If your child feels warm, looks flushed, is sweating or shivering,or has flu symptoms, you might suspect fever. Using a thermometeris the only sure way to know if a fever is present.
Some parents are all thumbs when it comes to taking a temperature.A basic digital version may be the most practical and reliableway to determine if your child has a fever. Mercury thermometersshould not be in your medicine cabinet; the silver liquid insideis dangerous if the thermometer breaks.
Use a digital thermometer to take a rectal (in the bottom),oral (in the mouth) or axillary (under the arm) temperature.A tympanic (ear) thermometer, which is more expensive, is anotheroption. Other methods are available but are not recommendedby the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at this time.
Temperatures taken rectally or orally are more accuratethan those obtained using the axillary or tympanic methods.If your child is younger than 3 years old, a rectal temperaturegives the best reading. At around 4 or 5, you can feel comfortabletaking a temperature by mouth.
A normal temperature for a child may range from 97 degrees Fahrenheit(F) to 100.4 degrees F. In general, the AAP considers anythingover 100.4 degrees F to be a possible fever.
Taking a rectal temperature:
Clean the end of the thermometer with rubbing alcohol or soapandwater; rinse in lukewarm water and dry. Apply a small amountoflubricant, such as petroleum jelly, on the end.
Place yourchild tummy down across your lap. Hold the childby placingyour palm against his lower back. Or, place the childface upand bend his legs to the chest. Rest your free handagainstthe back of the thighs.
With the other hand, turn the thermometeron, and insert it to 1 inch into the anal opening (not toofar). Hold the thermometerin place loosely with two fingers,keeping your hand cuppedaround your child’s bottom. Inabout a minute, when youhear the beep, remove it and checkthe reading.
Re-clean. Be sure the thermometer is labeledso it’s notaccidentally used in the mouth.
Taking an oral temperature:
Wait 15 minutes after the child has been eating or drinkingbeforetaking a temperature.
Clean thermometer. Turn the thermometeron, and place the tipunder the tongue toward the back of thechild’s mouth.Hold in place for a minute until you heara beep.
Taking an axillary temperature:
Turn on the thermometer, and place the small end in your child’sarmpit(thermometer should touch skin, not clothing).
Gently holdthe arm in place until the thermometer beeps.
Taking a tympanic temperature:
The AAP advises against using this method for infants youngerthan3 months. While a tympanic thermometer provides speedyresults,the device needs to be inserted at the right anglein a child’sear to provide an accurate reading. Don’tuse these devicesright after a child has been swimming or bathingof if ear painis present.
Place a clean cover on the cone-shaped end.
Pullthe ear backward slightly, and gently place the thermometerinthe ear canal. Try to aim the probe toward the child’seyeon the opposite side of the head.
to 1 inch into the anal opening (not too far). Hold the thermometer in place loosely with two fingers, keeping your hand cupped around your child’s bottom. In about a minute, when you hear the beep, remove it and check the reading. 
