Because we have our hands full when a child is sick, we have listed for you the best thermometers and the main ways to use them.
Hand on forehead, okay, but still?
Our instinct as parents naturally leads us to put our hand on our child's forehead to find out if he has a fever. We examine his eyes, we look at his general condition, we ask him if he is cold and sometimes we even smell his breath. These loving methods unfortunately do not replace the thermometer when it comes time to decide whether to give medicine or call the doctor because the fever is not going down.
Rectal Thermometer
This thermometer is suitable especially for children aged 0-5 years. With older children, the experience becomes more unpleasant and awkward. When you buy your rectal thermometer, be sure to choose a digital thermometer that has the mention “rectal” on the packaging.
Caution! The Canadian Pediatric Society reminds us that “rectal temperature changes slowly in relation to the variation in internal temperature, and it has been shown to remain highlong after the patient's internal temperature has begun to drop, and vice versa. In addition, the rectal temperature reading depends on the depth at which the thermometer is inserted, conditions that affect local blood flow, and the presence of stool.”
How to take rectal temperature
- We place the child on his stomach. If it's really small, we can put it on our lap.
- Apply petroleum jelly (vaseline) to the tip of the thermometer and to the rectum.
- The thermometer is gently inserted into the rectum (about 1 inch). For children under 6 months, it is inserted no more than half an inch. We make sure that the child moves as little as possible.
- At the sound of the thermometer signal, the device is gently removed.
Normal temperature range according to this method
From 36.6°C to 38.0°C or from 97.9°F to 100.4°F
Source: Canadian Pediatric Society
Mom's Comment"With all the other options for taking a baby's temperature, I quickly gave up on rectal taking. Each time, it was the crisis; each time, it was a big mess and a baby crying with the bottom full of poo! No thanks!"
Axillary thermometer (under the armpit)
This method is mainly aimed at children aged 2 and over. However, this technique is the least accurate. It is said to be unreliable for the true internal temperature, in particular because it islargely influenced by surrounding factors. The American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends it for newborns because it's simple to use and the risk of injury compared to using a rectal thermometer is low. This technique at least makes it easy to take the temperature and detect the signs of fever.
How to take axillary temperature
- We first make sure that the armpit (hollow under the arm) of the child is dry and not wet.
- The tip of the thermometer is placed under the child's armpit.
- The thermometer is held in place by resting the armpit on the body while holding the child's elbow against his chest.
- Be careful not to let air pass under the child's arm (so as not to influence the temperature taken).
- At the sound of the thermometer signal, the device is gently removed.
Normal temperature range according to this method
From 36.5°C to 37.5°C or from 97.8°F to 99.5°F
Source: Canadian Pediatric Society
Oral Thermometer
For children over 5 years old, this technique is the most suitable and should become the definitive method for the rest of life.
When taking the child's oral temperature, you must first warn him that he will have to keep his mouth completely closed for 3 to 4 minutes. The tongue should be firmly lowered on the thermometer. With some children, it is possible a lotsooner and everything goes like clockwork. With others, it's not so simple. If this is your case, consider having him watch TV or read him a story for as long as he has to keep the thermometer in his mouth to get his attention and keep him from getting impatient. Stay with him and distract him without asking him questions or inviting him to answer you. Play a moving yes or no game to pass the time.
The more the child follows the instructions, the more reliable the taking of the temperature is. “However, oral temperature is easily influenced by recent ingestion of food or drink and by breathing through the mouth,” explains the Canadian Pediatric Society, which places its effectiveness between rectal and axillary thermometry.
How to take oral temperature?
- The child's temperature should not be taken after drinking or eating very hot (soup, broth, etc.) or very cold (ice cream, yogurt, etc.) foods during Previous 30 minutes.
- We gently place the tip of the thermometer under one side of the tongue, towards the bottom.
