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How To Take Your Baby's Temperature


If you're wondering what is a high temperature in your newborn or older baby, you first need to know how to take a baby’s temperature. The traditional "under the tongue" method won't work with a newborn or even an older baby, so you need to get creative. Here are some ways to take your baby's temperature.

Find Your Baby's Temperature Using Forehead Strips

These disposable strips are placed on the baby's forehead and a guide will tell you whether your child has a fever. However, these strips can be highly inaccurate and many parents choose not to use them if they have a different thermometer available.

Find Your Baby's Temperature Using an Ear Thermometer

These thermometers are designed to fit into the ear canal and can give an accurate measurement. If you're using this type of thermometer, a normal temperature ranges between 97.5 and 98.2 degrees.

Find Your Baby's Temperature Under His Arm

You can find your baby's temperature with a traditional or digital thermometer by placing it under his arm. You simply need to place the end of the thermometer under your baby's arm and leave it there for around five minutes. When using this method, a normal temperature is about 97.5. If the temperature measures 100 and stays there for more than a day, you should call your doctor.

Find Your Baby's Temperature with a Temporal Thermometer

A temporal thermometer is an easy way to take your newborn or older baby's temperature. To use this, you simply swipe the thermometer across your baby's forehead, towards his ear. These thermometers are said to be more accurate than an ear thermometer and can provide an instant temperature reading.

How Not to Take Your Baby's Temperature

Older medical advice recommended that parents take their newborn or older baby's temperature rectally, but accurate alternatives now mean this is unnecessary. Additionally, parents shouldn't take their baby's temperature by putting the thermometer in the baby's mouth because it could be dangerous.

How to Know if the Room Temperature Is Warm Enough

The ideal room temperature for a newborn is between 65 and 70 degrees. If your baby seems too hot, try to turn the thermostat down a degree or two, but if he's chilly to the touch, it's important to bump up the heat.

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