How to Take Rectal Temperature of a Baby

Taking a baby's temperature is a good way to evaluate his condition. When your baby is sick, taking his temperature helps you and your pediatrician know whether the prescribed treatment is effective. An oral temperature reading (placing the thermometer under the tongue) is only recommended for children age 4 and older. For infants, a rectal reading is recommended. Rectal temperature is typically 1 degree higher than oral temperature. Your baby has a fever if his temperature is higher than 100.4 degrees F.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose an appropriate thermometer for your baby. Do not use glass mercury thermometers as they might expose your baby to mercury. Use digital thermometers for babies. Digital thermometers have many advantages over other types of thermometers. They are fairly cheap, safe and easy to use. The reading time of a digital thermometer is quite short, 20 to 60 seconds.

2. Take temperature when your baby is not crying, since crying may increase her body's temperature. Lubricate the sensor tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly.

3. Put your baby face down on your lap, on a bed or a changing table. Bare her bottom. If you put your baby on a bed, put something under her hips to raise her bottom slightly, making it easier to insert the thermometer. Distract the baby by talking to her or giving her toys.

4. Expose your baby's anus by pressing on her buttocks with one hand. Use the other hand to insert carefully the sensor tip of the thermometer into the rectum. Your baby will probably start to resist so make sure the thermometer in place. Remove the thermometer when it beeps.

5. Take baby's temperature once or twice a day, in most cases. Take temperature more frequently only if the baby's condition seems to worsen suddenly.