Mild chills only
Your child says they feel cold, wants a blanket, or has brief shivers but is still alert, drinking some fluids, and can be comforted.
Flu Chills in Kids: What’s Normal, What Helps, and When to Worry
If your child has chills with flu, shivering, or shaking along with fever, get clear next steps based on their symptoms, comfort level, and age.
About 3–5 minutesPrivate assessmentNo long answers
About this assessment
Answer a few questions for guidance on your child’s flu chills
Share how strong the chills are, whether your child has fever, and how they’re acting overall to get personalized guidance for flu chills in kids.
01
Why kids get chills with the flu
Flu chills in kids often happen when the body is raising its temperature to fight infection. A child may feel cold, shiver, or have shaking chills even while their temperature is climbing. This can look especially dramatic at night or during the first day or two of illness. In many cases, chills and fever happen together and improve as the fever settles, but the intensity of the chills, your child’s age, and how they are acting all matter.
02
What flu chills can look like in children
Noticeable shivering
Kids shivering with flu may tremble for several minutes, especially as fever rises. They may want to curl up, rest, and avoid activity.
Strong shaking chills
Child shaking chills with flu can look intense and upsetting. If the shaking is severe, keeps returning, or your child seems unusually weak, confused, or hard to wake, it needs closer attention.
03
How to treat flu chills in kids at home
Focus on comfort, not overheating
Dress your child in light layers and use a light blanket if they feel cold. Avoid piling on heavy blankets, which can make fever harder to manage.
Encourage fluids and rest
Offer water, breast milk, formula, soup, or electrolyte drinks if age-appropriate. Rest helps, and small sips are often easier if your child feels achy or tired.
Use fever medicine correctly
If your pediatrician has said it is appropriate, fever-reducing medicine may help with flu chills and fever in kids. Use only the correct medicine and dose for your child’s age and weight.
04
When to worry about chills with flu in kids
Breathing or alertness changes
Get urgent care if your child is struggling to breathe, looks blue or pale, is very hard to wake, seems confused, or is not responding normally.
Dehydration or worsening illness
Watch for very little urine, no tears, dry mouth, repeated vomiting, or a child who is getting weaker instead of gradually improving.
Age and fever concerns
Flu chills in toddlers and babies deserve extra caution. Young infants with fever, or any child with persistent high fever, severe pain, or repeated shaking chills, should be evaluated promptly.
05
Frequently asked questions
Why does my child have chills with flu?
Chills usually happen when the body is raising its temperature in response to infection. Your child may feel cold or shiver even though they have a fever or are about to develop one.
Are flu chills at night in children normal?
They can be. Flu chills at night in children are often more noticeable because fever patterns may rise later in the day and kids are resting quietly. Nighttime chills should still improve with comfort measures and fever care.
What helps if my child is shivering with flu?
Light layers, a light blanket, fluids, rest, and age-appropriate fever treatment can help. Avoid overheating your child, and monitor how they are acting, breathing, and drinking.
Is child shaking chills flu always an emergency?
Not always, but strong shaking chills can look severe and should be taken seriously if they keep happening, are paired with trouble breathing, unusual sleepiness, confusion, dehydration, or your child seems much sicker than expected.
When should I worry about chills with flu in kids?
Worry more if your child is very young, has breathing trouble, cannot keep fluids down, is hard to wake, has signs of dehydration, or the chills and fever are severe or not improving.
Personalized assessment
Get personalized guidance for your child’s flu chills
Answer a few questions about the chills, fever, and your child’s overall symptoms to see what may help at home and when it may be time to seek medical care.