Some medical research suggests that temporal artery thermometers, which you use by pressing a sensor against the baby’s temple, are also good options for newborns due to accuracy and reproducibility. Newborns have lower body temperatures than adults—typically less than 97. 5 °F (36. 4 °C), versus a normal of 98. 6 °F (37. 0 °C) in adults. [3] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Babies may not regulate their body temperature very well when they’re sick, and they may become cooler rather than warmer and feverish.

Ear infections are quite common in babies and toddlers, and that affects the readings of ear thermometers due to the inflammation within the ear. This means an ear thermometer typically gives too high of a reading with ear infections, so check both ears in case one is infected. Regular digital thermometers can record temperatures from the mouth (under the tongue), armpit, or rectum, and are appropriate for newborns, toddlers, older kids, and adults.

If you use an ear thermometer to take a child’s temperature and you’re skeptical of the results, then take a rectal temperature with a regular thermometer and compare the results. Ear thermometers have become much more affordable over the last decade and can be widely found in pharmacies and medical supply stores.

Ear thermometers will give too low of a temperature reading if there is earwax or debris in the ear canal. Do not use an ear thermometer on an ear that is sore, infected, injured, or recovering from surgery.

Colloidal silver is an excellent antiseptic and something you can learn to make at home, making it much more economically friendly. You can re-use thermometer tip covers only if you thoroughly sanitize them. Make sure to clean them after and before each use.

Follow the directions to ensure that you insert the thermometer the correct distance into the ear canal—there’s no need to touch the eardrum (tympanic membrane), because the thermometer is designed to take a remote reading. The ear thermometer bounces an infrared signal off of the eardrum to read the temperature, so creating a seal around the thermometer by placing it far enough into the canal is important also.

It also makes it easier to compare readings over a specific period of time if you’re monitoring a fever. An advantage of using an ear thermometer is that, when positioned properly, they are quick and fairly accurate. [9] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

For an adult, in reality, normal body temperature ranges from 97. 8 °F (36. 6 °C) to slightly under 100 °F (38 °C). Research indicates that temperature discrepancies as much as 1 °F in either direction can occur with ear thermometers when compared with rectal readings, the most accurate way of measuring. [11] X Research source

A single ear reading from a thermometer should not be used to determine the course of action or treatment. Children can be very ill without a fever, or appear normal with a temperature a little over 100 °F (38 °C). Don’t make conclusions just based on numbers; look for other symptoms.

Symptoms of high fevers of 103–106 °F (39–41 °C) often include hallucinations, confusion, severe irritability, and convulsions. Severe fevers with these kinds of symptoms are usually considered medical emergencies. [15] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to help reduce a fever. However, ibuprofen can’t be given before 6 months of age and aspirin should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.