How to Take a Child's Temperature Under Their Arm

Although an axillary (or under-the-arm) temperature is not as accurate as a rectal or oral temperature, it can be helpful to get a ballpark estimate of how high your child's temperature is. Taking the temperature of a child under her arm can be an easier way to check for fever, especially for infants and young toddlers, who may struggle too much for an accurate rectal temperature to be taken.

Things You'll Need

• Rectal (or oral) thermometer

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove any layers of clothing blocking the armpit (e.g., jacket, shirt, undershirt).

• 2

  Turn the thermometer on and wait for the starting screen to go on, if you are using a digital thermometer. For old-fashioned thermometers (not recommended for safety reasons), shake down the mercury until it is well below body temperature.

• 3

  Place the metal end of the thermometer into the pocket of your child's armpit, and lower your child's arm so that it is pressing against his chest. Hold onto the other end of the thermometer tightly.

• 4

  Keep the child's arm pressed against his chest until the thermometer beeps. This should both keep the thermometer in place (together with your hand) and ensure that circulating air does not affect the reading.

• 5

  When the thermometer beeps, remove it and write down the result. A reading of 99 degrees or higher is considered a fever, according to kidshealth.org.