Centers for Disease Control - Tetanus

Taking Your Baby's Temperature from the Southwest Washington Medical Center

We recommend using the digital thermometer that can be purchased in most drug stores for $10.00. B-D is one good brand used.

If your baby appears sick, you may want to take his temperature. Fever is a sign of illness. However, sometimes small babies' temperature will drop rather than rise when they are sick.

There are three ways to take a temperature:

  1. Axillary (armpit) - takes 3-4 minutes to register. This method may be used in babies under 6 months or children up to 4 years.
  2. Rectal (in the bottom) - takes 2-3 minutes to register. This method may be used in children over 6 months and less than 6 years.
  3. Oral (mouth) - takes 2-3 minutes to register. Child should be cooperative and over 4 years old to use this method.

Take the temperature when your baby is quiet if possible. (This could be difficult.) Body temperature varies depending on the amount of activity, emotional stress, type of clothing worn, and temperature of the environment. When reporting fever, always tell the doctor the exact thermometer reading and where the temperature was taken. We recommend using the axillary (armpit) temperature on babies less than 6 months of age. The advantage of the digital thermometer is that you don't have to shake down mercury which is inside older thermometers, and the digital is non-breakable and easy to read.

Taking an Axillary Temperature (Under Arm):
Use any thermometer. Hold the thermometer snugly in the armpit, making sure the bulb is completely covered between your baby's arm and side. Hold the thermometer there for 3-4 minutes. (If digital, as we recommend, you hear the beeping of the thermometer.) Remove from under the arm and read the thermometer. When reporting your baby's temperature, tell the nurse or doctor that it was an axillary temperature. Axillary temperatures are slightly lower than rectal or oral temperatures.

Care of Thermometer:
Draw thermometer through soapy cotton ball or tissue. Rinse in cool water. Store in a safe place, out of the reach of children.

CALL THE DOCTOR IF ...

  1. Your baby under 3 months of age has a fever over 100.4 degrees F.
  2. Your premature baby has a fever over 100.4 degrees F.
  3. Baby has symptoms such as irritability (crying or fussy), poor feeding, floppy or listless, breathing is difficult, coughing, or does not look good.
  4. Temperature is less than 97 degrees F.
  5. If your baby feels hot to touch and you are unable to read a thermometer.
  6. Fever is present for more than 3 days.
  7. Fever with abnormal movements.

We recommend using the digital thermometer that can be purchased in most drug stores for $10.00. B-D is one good brand used.

If your baby appears sick, you may want to take his temperature. Fever is a sign of illness. However, sometimes small babies' temperature will drop rather than rise when they are sick.

There are three ways to take a temperature:

1. Axillary (armpit) - takes 3-4 minutes to register. This method may be used in babies under 6 months or children up to 4 years.
2. Rectal (in the bottom) - takes 2-3 minutes to register. This method may be used in children over 6 months and less than 6 years.
3. Oral (mouth) - takes 2-3 minutes to register. Child should be cooperative and over 4 years old to use this method.

Take the temperature when your baby is quiet if possible. (This could be difficult.) Body temperature varies depending on the amount of activity, emotional stress, type of clothing worn, and temperature of the environment. When reporting fever, always tell the doctor the exact thermometer reading and where the temperature was taken. We recommend using the axillary (armpit) temperature on babies less than 6 months of age. The advantage of the digital thermometer is that you don't have to shake down mercury which is inside older thermometers, and the digital is non-breakable and easy to read.

Taking an Axillary Temperature (Under Arm):
Use any thermometer. Hold the thermometer snugly in the armpit, making sure the bulb is completely covered between your baby's arm and side. Hold the thermometer there for 3-4 minutes. (If digital, as we recommend, you hear the beeping of the thermometer.) Remove from under the arm and read the thermometer. When reporting your baby's temperature, tell the nurse or doctor that it was an axillary temperature. Axillary temperatures are slightly lower than rectal or oral temperatures.

Care of Thermometer:
Draw thermometer through soapy cotton ball or tissue. Rinse in cool water. Store in a safe place, out of the reach of children.

CALL THE DOCTOR IF ...

1. Your baby under 3 months of age has a fever over 100.4 degrees F.
2. Your premature baby has a fever over 100.4 degrees F.
3. Baby has symptoms such as irritability (crying or fussy), poor feeding, floppy or listless, breathing is difficult, coughing, or does not look good.
4. Temperature is less than 97 degrees F.
5. If your baby feels hot to touch and you are unable to read a thermometer.
6. Fever is present for more than 3 days.
7. Fever with abnormal movements.

Remember, a fever is a temperature over 99 degrees F. A normal temperature is in the 98 degrees F area.

Treating Fever:
If your baby is less than 6 months of age and has a fever, call your baby's doctor before giving medications such as Tylenol, Tempera, Liquiprin, or Panadol.

KEEP ALL MEDICINE OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Overdoses can cause death. Give the correct dosage for your baby's weight or age every 4-6 hours. Do not use medicine for more than 3 days without talking with the doctor. Children should not be given aspirin. Several studies link aspirin use in children with Reye's Syndrome - a severe illness that often is fatal.

Reprinted with permission of Southwest Washington Medical Center.