Get the thermometer ready

• Use a thermometer that is made only for underarm use.

• Take the cover off.

• Clean the thermometer before each use.

• Be sure the thermometer is at room temperature when you use it.

Position your baby

• Hold your baby on your lap. Or lay the baby on his or her back on a firm surface.

• Gently lift your baby’s arm.

• Place the tip of the thermometer in the fold of the baby’s armpit. To get a true reading, the thermometer must rest directly against baby’s skin on all sides.

• Lower the arm back down to your baby’s side.

Take the temperature

• Follow the instructions for using your thermometer.

• Keep your baby’s arm against his or her side for 4 to 5 minutes. This keeps the thermometer in place and gives an accurate reading.

• When the thermometer beeps, remove it and read the temperature on the display.

• Normal axillary temperature is about 97.6°F (36.4°C) to 99.4°F (37.4°C). An axillary temperature is often 1 degree lower than oral or rectal temperatures. So it can help you gauge whether your child may have a fever. But it's not the most reliable at any age.

• Before putting the thermometer away, clean it with soap and warm water. And put the cover back on.

Follow-up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.

When to call your child's healthcare provider

Call your baby's healthcare provider right away if your baby has any of these:

• Bleeding from where you took the temperature

• Fever of 99°F (37.2°C) or higher for a temperature taken under the arm in a baby younger than 3 months

• Fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher for an armpit temperature in a child age 3 months to 36 months (3 years)

• Fever that rises to 104°F (40°C) in a child of any age