Average body temperature in a baby under 6 months of age is generally the same as for everyone else, 98.6 degrees. For a baby, however, fluctuations in the normal range of temperature can be very severe, and therefore it should be monitored closely. The normal range for a baby's body temperature is between 97 and 100.4 degrees. The normal range varies slightly depending on how you measure your baby's temperature as well.
Significance
Body temperature readings give an objective assessment of the current health status of your baby. Abnormally high or low body temperatures can be normal or they could be a clue to an underlying medical problem. It is critical to bring such measurements to the attention of your physician so that you can work together to determine the appropriate course of action.
Taking Your Baby's Temperature
You can choose from a few different methods for detection of your baby's body temperature. Rectal measurement is recommended by many physicians, though less invasive detection methods are being rapidly developed. One such advance is in temperature detection by a digital ear thermometer. These devices are accurate, but you must verify that you have an appropriately sized thermometer for a baby, as an adult-sized ear thermometer will give an inaccurate measurement in a newborn.
What is Normal?
The normal temperature range for a baby under 6 months old is 97 to 100.4 degrees. The normal measurement changes slightly depending on the method you choose to take the temperature. For example, a fever can be diagnosed if your child's rectal temperature goes above 100.4 degrees. It can also be detected by a measurement above 99.0 degrees when measured under the arm. It can be very useful to take multiple measurements to verify your baby's temperature.
Benefits
There are many to taking your baby's body temperature regularly. Naturally, you will be able to detect potential illnesses and consult with your physician before they get out of hand. For example, a high body temperature can indicate infection for which a doctor may prescribe medication. Also, temperature measurement can give you an idea of how comfortable your baby is. If he is bundled too tightly, he may have a higher body temperature, which could encourage you to take off a layer of the bundle.
Prevention/Solution
As Dr. Lillian Beard notes on the Your Baby Today web page, fluctuations in body temperature are very normal in a baby. These fluctuations can be caused many factors, including time of day. Therefore, you should try to take your baby's temperature multiple times to verify an abnormal reading, and check for other symptoms of illness. Monitoring your baby's temperature gives an informative measure of potential illness, but it is not the only indicator.
