Do you know how to take your baby’s and children’s temperature?

When the baby’s temperature rises, it is inevitable that the mother’s heart alarms. However, noticing that the baby’s temperature is high when you touch him does not mean that he has a fever and it is important to take the appropriate measurement. Do you know how to take your baby’s and children’s temperature?

Then it is time to find out with Baby on Board.

Mummy’s doubts are diverse and absolutely normal. Especially for first-time parents, unaccustomed to dealing with illness in their little ones, the idea that their child might have a fever is frightening.

So, when the child’s temperature rises, the questions that arise are also many. Could it be a fever?

How do you take baby’s temperature? Which thermometer should I choose? And what to do if the baby really has a fever?

There are countless questions, which take place and cause mums to worry. Although the truth is that a high temperature does not have to correspond – and often does not – to an alarming situation; we agree that it is fundamental that all mums know how to take their child’s temperature.

So, if you want to know how to take your baby’s temperature, how to read thermometers and when you should take your child to the doctor, this article is ideal for you.

1. When is a baby considered to have a fever?

It is not always when the body temperature increases that it represents an alarm signal. Fever presents itself, therefore, as a response of the organism, for which the nervous system is responsible, and which indicates that there could be an infection or infant illness.

In most situations in which a child has fever, it only indicates an infection and the fever itself will be a defence mechanism to control it.

Nevertheless, in other situations, it could be necessary to take the child to the paediatrician.

In general, a child with fever usually has bluish, cold and rough skin in the areas with less blood circulation (feet and hands) and shivering when the temperature peaks. It is not common that a fever makes babies, especially the smallest, sweat.

A baby is considered to have a fever when his temperature exceeds 38°C (according to rectal measurement), and one must be alert from 37,6°C onwards (and between this temperature and 38°C one can speak of “fevers”). Up to 37,6º C, in a rectal measurement, the child is considered to have a normal temperature.

The most frequent fever periods are those caused by self-limited viral infections, which last between 1 and 3 days without requiring medication.

What thermometers can be used?

There are several models of thermometers on the market, which can be used for different types of temperature measurement in children. The best known ones are:

– Glass thermometers without mercury;
– Digital thermometers for rectal use;
– Digital thermometers for axillary use;
– Dummy thermometers;
– Ear thermometers;
– Infrared thermometers.

If you want to know how to take your baby’s temperature, it is important to consider the age of the baby. For children up to 2 years of age, the most recommended is to take a rectal reading, as this is more exact.

2. How to take a temperature in children?

To know how to take a child’s temperature, you should know that the fever reading varies depending on the method used.

Temperature measurement in children can be done rectally, in the ear, orally or in the armpit. Ideally, you should use a digital thermometer suitable for the method you wish to use.

When measured anally, the temperature obtained will be exact and the above mentioned values can be taken.

The measurement in the ear also tends to be quite precise. Even so, if you choose the oral measurement you will have to add about 0.5º C to your reading and if you place the thermometer in the baby’s armpit you will have to add 1º C to your reading. We will see step by step how to take these measurements:

How to take a baby’s temperature by anal/rectal route?

As we have already mentioned, especially for children up to the age of 2 years, the most exact way of obtaining the result is the rectal route.

To do this measurement, it is recommended that you lie the child on their tummy and hold their legs and arms, placing the thermometer in their rectum.

This introduction should be done without forcing, if necessary by previously lubricating the thermometer with Vaseline, with an introduction of about 2 centimetres.

The reading should be visible within 2 to 3 minutes for glass thermometers and within 1 minute for digital thermometers. The digital thermometers will give a touch signal when the reading is taken.

This reading should not be taken if the baby has diarrhoea and it is essential that the thermometer is disinfected after taking the temperature.

How to take baby’s temperature in the ear?

To find out how to take a child’s temperature by ear it is important that you have, to start with