At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

DD doesn't want to sit still for a rectal temp but won't keep a thermometer in her mouth for long enough either? TIA! She feels warm but I can't get a temp

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

I have an ear thermometer.

I have terrible memories of rectal temps..no child of mine will ever have them. NEVER!

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

I use an ear thermometer. I make sure I pull the ear straight back.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

usually under age 3 or 4 should get rectal, or even older if they cant hold it on thier mouth properly under the tongue.

Ear temps are not accurate. Do a comparison with an ear temp and a rectal temp at the same time and there is a huge difference.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

I use the ear thermometer and check it 3x for consistency. It worked well for us last time he was sick. If its a high fever I might double check w/rectal but avoid it at thsi stage because he clearly hates it (and I hate doing it)

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

i have an ear and forehead scanner-honestly i use the forehead one 99% of the time. I used to do the forehead then the rectal to test the forehead one, the temp is always the same for for rectal and temperal for me :)
No more invading my children's butt over here

But i stopped rectal temps at about 6-9 months old.

Message edited 12/2/2007 8:21:40 PM.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

I like the forehead scanners, they seem to work much better than the ear. I just don't trust the ear thermometers, especially in small infants, I wouldnt want to rely on those.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

I couldn't do the rectal ones ever. We used the pacifier when he was a baby and it was great.

after 12-16 months we got the forehead one and we take it on the forehead, behind the ear and under the arm to get an average. I also take it on myself to check.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

Our. Dr. will not accept an ear temp. I believe that is for any age. This past week I took an underarm temp and a rectal temp and they matched exactly --about a minute apart. I am confused because I thought they were supposed to differ by one degree or so ?????

Message edited 12/2/2007 9:35:33 PM.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

For Ava, the only way we know she has a fever is to take her temp rectally. For now it still works, I'm sure we'll come up with something else soon, thoguh.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

We still take it rectally. She sits still for it so it's not that bad.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

We have always done the forehead scanner. They say it's about .2-.4 degrees off from rectal but to me that really does not make a difference. She has always sat still for it and we use it for ourselves also. It's great.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

The last time I took Marron's temp she was 17 months. I just laid her on the changing table, changed her diaper, lubed up the thermometer and inserted it. We have one that gives a reading in about 10-15 seconds so I just look right into her eyes and sing a song to her (usually the ABCs since I can finish that in about 15 seconds). It seems to distract her enought to get the job done. We haven't had any issues yet.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

forehead scanner! its the best and so not intrusive at all.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

We have done the ear temp for years. Yes, it's not totally accurate, but does it really matter if the temp is 102 vs. 103? We use it to gauge normal, slight temp, and high. For those ranges, the ear temp is fine. Those are the only real ranges you treat for, anyway. The treatment for 102 is the same as 103. The treatment for 99.2 is the same as 98.9, etc.

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

At this age I use the ear temp and if it seems there is a fever I use the rectal to follow up.
I have the vicks rectal one from BRU
Thermometer

Re: At what age do you stop taking rectal temps? or should I ask moms of 18 mos olds how do you take their temp

we still use the rectal one - for the most part she stays still for it - we use the Vicks one from BRU also - it gets you a reading in about 10-15 seconds. We have an ear thermometer but honestly, its so inaccurate every time I use it Im reading to throw it away. I think I want to get a forehead scanner - the Drs office uses something like this and it works in like 5 seconds!