How to Take a Temperature

Taking your child's temperature, or your own, requires some practice. A thermometer is one of the best at-home diagnostic tools available. Use it anytime you wonder if someone in your family is "coming down with something."

Things You'll Need

• Digital Thermometers
• Isopropyl Alcohols
• Facial Tissues
• Oral Thermometers

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Instructions

For Adults

• 1

  Clean your glass thermometer with isopropyl alcohol before using it, then dip the tip into some cool water, or wipe with a tissue, to remove the taste of the alcohol.

• 2

  Shake down your glass thermometer until the mercury line is below 96.6 degrees F.

• 3

  Slide the tip of the thermometer under one side of the tongue, well into the back of the mouth.

• 4

  Close your mouth around the thermometer using your lips - don't clench the glass thermometer with your teeth. Breathe through your nose, with your mouth closed.

• 5

  Leave the thermometer under your tongue for 3 full minutes.

• 6

  Remove the thermometer and hold it under a bright light, so you can see how high the mercury has risen. An arrow will point to the normal temperature, which is 98.6 degrees F.

For Children

• 7

  Place the end of the thermometer under your child's dry armpit to take what's known as an axillary temperature. The armpit should be dry.

• 8

  Hold the thermometer in place by gently pressing your child's elbow against the side of his chest.

• 9

  Remove the thermometer after 4 minutes. To ensure accuracy, check the temperature of the opposite armpit.

• 10

  Read under a bright light.

• 11

  Consider temperature strips and temperature-sensitive pacifiers. However, these have been found to be inadequate and inaccurate, so use them with caution, only when no other method is available.