To ask how to accurately take a child's temp?

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I have two good quality thermometers.

Two different brands. DD clearly really hot

Under the armpit kept coming up at 37 on both

Really couldn't work out why. I am originally from the USA so tried rectal (I know it's probably frowned upon here!)

DD didn't even notice me doing it and temp now says 38.6 and the other brand says 38.9

Would you go with the armpit reading or rectal?

I did the armpit one accurately so not sure why the result is so different?

Bump

I didn't want to read and run but I'm not an expert on this.

I think 'normal' temperature is different depending where it's taken. Although I think generally rectal temperatures will be more accurate but you would also expect them to be slightly higher normally.

Our thermometer is one of those touch ones and it has different setting for forehead or ear, think it might make adjustment's depending where you taking it.

There is also the fact people run at slightly different temperatures normally, so I normally go on what's high for my kids as I know what their normals are.

Braun ear thermometer,.so much easier than armpit. They are used in surgeries and hospitals.

Something like this :

Braun ThermoScan 3 Ear thermometer (professional accuracy, audio fever indicator reliable, temperature screening, fever, fast, easy to use, hygienic, baby, adults) IRT3030 amzn.eu/d/0mWP4eB

Underarm temperatures will be lower than temps taken in the ear or rectally:

www.healthline.com/health/underarm-temp#how-to-measure

We have the Braun in ear one and it seems to work pretty well. We had a forehead one that we ditched quickly as useless.

Ultimately, I tend to find that I'm rarely surprised by what the thermometer says - when they have high temps heading for 40 it's obvious.

Underarm you add a degree

How old is your daughter? The NHS says to use the armpit for children under 5, but I’m not entirely sure why that is!

On a traditional thermometer nhs advise armpit due to the difficulty of keeping a mouth thermometer in place mouth closed. And no risks like a rectal thermometer.

DD is 10 months

Thank you, only reason I didn't go for this was because you have to get refills for the ear part

We don't change the ear covers each time only every few months tbh. In 5 years I've never bought refills. They are more important in healthcare settings where you are ping between patients for infection control.

I was about to say the same and I'm glad I'm not the only one who views them as semi permanent

For the braun thermometer refills are really cheap, I bought a huge lot that's kept us going for ears. Honestly so much easier than sticking a thermometer up a 10 month's old bum or under an armpit!

I’m a neonatal nurse. Don’t get the in ear ones for small children, I’d say until they’re 3 years old unless they’re particularly big for their age. They don’t go far enough into their ear canals as they’re too narrow at this age so it isn’t an accurate reading.

Under the arm we use on the wards on babies.

Just to add, there is a technique to getting the under the arm thermometers to be as accurate as possible. You need to hold the end of the probe in the middle and upwards towards to pit and hold their arm down over it. Make sure it’s not pushed too far into the crease that it’s almost coming out of the other side, I see that a lot.

How old is she? Armpit temps are the same orally in babies but as they get older they usually read 1 degree lower than oral or tympanic (ear) thermometers. Rectal will read 1 degree higher than oral or ear.