Baby Temperature - which technique do you use?

Tamatha wrote: I'm trying not to be a paranoid mommy, but Trey feels warm to me. I haven't done a rectal temp yet because I don't want to put him through that if it is nothing. In the hospital, they had us temp him under his arm, and that's reading around 98.6 or 98.7 right now. I've stripped him down to a onesie to see if he cools off that way. I noticed that he felt warm to me last night, too. What methods of temping do you use, and how accurate are they? Should I just do a rectal to put my mind at ease?!

gr33n3y3z replied:
I would bc I got sick of when you called the Dr they are like was it rectal I would say no call us back when you take it rectal

Hillbilly Housewife replied: As far as I`m concerned - if the baby feels warm just by kissing the forehead.... I strip them down to just a diaper. To me - this daily heat is cruel - I don't put my kids in more clothes than they need. At home, they run around just in their undies or a pair of shorts.... they`re kids, they run around a heck of a lot more than I do - they are more succeptible to heat than I am.

If I`m sweating just sitting at the table watching them play... imagine how they feel?

Anyhoo - if my kids don`t cool down after they're stripped down - I give them a Pedialyte popsicle or juice cup...which really doesn`t do anything...because my daughter at 26 pounds needs to drink the WHOLE litre bottle in order to be *hydrated*... so the best for me is to give them a frozen yogurt cup.

If they still feel warm after that.... They get a damp cloth (room temp) for their forehead... and I keep them well hydrated.

The only time I give them medecine is if they`re getting to be limp-ish.... like they`re drowsy... I have thje ear thermometer if I`m unsure - but usually a kiss on the forehead is enough to let me know they have a temperature.

Getting to be limp is when I know that I need to actually TAKE their temp...in their ear with a digital.

I'm not ABLE to do rectal, so I don't.

luvbug00 replied: Baby oil and a rectal thurmometer is the way to go!

Tamatha replied: Ok, so I sucked it up and did a rectal temperature... its 99.3 So he is warmer than normal, but I've always been told that if it isn't 100.4 or greater, not to worry... so I'm trying not to worry....

luvbug00 replied: Should be ok. keep an eye on him. Thanks for the update!

Sarah&Mackenzie replied: Maybe give him a little infant tylenol. If your not sure just call his doc. That is what I did with Mackenzie.

huggybugboy replied: I don't know how your doctor is but I would just call to ease my mind. It doesn't mean you have to go in but if youre worried, what harm can it do to call. I thought if they were that little youre supposed to call with any fever? I dont know, luckily I haven't had to deal with illness yet...

amynicole21 replied: I think that rectals are always a bit higher, and under the arm is a bit lower than orally. You're always supposed to use the rectal for babies this small (the ear one isn't accurate until they are bigger). You don't need to worry until the rectal temp is over 100.3 (I think that's it... )

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I've always used the underarm method. I also call the doctor ALL the time, so I would call if you're worried. I could careless if they think I'm paranoid. Better to be safe than sorry.

Tamatha replied: I temped him again with his next diaper change, and he was down to 98.8. Now he feels back to his normal, so I think it was just one of those normal kinds of things. But thanks for your input and your encouragement!! I'm such a worry-wart!

Maddy'sMom replied: I was told rectal temp for younger infants, and now we do underarm, and add a degree, as the dr told us to do.

It is normal for babies to vary in their temp, based on the heat outside, if they are getting enough fluids, teething, etc...

Good Luck!