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Mar 18, 2023 · When can I stop using a rectal thermometer on my child? 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 ...
- Thermometer Options
- Safety Tips
- Age Guidelines
- How It's Done
- When to See A Doctor
A glass mercury thermometer was once a staple in most medicine cabinets. Today, mercury thermometers aren't recommended because they can break and allow mercury to vaporize and be inhaled. When choosing a thermometer, consider these options: 1. Digital thermometers.These thermometers use electronic heat sensors to record body temperature. They can ...
Carefully read the instructions that come with the thermometer. Before and after each use, clean the tip of the thermometer following the instructions for your particular thermometer. If you plan to use a digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature, get another digital thermometer for oral use. Label each thermometer, and don't use the same th...
The best type of thermometer — or the best place to insert the thermometer, in some cases — depends on your child's age. 1. Birth to 3 months.Use a regular digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature. New research suggests that a temporal artery thermometer might also provide accurate readings in newborns. 2. 3 months to 4 years.In this age ra...
Rectal temperature. Turn on the digital thermometer and lubricate the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly. Lay your baby or child on his or her back, lift his or her thighs, and insert the...Oral temperature.Turn on the digital thermometer. Place the tip of the thermometer under your child's tongue toward the back of the mouth and ask your child to keep his or her lips closed. Remove t...Armpit temperature.Turn on the digital thermometer. When you place the thermometer under your child's armpit, make sure it touches skin — not clothing. While the device reads your child's temperatu...Ear temperature.Turn on the thermometer. Gently place the thermometer in your child's ear. Follow the directions that come with the thermometer to ensure you insert the thermometer the proper dista...A fever is a common sign of illness, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, fevers seem to play a key role in fighting infections. If your child is older than age 6 months and is drinking plenty of fluids, sleeping well and continuing to play, there's usually no need to treat the fever. If you want to give your child medication to treat a...
Nov 10, 2023 · Birth to 2 months — At this age, use a standard digital thermometer to take your baby’s rectal temperature. 2 months to 4 years — In this age range, you can use a digital thermometer to take a rectal or armpit temperature. Or you can use a temporal artery thermometer.
Don’t use a thermometer in your child’s mouth until he or she is at least 4 years old. Use the rectal thermometer with care. Follow the product maker’s directions for correct use.
Call the healthcare provider in these cases: Temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher in a child of any age. A fever of ___________as advised by the provider. Download the SaintLukesKC App. View more contact options. You take a rectal temperature by placing a thermometer in your baby’s bottom.
For children 3 years old and younger, a rectal temperature is the most accurate for a standard digital thermometer. For kids 4 and up, an oral temperature reading is most accurate. “You should have separate oral and rectal thermometers and they should be labeled to prevent cross-contamination,” advises Klein.
Stop at the hairline. Release the scan button. Read the temperature. When to call the healthcare provider. Call your baby's healthcare provider if a baby's rectal or forehead temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Tell him or her which method you used to take your child’s temperature.
