How to take your child's temperature

The average normal body temperature is 37 C (98.6 F). Although minor variation can occur, a temperature of 38 C or above is classed as a fever and needs to be treated.

As the flu and cold season approaches, you should check they have a thermometer in their first aid kit at home.

Thermometers

If you have an old fashioned mercury thermometer at home, it’s time for an upgrade! These are in the process of being phased out. Mercury is poisonous if swallowed, if the vapour is inhaled or if it comes into contact with the skin. This can easily happen if children bite on the thermometer, causing it to break.

So it’s best to invest in a digital thermometer, as they are both safe and reliable.

Taking a temperature

Body temperature can be measured at various sites:

• Mouth
• Under the arm
• Forehead (using a forehead thermometer strip)
• In the ear

Mouth

To take a reading from the mouth, the thermometer should be placed under the tongue and left for 2 to 3 minutes. If you can, avoid doing this after eating a hot meal, or taking a cold drink as this can affect the reading. If not, the thermometer should be left for 10 minutes to obtain an accurate reading. This is a suitable method for older children, as young children may bite down and break the thermometer.

Under arm

Under arm readings tend to be 0.5 C cooler than the actual body temperature. Because of this 0.5 C should be added to any temperature reading taken from this site.

The thermometer should be placed under the armpit, and the child’s arm folded across the chest. An accurate reading usually takes around 5 minutes. If your child can sit still for this amount of time, it is a good way to take the temperature of young children.

Ear

Using an ear thermometer can be one of the fastest ways to take a child’s temperature. Check the instructions to find out the minimum amount of time needed to get a reading.

Some are suitable for both adults and children and others can be used on babies. If the child has been outside in the cold, or lying down with their head on a warm pillow the reading will be affected. This means you will have to wait for 10-15 minutes to get an accurate temperature reading.

Forehead

Forehead thermometers are flexible strips which can be placed on the child’s forehead. They are a quick and easy way to take a child’s temperature.

However, forehead strips actually measure the temperature of the skin rather than the body, and so are not exactly accurate. Strips are placed and held on the forehead for 2 to 3 minutes to get a reading.

Parents need to be careful to keep their fingers at the edges of the strip so that they don’t influence the temperature measurement.

This article was published on Thu 2 September 2010