Taking a child's temperature with a thermometer is often an important tool when assessing health. A normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and when the temperature is more than a degree higher, it can be indicative that the child's body is fighting an infection. Taking the child's temperature can be a simple process with some modern-day thermometers, but old-fashioned bulb thermometers may be somewhat more difficult to read.
Step 1
Take the child's temperature properly. With an oral thermometer, place the bulb end under the child's tongue. Have him hold the thermometer in place for about three minutes. This will be the right amount of time needed for the child's accurate temperature to register on the thermometer.
Step 2
Hold the thermometer up to eye level to read the oral thermometer. Slowly rotatate the thermometer until you notice the mercury in the center of the glass cylinder. The mercury will appear as a bright silver band inside the glass. Once you have found the mercury, look for the corresponding number on the glass tube that the mercury reaches. If the mercury is at the 98.6 degree mark, the child's temperature is normal. If the temperature is above 99.6--one degree higher than normal--your child has a fever. If it is higher than 100 degrees, you may want to call your physician.
Step 3
Place digital thermometers under the armpit of the child. These thermometers are in wide use because they are much easier to use. Once you turn the thermometer on, it will give off a beeping sound when it is finished recording the temperature. Simply look at the digital readout to determine the temperature. It will display in bold numbers.
Step 4
Use Vaseline when taking the temperature of an infant with a rectal thermometer. Place the baby on her stomach and insert the thermometer in the rectum. Hold the child to keep her from squirming while the thermometer is inside her. This should take about three minutes. A rectal thermometer will read out one degree higher than oral thermometers.
