How to take an infant's temperature

The Temperature of a baby is often taken through the armpit , the rectum, the ear or the mouth. But most doctors do not recommend taking an infant's temperature through the mouth until the child is up to four years of age, because putting a thermometer into an infant's mouth is dangerous.

These are the common methods of taking an infants temperature ;

• The armpit/underarm(axillary) method - here the infant's temperature is taken using a digital or oral thermometer . Take off the baby's shirt and Dry armpit with a towel, place the tip of the thermometer in the upper part of the armpit and hold baby's arm over it, gently pressing the elbow against baby's side. The armpit method is very efficient especially when the baby won't lie quietly for a rectal reading to be done or when the baby has diarrhea. The normal temperature for this method is 97.6ºF(Fahrenheit).

• The rectal method – the infant's temperature is taken here using the digital thermometer. Put baby on your laps or on the bed and put a small pillow under his/her hips to raise the bottom for easier insertion of the thermometer. With one hand ,spread the baby's buttocks, and with your other hand slip the tip of the thermometer into the rectum or rectal opening(anus). Keep the thermometer in place by using your other fingers to press the buttocks together. The thermometer should be prepared before usage, by lubricating the sensor tip with a lubricant like olive oil or Vaseline . The rectal method of taking an infants temperature is the most accurate because it picks up the temperatures from the core of the body. The normal temperature for this method is 99.6ºF.

• The oral method – this method is done using the pacifier thermometer, since the oral thermometer cannot be used for the baby until he/she is four years of age or more. The pacifier thermometer is shaped like a pacifier and therefore inserted into the baby's mouth to take a reading. It takes about four minutes to get a reading ,which usually reads between 0.3ºF and 0.5ºF lower than the rectal thermometer. With a squirming and non-cooperative baby this method will be really difficult. The normal temperature for the oral method is 98.6ºF.

• The tympanic (ear)method – is solely used for taking an infant's temperature through the ear. The thermometer used here is called the Tympanic thermometer ,which is quite expensive and difficult to use. It is mostly used by paediatricians ,and you can get your readings in seconds but it is not as reliable as the rectal method of taking an infants temperature. Experts advice withholding the use of this method until a baby is over three months old.

Before proceeding with any of the methods of taking an infant's temperature , it is advisable to keep the baby calm for at least half an hour before taking the temperature , because crying and anxiety in the baby can elevate the temperature reading. Also avoid giving the baby any food prior to the time you would be taking an oral temperature reading,so as not to alter the readings.

The thermometer should be washed with cool soapy water and properly rinsed after use. The sensor tip should be swabbed with alcohol.