Taking the Temperature Under the Armpit

• 1). Make sure the child's armpit is dry.
  
  
• 2). Place the tip of the thermometer under the child's armpit. Make sure that the armpit remains closed by folding the child's arm against her chest.
  
  
• 3). Allow the thermometer to remain under the armpit for four to five minutes.
  
  
• 4). Remove the thermometer. If the armpit temperature reads above 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2 degrees Celsius), the child has a fever.
  
  

Taking the Temperature Orally

• 1). Make sure the child has not recently had anything hot or cold to drink. This could affect the temperature reading.
  
  
• 2). Instruct the child to open her mouth and lift her tongue.
  
  
• 3). Place the tip of the thermometer under one side of the tongue, towards the back of the mouth.
  
  
• 4). Instruct the child to close her mouth and place her tongue on top of the thermometer to hold it in place. She can also use her fingers and lips to hold it, but instruct her not to use her teeth.
  
  
• 5). Allow a glass thermometer to remain under the tongue for three minutes. A digital thermometer will require about 30 seconds.
  
  
• 6). Remove the thermometer. If the oral temperature reads above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), the child has a fever.
  
  

Taking the Temperature Anally

• 1). Instruct your child to lie down on her stomach on a comfortable surface.
  
  
• 2). Lubricate the tip of the thermometer and the outside of the child's anus with petroleum jelly.
  
  
• 3). Insert about 1 inch of the lubricated thermometer into the anus, and hold the child still.
  
  
• 4). Allow a glass thermometer to remain for two minutes. A digital thermometer can take an anal reading in about 20 seconds.
  
  
• 5). Remove the thermometer. If the anal temperature reads above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), the child has a fever.