Taking your baby's temperature
A normal temperature for your baby ranges from 97.6 F to 100.3 F. You only need to take your baby's temperature when you think your baby has a fever or is ill.
You can take your baby's temperature by placing a thermometer in your baby's armpit. This gives you the axillary temperature.
Your baby's health care provider may ask you to take a rectal temperature. If this is requested, please follow the instructions below on how to take a rectal temperature.
Do not use tape thermometers or pacifier thermometers. They are not accurate.
Mercury thermometers are no longer used because of health issues. If you have one and want to dispose of it, do not throw it in the garbage. Take your mercury thermometer, and any other products that contain mercury, to a household hazardous waste collection facility.
How to take an axillary temperature:
- Sit with your baby on your lap.
- Lift your baby's arm and place the smaller end of the thermometer well into the armpit.
- Lower your baby's arm and hold it close to their body.
- Press the start button.
- Keep your baby's arm down and the thermometer in place until it beeps.
- Remove the thermometer and read it.
How to take a rectal temperature:
- Calm your baby.
- Place a small amount of water-based lubricant (such as K-Y® Jelly) on the tip of the thermometer. (Some thermometers come with thin covers to use while taking a rectal temperature.) Avoid using petroleum jelly, like Vaseline®, because you may not get an accurate reading.
- Lay your baby over your lap, lying your baby on their stomach. Support your baby's head with your thigh. Or, place your baby in the position you would use to change a diaper and lift their legs.
- Undo your baby's diaper and leave it under your baby.
- Spread your baby's buttocks with one hand. With the other hand, insert the tip of the thermometer about one-quarter to one-half an inch into the rectum, just until you can no longer see the tip.
- Hold the thermometer between your thumb and index finger.
- Press the start button.
- Wait until the thermometer beeps.
- Remove the thermometer and read it.
Other ways of taking your baby's temperature are by:
- forehead: This is a temporal artery thermometer. It takes your baby's temperature by scanning the temporal artery, which runs across the forehead down to the ear. This type of thermometer is found in most stores. Follow the package instructions.
- ear: This is a tympanic thermometer. It is not as reliable to use and needs practice to be used correctly. This type of thermometer is not recommended for newborns.