{"id":"4027403a54f02acb6bb520c8c7d901ec","slug":"why-does-my-3-year-olds-fever-keep-spiking-to-104-at-night-but-normal-during-day","question":"Why does my 3 year old's fever keep spiking to 104 at night but normal during day?","answer":"Fever patterns like this — high at night, normal during the day — are actually very common in toddlers and don't change what matters most: whether your three-year-old seems well otherwise. A fever of 104°F in a toddler is uncomfortable, but the fever number itself isn't the main safety concern the way it would be in a newborn under 3 months.\n\nWhat's more useful to track is how your toddler is acting. If they're playing, drinking, and responsive during the day even though the fever returns at night, that's reassuring. Call your doctor if the fever lasts more than a few days, if your toddler seems unusually sleepy or unresponsive, or if you notice other symptoms like difficulty breathing or an unusual rash.\n\nThe spiking pattern you're describing is frustratingly common — fevers often do rise in the evening — but it doesn't mean anything different is happening than a standard viral illness.","sources":"[{\"pmid\":\"29387980\",\"title\":\"Hyperpyrexia and high fever as a predictor for serious bacterial infection (SBI) in children-a systematic review.\",\"journal\":\"European journal of pediatrics\",\"year\":\"2018\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29387980/\",\"score\":0.74}]","thread_json":null,"topic":"fever-and-illness","view_count":1,"created_at":"2026-08-25T02:32:56.971Z"}