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Safety and Prevention. Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. How to Take Your Child's Temperature. Page Content. What type of thermometer is best for my child? Call your pediatrician right away if your child: is 2 months old or younger with a rectal temperature of Whatever approach is used, follow the cleaning instructions on the package before use. Oral use is not recommended until a child is age 4 or older. The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician.
There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Follow Us. Back to Top.
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Products and services. Thermometer basics: Taking your child's temperature Thermometer choices got you baffled? By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Schmitt BD. Itasca, Ill. Ward M, et al.
Fever in infants and children: Pathophysiology and management. Accessed Dec. Syrkin-Nikolau ME, et al. Temporal artery temperature measurement in the neonate.
American Journal of Perinatology. American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed March 7, In addition, infants and even some older adults cannot hold an oral thermometer under the tongue long enough for a temperature reading. Although not as accurate as rectal thermometers, temporal artery forehead thermometers are useful options for infants who won't stay still when checking their rectal temperature.
To take a rectal temperature, you'll need a digital thermometer and a lubricant. Follow these steps:. You may be wondering what's considered a normal or high temperature reading, especially if your child is an infant. The average normal body temperature is For instance, rectal and ear temperatures are usually 0. There is no universal standard when it comes to normal body temperature in different age groups.
Generally, a fever is considered to be Still, specific age groups may need prompt medical attention for certain temperature readings. If your baby is under 3 months old with a fever that's If the baby also has difficulty breathing, is crying uncontrollably, has a stiff neck, or has a seizure, go straight to the emergency room or call There may be an underlying problem like meningitis that needs immediate medical attention.
If your baby has a rectal temperature reading of You should also call your child's healthcare provider if:. Babies and children older than 3 months with a rectal thermometer reading of up to Just be sure to check and follow the product's dosage instructions. Babies that are 3 to 12 months old with a rectal temperature reading of 95 F or lower or a fever that's If a baby or child has a fever of F and above, or a fever of If you're an adult and have a temperature reading lower than 95 F or a fever that's over F, you should see your healthcare provider.
You should seek medical help right away if you have a fever that's over F with symptoms such as:. A rectal thermometer can be an accurate way of checking your own body temperature, but it is the standard when it comes to checking the temperature of your infant. As many parenting books don't thoroughly cover rectal readings, the idea of checking your child's temperature rectally may make you nervous or afraid to do so.
But no need to worry. By following the right steps, you can safely check your child's temperature and get a correct reading. If you need more advice on checking your child's temperature rectally, speak with your pediatrician, as they can give you more guidance on how to do it effectively. It might. If your baby is constipated, inserting a rectal thermometer just as you would if you were taking their temperature may stimulate a bowel movement. However, It's important to speak with your pediatrician to address your baby's constipation and discuss if using a rectal thermometer is appropriate.
Although rectal thermometers can be used from infancy to adulthood, many older children may not like to check their temperature rectally. You can stop using a rectal thermometer on your child after three months, but make sure your child is cooperative enough and can tolerate other thermometers. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Wise J.
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