Taking a child's temperature

There are several different ways to take a child's temperature – for instance in their bottom (rectally), under their arm, on their forehead or in their ear. The most suitable approach will depend on the child's age and how cooperative the child is.
Children are considered to have a fever if they have a body temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) or more, and babies under three months old are already considered to have a fever at a body temperature of 38.0°C (100.4°F) or more. The only way to reliably measure your body temperature is using a thermometer.
When measuring a young child's temperature, it's particularly important that it can be done quickly and with as little effort (such as undressing and dressing, or keeping still) as possible. The length of time needed to take the temperature depends on where it is measured and what kind of thermometer is used.