How to take baby’s temperature?

To know if your child has a fever, it is essential to take his temperature. We talk about fever when the body temperature exceeds 38 ° C. Firstly, the best place to find a fever is at the base of his neck. The small bodysuit or the onesie cover the back of her neck and the hollow of her shoulder. As a result, the internal temperature is not altered compared to that of the outside. You just need to slide your hand between the skin and the garment to feel its “real” warmth. If your hands are too cold, give her a kiss on the neck instead, your lips will be a good indicator.

When to take your temperature?

Depending on the time of day, body temperature varies. However, the pediatrician will need your child’s exact temperature to make a diagnosis. In the morning and at the end of the day (between 16 p.m. and 18 p.m.) are the best times to take Baby’s temperature. On the other hand, avoid taking it right after a meal, as digestion causes changes in body temperature.

How to take baby’s temperature?

There are several ways to take Baby’s temperature:

• Rectal temperature is certainly the most reliable. This method requires a Galinstan thermometer or an electronic thermometer to take the temperature through the anus. Begin by disinfecting the end of the thermometer with alcohol. Then put your baby on his back, remove his diaper and bring his knees up to his chest, then gently insert the thermometer, 1 cm. If it is a classic thermometer, wait about 3 minutes. Wait for the beep (after a few seconds) for the electronic thermometers to get the temperature. Remember to clean the thermometer after each use.
• You can also take your baby’s temperature by mouth thanks to classic and digital thermometers. You just need to place it under his tongue. You will have the result after 3 minutes. But to have the exact temperature of your child, add 0,5 ° C to the indicated temperature. If your child has a pacifier, you can opt for pacifier thermometers. An effective method, provided that your baby teats the pacifier hard enough.
• With an electronic forehead thermometer, you can take your baby’s temperature on the forehead. There are also front indicators. You will get your child’s temperature in seconds. After cleaning your baby’s skin, place the strip just under the hairline. The result appears as a color. Warning: the front temperature indicator is imprecise.
• Ear thermometers allow you to take your temperature through your ears.. Make sure the thermometer has special disposable tips for infants. Insert the end of the thermometer into your baby’s ear, without forcing it, and turn it on. When the beep sounds, read the result. Note: if your child has ear problems (otitis, mumps, etc.) choose another method.
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• With a classic thermometer or an electronic thermometer, it is possible to take baby’s temperature under his armpit. To do this, keep her arm tight. Wait a few minutes for a conventional thermometer or a few seconds for an electronic thermometer. Add 0,5 ° C to the indicated result to get the exact temperature.
• The most practical but also the most expensive are certainly infrared thermometers. They allow you to take your baby’s temperature from a distance, without touching him. You will only have to hold the thermometer a few inches from this forehead and press the ignition button. The result appears in seconds.

Which thermometer to choose?

There are three different concepts.

• The simplest, but the least suitable is the glass one. It is the cheapest, but it is not recommended for a baby. It may break when transported, and above all, its setting time is often too slow for a baby who wriggles (it takes two or three minutes).
• Electronic models. The most basic ones look like the classic models but, digital, they indicate the temperature in a few seconds on a small screen with digital display. Usually the tip is thin, flexible plastic, which is fine for a baby. Depending on their degree of sophistication, they memorize a number of previous temperature measurements. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but sometimes useful for tracing the history of the fever to the doctor.
• Infrared thermometers. These are the most sophisticated. They record the temperature of the child in contact with certain points of the face (ears, forehead, temples). Long disputed for their unreliability, they have made great progress. The advantage: they allow a temperature measurement without undressing the child.

Where to take baby’s temperature?

Axillary (under the arm) or oral (in the mouth) is not recommended for infants.

• The rectal socket. The thermometer displays the internal body temperature, which is normally between 36,8 and 37 ° C (other systems indicate about 5 ° C lower). This is the most reliable method, but it is intrusive and requires the child to undress, and therefore to wake him up if he is sleeping.
• The frontal system. It is enough to pass the device on the surface of the forehead, from one temple to the other. Very discreet when the baby is sleeping, this principle nevertheless poses a problem: if the reading cell is raised a little, it becomes unreliable. We must train.
• The ear plug. The thermometer placed at the edge of the ear canal reads the temperature by infrared system. As with the frontal system, it takes a bit of a hand to properly direct the laser into the ear canal.
• The “no touch” principle. This is the last method in the matter. You point the device at the child’s forehead, without touching it, and the result is displayed in a second or two. Reliable and really inconvenient, this is the system we prefer.

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