 How to Take Your Child's Temperature Accurately
Getting an exact temperature reading with a thermometer will help you and your pediatrician figure out the best way to get your child healthy again.
To measure your child's fever accurately, use:
- A rectal or tympanic (ear) thermometer for children less than 3 years old.
- A digital (not glass) oral thermometer for children over 3 years old.
Avoid:
Using an ear thermometer until your baby is at least 3 months old. It may not be accurate, because young infants have such narrow ear canals.
Temperature readings are different from different parts of the body (rectum, ear, mouth). Your child has a fever if her temperature is above:
- Rectal 100.4° F (38.0° C)
- Oral 99.5° F (37.5° C)
- Axillary (armpit) 98.6° F (37.0° C)
- Tympanic (ear) 100.0° F (37.8° C)
NEXT PAGE: How to Use a Thermometer
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