The first few months of your child's life are the most worrying times you will go through. This is mainly because the baby's immune system has not matured and is not yet effective enough to fight against any infections, which it would be after four or five months. Because of how weak the child's immune system is, something as basic as a fever could be extremely dangerous to them. Therefore it is important for you to learn about your baby, and how to take your babies temperature and understand what the temperature means.
How do I know if my baby has a fever?
If you asked a doctor what temperature would be classed as your child having a fever, they would tell you that if the temperature is 38C (100F) or higher then it is likely that your child has a fever. If you are going to attempt to identify when your baby has a fever then you will need to learn how to take your baby's temperature and what you should do if your baby does have a fever.
Should I worry about my baby's fever?
If your baby has a fever within the first month of birth, this could be a serious problem for which you should seek professional help from a doctor immediately. If your child has a fever within the first 2 months then this could also be serious and you should seek medical advice. Once the child is slightly older there is not as much case for concern, but it is probably best to contact your doctor, you can never be too careful, especially when your child's life may be at risk.
Taking your baby's temperature.
Now you know how to tell if your baby's temperature is high enough for it to be a fever or now, and you know what to do if it is a temperature, you need to know how to measure your baby's temperature.
Traditionally you would have used either an in-ear or rectal thermometer to read your child's temperature. However the problem with both of these thermometers is that they both require you to touch the baby with the thermometer, which is easier said than done when you have a young, tired and ill child.
Now with the new infrared thermometera you can tell your baby's temperature without touching them, or waking them up. You simply point the thermometers harmless beams at your child's forehead, and within a second you have your child's temperature displayed on the screen.
The Thermofocus Thermometer is the first no touch thermometer, meaning it is a lot easier to use due to not having to touch the child, and due to the no touch technology, it is also a lot more hygienic than a traditional thermometer. You can also use the thermometer to measure the temperature of other items such as baby formula, food, nursery or bath water.
Designed to give you some peace of mind when your child comes down with a fever, the Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer with ExacTemp Technology has all the features you could ever want in a thermometer...
Accurate Temperature With A Gentle Forehead Scan.More accurate than ear*At least as accurate as rectal**Method of choice of premier hospitalsUse on sleeping child or with ear infectionNo probe coversRecommended for the entire familyProfessional Technology For Parents...
Safety 1st Fever Flash 1 Second Ear ThermometerSafety 1st Hospital's Choice Fever Flash Ear Thermometer takes a temperature in 1 second. There is a 12 memory recall and clean me reminder. The large LCD also has a flashing fever bar...
Three thermometers in one: oral, rectal and underarm; Fast 5-second reading; Red and Green Fever Alert" glow fefature; Smart technology--thermometer knows which probe is in use; Removable dishwasher-safe storage compartment; 12-memory storage recall; Celsius or Fharenheit option; Auto power off to preserve battery life; Beeps when reading is complete
Check Basal Temperature to: Increase likelihood of conception. Oral or Rectal Use. Lifetime guarantee (see package for details).Accu-Beep™ FeatureGuarantees fast, accurate readings Beeps when placed correctlyBonus: Exclusive Temperature Chart included by Toni Weschler, MPH, Author "Taking Charge of Your Fertility...
Make bath time safe time! The easy to use Safety Bath Time Audible Thermometer eliminates hazardous guesswork by constantly and accurately measuring the bath water temperature every 2 seconds. It alerts you with an audible alarm if the water is too hot, above 100...
Six times faster than conventional thermometers, the 10-Second Digital Thermometer is perfect for quick and accurate temperature measurements. Features:Takes an accurate oral and underarm in approximately 20 secondsTakes an accurate rectal temperature in approximately 10 seconds Smooth, flexible tip Over-insertion gauge for proper positioningLighted digital display for nighttime useFold-up design stores compactlyMemory feature helps monitor a fever Audible indicator signals when a temperature reading is completeOne long-life battery included
Safety 1st ProGrade Tri-Scan ThermometerThe ProGradeTM Tri-ScanTM Thermometer by Safety 1st is an essential tool for any household. It not only gives a quick and easy 1-second reading of your child's temperature, but also allows you to check the temperature of food, formula and baths to make sure they're just right.
The first few months of your child's life are the most worrying times you will go through. This is mainly because the baby's immune system has not matured and is not yet effective enough to fight against any infections, which it would be after four or five months. Because of how weak the child's immune system is, something as basic as a fever could be extremely dangerous to them. Therefore it is important for you to learn about your baby, and how to take your babies temperature and understand what the temperature means.
