While there are many acceptable ways to take your child's temperature, you should use a rectal thermometer if you think that your baby has a fever. To take a rectal temperature, first wash and rinse the thermometer and shake it until it is reading below 96 degrees F. Next, rub a small amount of lubricant on it's tip and while your baby is lying down, hold one of your hands firmly on his lower back, just above his buttocks. Now gently insert the thermometer into his anus about 1/2 to 1 inches. Wait for two minutes and then remove the thermometer and slowly roll it until you are able to see the end of the mercury column, which is your baby's temperature. For infants under three months of age, a fever is considered to be a temperature over 100.4 degrees F (call your doctor immediately!).
i know this is an old post but i thought i would just chip in - you should NEVER take your baby/childs temperature rectally as you are at great risk of perforating their rectum (poking a hole in it)!! it is quite acceptable to take their temperature under their arm or, if they are old enough, under their tongue. if you do not have a thermometer and your child feels unusually hot - more than normal - then they have a temperature. you do not always need a thermometer to tell you your child has a fever - you can just feel. follow the usual guidelines of giving paracetamol and/or ibuprofen and if it persists then go to a doctor always remember that if there are any other symptoms - rash, not easy to rouse, vomiting/diarrhoea, fitting etc then go to ER or doctor immediatley.
Taking your babies temp. Rectally is the best way and now they make therometers just for that so you wont have to worry about hurting them.