- We ask the child to lower his tongue and we make sure that the thermometer is still in place. This must touch the sublingual focus where the small arteries are located. Sometimes, lowering the tongue, the child happens to make the thermometer move. It's not a comfortable position… but we're looking for efficiency. We remind him. The child should not use his teeth to maintain thethermometer in place.
At the sound of the thermometer signal, the device is gently removed. (For a glass thermometer, leave it for about 3-4 minutes.)
Normal temperature range according to this method
From 35.5°C to 37.5°C or from 95.9°F to 99.5°F
Source: Canadian Pediatric Society
Tympanic thermometer (auricular-ear)
This method is suitable for children over 2 years old.
Instead of being in direct contact with the tympanic membrane and potentially dangerous as early tympanic thermometers were, the Canadian Pediatric Society states that current thermometers "measure thermal radiation emitted from the tympanic membrane and the ear canal and are therefore called emission detectors sensitive to infrared radiation (DESRI)”. However, the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that the temperature of children under two years of age continue to be taken rectally until a suitable tip is made for tympanic thermometers.
And don't worry: even if your little one has otitis or even if the ear canal has earwax, the temperature reading will not be altered.
How to take the eardrum temperature
- If the child was outside on a cold or windy day, it is recommended to wait 15 minutes (indoors) before taking the temperature.
- We gently pull the ear towardsthe back to straighten the ear canal for more accuracy and some uniformity in readings.
- We insert the end of the thermometer into the ear and press the button. In less than a few seconds, the temperature is taken.
Normal temperature range according to this method
From 35.8°C to 38.0°C or from 96.4°F to 100.4°F
Source: Canadian Pediatric Society
What about pacifiers (pacifiers) with a built-in thermometer?
For several reasons, these products are not suggested. In fact, it is sometimes difficult to use them properly (if the baby is crying, in crisis, in respiratory distress or does not like the pacifier) and moreover, their reliability is not recommended.
Hygiene
Remember to thoroughly wash and disinfect the thermometer after each use. If the device is used without disinfecting to take the temperature of two children, the risk of spreading germs is multiplied. Always wash the thermometer well before storing it in a safe place. It is a fragile object that must be handled with care.
What happened to mercury thermometers?
Traditional mercury thermometers have been replaced. First, the new digital thermometers are much easier to use without compromising accuracy. Since the accuracy of the two instruments is comparable, and themercury remains an environmental hazard, the Canadian Pediatric Society no longer recommends the use of mercury thermometers.
Also, if you break a mercury thermometer, you expose yourself to a toxic substance. Mercury is harmful to the environment and can turn into a poisonous odorless gas if you breathe it in.
Always the same
First, when a child is sick, it is important to always take the temperature with the same device and in the same way. From one thermometer to another, there may be variations that could mislead us and it will be more difficult to understand the progression of the disease if we make changes.
When it comes to thermometer choice and method, choose the thermometer that you and your child are most comfortable with. Several pediatricians recommend the rectal thermometer, but it is not a must if you are uncomfortable with this method. As you may have noticed, there are several other thermometers and methods.
Choosing a quality thermometer
As mentioned earlier, the choice of thermometer and method is up to the parents. First, we rely on the method that we must use with our child, according to his age, then we go with what seems easiest to us. For an informed choice, simply seek the advice of your pharmacist who will explain the advantages and disadvantages of all models. Thefactors to consider are:
- Convenience (size, weight, model, etc.)
- Take temperature in more than one place (rectum, armpits and mouth) or ear thermometer.
- Case
- Response Time Speed
- Precision
- Infrared Radiation Tympanic Thermometer Safety
- Audio signal when the take is over
- Indicator for rectal insertion
- Read result in Fahrenheit or Celsius
- Product robustness.
For convenience, moms usually love ear thermometers. These offer an undeniable practical aspect: it is possible to take the temperature of the child when he sleeps, without disturbing him. No need to wake him up or bother him. Already a sick and irritated child is not very cooperative, you should not try to complicate your life. The important thing, after all, is to know if the child has a fever and then to know if it is rising or falling, to react accordingly.
