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May 22, 2019 · No. 13: Watch these Moms On Call tips for taking a rectal temperature for your baby, the most accurate way to determine your baby's temperature.
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May 13, 2019 · The American Academy of Pediatrics advises taking baby's temperature rectally. Learn how to make your baby as comfortable as possible. Instructions Step 1 Remove the thermometer as soon...
The best way to take a temperature in infants and young children is by taking a rectal temperature. Don’t worry — it’s a simple and safe process. First: If your baby has had a bath or has been under blankets or in multiple layers (or swaddled, if an infant), wait about 20–30 minutes to take the temperature. Use a digital thermometer.
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- Apply a lubricant jelly or petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, on the bulb of the thermometer so that you can insert it easily.
- Choose a quiet place so that the child won't be distracted or move around too much. If you are measuring the temperature of a baby or small child, you can
- Gently insert the bulb end of the rectal thermometer about 0.6 in. (1.5 cm) to 1 in. (2.5 cm) into the anal canal. Don't force it into the rectum. Hold the thermometer in place with two fingers close to the anal opening (not near the end of the thermometer).
- Leave the thermometer in place for the required amount of time, usually a minute. Time yourself with a watch or clock. Some digital thermometers give a series of short beeps when the reading is done.
There are 3 main places to take a baby’s temperature: In the rectum. For best results in babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises taking the temperature in the rectum. This is done by placing a thermometer in the baby's anus.
How Do I Take a Rectal Temperature? The best way to take a temperature in infants and young children is by taking a rectal temperature. Don't worry — it's a simple and safe process. First: If your baby has had a bath or has been under blankets or in multiple layers (or swaddled, if an infant), wait about 20–30 minutes to take the temperature.
Feb 21, 2024 · A temperature taken in the rectum is the closest way to finding the body's true temperature. Rectal temperatures run higher than those taken in the mouth or armpit (axilla) because the rectum is warmer. The normal rectal temperature of a child is between 97° and 100° F (36.0 to 37.7° C).
