call your doctor’s office or a local nurse line.
What Counts As A Fever In Babies
For infants and toddlers, many teams use 38°C (100.4°F) measured rectally as the cut point. Ear and forehead tools can miss a true rise or read low during the first months. If your baby is under 3 months and the rectal temperature meets or passes that level, seek care the same day. Older babies can often be seen sooner rather than instantly if they look well, but any doubt tips the choice toward a call. You can read age-based advice on fever thresholds on the NHS page for fever in children.
Why A Fever Can Appear After A Fall
Timing can mislead. Many viruses incubate for days before a symptom shows. A fall may happen during that window, so the fever and the bump land on the same afternoon. Teething causes gum pain and fussiness, but not a true fever. Rarely, serious head trauma can lead to a central fever in hospital settings. That is not the case for the average tumble from standing.
Fever After A Baby Hits Their Head — When To Worry
Scan for red flags during the first 24 to 48 hours. Worsening headache signs, nonstop crying that you cannot settle, a seizure, new weakness, or poor balance all raise the bar for care now. Watch sleep, feeding, and diaper output. If your baby seems much less alert, cannot be woken as usual, or vomits more than once, go in. Trust your gut: if something feels off, seek help.
What Emergency Teams Watch For
Clinicians weigh age, the height of the fall, the surface, and signs such as a scalp hematoma in infants, especially in the parietal or temporal area. They check pupils, neck stiffness, limb movement, and level of alertness. They also factor in the presence of a fever. Fever does not prove infection alone; it can also appear with dehydration or pain. The whole picture guides imaging and observation choices.
Home Care While You Observe
First, comfort and calm the scene. Hold your baby, dim the room, and offer breast milk or formula. A cool room, light layers, and small sips help a child with a warm body and stuffy nose feel better. If a bump rises, apply a cold pack wrapped in cloth for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. If there is a cut that bleeds, steady pressure for 5 to 10 minutes helps. For pain or fever in babies old enough for over-the-counter medicine, follow your clinician’s dosing advice. Never give aspirin. Keep all dosing tools together and write down times so two caregivers do not double dose.
How To Monitor Safely For 48 Hours
Stay near your child. Check on breathing pattern, color, and comfort. Wake gently once or twice the first night to make sure your baby rouses and feeds in a familiar way. Keep screen time off. Avoid rough play. Use your crib or bassinet as usual; skip pillows and loose blankets. Limit car rides if your baby seems woozy. If symptoms ramp up, go in.
When To Call, When To Go In
Call your pediatrician sooner for any fever in an infant under 3 months, or for older babies when fever lasts more than a day, returns after a short break, or pairs with a rash, cough that worsens, ear pulling, or poor intake. Head straight to urgent care or the emergency department for a seizure, nonstop vomiting, a bulging fontanelle, repeated fainting, or a hard fall from height. If you are unsure which setting is right, call your doctor or a local nurse line for triage.
Evidence At A Glance
Guidelines for head injury stress symptom-led decisions and careful observation. Pediatric concussion resources describe warning signs that need rapid care. Fever guidance for babies under 3 months treats any temp at or above 38°C as a same-day review. In the intensive care setting, teams recognize a central fever pattern after severe brain injury, which is different from a minor household bump.
| Check During 48 Hours | Why It Matters | Next Step If Present |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated vomiting | Possible concussion or bleed | Emergency department |
| Worsening drowsiness | Brain irritation can evolve | Emergency department |
| New weakness or poor balance | Potential neurologic deficit | Emergency department |
| Seizure | Acute neurologic event | Call emergency services |
| Fever in under-3-month infant | Higher illness risk in young age | Urgent medical review |
| Persistent high fever in older baby | Possible infection | Call pediatrician |
| No symptoms and acting normal | Low concern picture | Home care and rest |
Practical Steps That Help
Set Up A Calm Recovery Zone
Keep lights low, reduce noise, and keep play gentle. Use naps as your guide. Feed smaller amounts more often if appetite dips. Offer fluids to avoid dehydration with fever.
Track Temperature The Right Way
Use a digital rectal thermometer for babies under 3 months. For older babies, rectal readings give the best clarity when the number matters. Clean the tip with soap and water, rinse, and dry before storage. Do not stack temperature checks every few minutes; watch your child as well as the number.
Pain And Fever Medicine
Speak with your clinician for dosing that fits your baby’s weight and age. Many families use acetaminophen. Some older infants can use ibuprofen if approved by a clinician. Read labels, use the syringe that comes with the product, and write down times and doses so two caregivers do not double dose.
Prevention: Lower The Odds Of Both Bumps And Bugs
Use a non-slip mat in the tub, keep a hand on your baby on raised surfaces, and buckle in strollers and high chairs. Pad sharp corners. Check floors for tripping hazards. For illness, wash hands, keep sick contacts away when you can, keep vaccines up to date, and clean shared items. A healthy sleep routine also helps a small body handle mild viral days.
Can A Baby Get A Fever From Hitting Their Head? — The Bottom Line
A routine bump does not cause a fever. When a temperature rises after a fall, the most likely cause is a virus that arrived on its own timeline. Rarely, a severe head injury can bring on a central fever pattern in hospital care. What matters at home is the full picture. Age under 3 months with any fever, danger signs at any age, or a parent’s gut that says “something is wrong” all mean the same next step: call or go in. Parents often ask, “can a baby get a fever from hitting their head?” The safest path is to treat that question as a prompt to check your child, scan for red flags, and talk with your clinician. If the pattern points to illness, manage comfort and fluids. If the pattern points to injury, seek care now. The phrase “can a baby get a fever from hitting their head?” appears in searches for a reason; now you have a clear, plain answer to act on with confidence.
For more on safe thresholds and danger signs, see age-based advice on when to call the pediatrician, and the CDC page on concussion signs and symptoms.