Wilson & Hockenberry: Wong’s Clinical Manual of Pediatric Nursing, 8th Edition

Patient Teaching Guide

This section may be photocopied and distributed to families.

Measuring Your Child’s Temperature

Body temperature changes during the day; it is usually higher in the afternoon than in the early morning. If you are very active, your temperature may be higher than normal. Fever helps protect the body. A rise in body temperature above normal (usually 98.6° F) may mean an infection somewhere. The body temperature may also rise when the child has not consumed enough liquid. Fever helps the body fight the infection. Someone has a fever if the body temperature is higher than 100° F (oral or axillary temperature) or 100.4° F (rectal temperature).

You should measure a child’s temperature:

1. When the skin feels warm to your touch

2. When the child is not acting like his usual self

3. Before calling your health professional to say that the child is sick

Types of Thermometers

There are many ways to measure your child’s temperature. When you buy a thermometer, you should choose one that is easy to use. Because some are more accurate than others, tell your health professional how you measured your child’s temperature. Glass mercury thermometers are no longer recommended for taking a child’s temperature.

Digital Thermometers

Digital thermometers are used just like glass mercury thermometers, but they are safer and much easier to read. They have a button battery-powered heat sensor that measures temperature in less than 1 minute. The temperature is displayed in numbers on a small screen (Figure 1). Digital thermometers are also available within a pacifier. As your child sucks on the pacifier, the temperature is shown on a screen. Read the manufacturer’s directions for the length of time to keep the pacifier in the mouth.

Ear thermometers use a probe that is placed in the opening of the ear to measure the temperature of the eardrum (Figure 2). Although this device is expensive, it is easy to use, rapidly measures temperature (in about 1 second), and causes no discomfort to your child, and its use does not require your child’s cooperation. However, an ear thermometer must be used correctly for accurate results. The current models are not considered to be accurate for detecting fever in infants and toddlers. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for how to place the probe in the ear canal and how to tug the earlobe. Tugging the earlobe straightens the ear canal so the probe can measure the temperature of the eardrum. As a general rule, for children younger than 3 years, pull the bottom of the earlobe down and back. For children older than 3 years, pull the top of the earlobe up and back.