[ShannonMVT]

-What temp does your Dr consider a fever?
-What temp do YOU consider a fever?
-How often do babies get little illnesses, typically?
-Do you have a thermometer you recommend? Share the type and brand and where you bought it.

This is the 3rd time Matthew has been sick. He had a little cold at 3 weeks, then some sort of viral thing that wasn't bad but caused a low grade fever a couple months ago. And now he's got a low grade fever the past few days. It fluctuates from normal (and even low, like 97.9) up to around 99.9. My dr's office doesn't consider it a fever until it hits 100.4. He doesn't have much other symptoms other than the first day (Sat) he was really tired all day and had a complete screaming fit at one point (and we could NOT figure out what was wrong). Other than that, just a bit fussy, but that's not unusual for him normally anyhow. I however, have a cold, so I'm thankful Matthew doesn't have snotty nose cold symptoms like I do.

I've been using a Vick's rectal thermometer, it got good reviews. But I was thinking of buying something else to make sure. Sometimes he doesn't really feel hot but I take his temp and there will be that slight fever.

[SandKmommy]

-What temp does your Dr consider a fever? Anything over 100F for Kieran, anything over 101F for Seamus
-What temp do YOU consider a fever? anything over 100F
-How often do babies get little illnesses, typically? Kieran's had a few colds never any fevers that I've noticed. Seamus has had a few in his life with temps up to 102(maybe even higher when he was younger) just gave him Tylenol and Motrin rotating.
-Do you have a thermometer you recommend? Share the type and brand and where you bought it. I just use the thermometer that the hospital gave us, the one they use right after birth just a normal little digital one. But we're looking into an ear one because with a kid like Seamus theres no other way to do it(and I dont trust the forehead ones)

[LisanAndy]

-What temp does your Dr consider a fever? A mild fever is anything above 99F
-What temp do YOU consider a fever? Same as above
-How often do babies get little illnesses, typically? Taylor has only been sick once but never had a fever. She only gets those after her immunizations. Rylie hasn't been sick yet.
-Do you have a thermometer you recommend? Share the type and brand and where you bought it. Oh gosh... I think it's the Safety First brand. I know it was the cheapest one at Wal Mart LoL.

[greeneyes]

-What temp does your Dr consider a fever? Anything above 99*F.
-What temp do YOU consider a fever? Same.
-How often do babies get little illnesses, typically? I'm not sure, my kids are never sick. Lily has had a few colds since she started going to MDO and she did have Rotavirus last winter (again, from school), but other than that, neither have been sick.
-Do you have a thermometer you recommend? Share the type and brand and where you bought it. I have the Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer. I bought it from Target and I had a $10 off coupon, so I ended up spending much less than advertised. I love it because it is quick, easy, and accurate. My peds office uses the exact same one so I know it's a good, quality thermometer.

You will always get a slightly higher temp rectally than orally, under the arm, forehead, or in ear. A rectal reading of 99 sounds normal to me and I wouldn't worry about it. As a side note, I once met a peds nurse who told me the hospital she works at only does in ear temps and will only do a rectal temp to confirm an abnormally high/low in ear reading due to the risk of the baby squirming and the thermometer perforating the colon.

ETA:
I just looked it up in my Taking Care of Your Baby book and it said that the normal range for rectal temperatures is 100.2*F and under. Normal range for under the arm is 97.5*F to 99.3*F. I think he's fine and you can stop sticking the thermometer up his heiny.

[soImarriedAnerd]

What temp does your Dr consider a fever?
Depends on age:
Under 2 months: 100.4
2 months and older: 102.2

-What temp do YOU consider a fever?
same as above.

-How often do babies get little illnesses, typically? Breastfeed is less then formula feed and premies are the sickest...not sure on the amount of times though.

-Do you have a thermometer you recommend? Share the type and brand and where you bought it. Just a cheap digital one-rectally. The only way we were allowed to count a child's temp (one that was having temp issues that is) was rectally.

Shannon here is a site I like to use--- Fever in Infants and Children -- familydoctor.org

Temps are usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening. NEVER insert a rectal thermometer more than 1inch!!!!!
Also the normal area temp is:

• 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) measured rectally (in the bottom)
• 99.5° Fahrenheit (37.5° Celsius) measured orally (in the mouth)
• 99° Fahrenheit (37.2° Celsius) measured in an axillary position (under the arm)

[ShannonMVT]

Originally Posted by greeneyes

ETA:
I just looked it up in my Taking Care of Your Baby book and it said that the normal range for rectal temperatures is 100.2*F and under. Normal range for under the arm is 97.5*F to 99.3*F. I think he's fine and you can stop sticking the thermometer up his heiny.

LOL! The one I am using is specially designed to be rectal and it has a very short tip so you cannot insert it too far. Otherwise I'd be nervous about accidentally hurting him.

Thanks for the input, I'll chill out now.

[petalfuzz]

Yeah, I thought that rectal temps were naturally higher, so huh!

[bittersweet]

In the PICU, we only do rectal temps on infants. I've seen a under the arm temp on a infant read 97.5 and then the rectal temp read 104. Needless to say, under the arm on infants isnt accurate. I am not a fan of the ear temps either. I think there is a lot room for user variance which make the numbers hard to trend.

PS...if he does he fevers, do NOT use ibuprofen until he is at least 6 months (our docs dont like to use it until they are a yr). Stick with tylenol

[Adriana's Mommy]

-What temp does your Dr consider a fever? Anything over 99
-What temp do YOU consider a fever? same
-How often do babies get little illnesses, typically? Vary rarely.. And my DD has been going to daycare since she was 3 months old and she was formula fed. I think it all depends on how good their immune system is.
-Do you have a thermometer you recommend? Share the type and brand and where you bought it. Braun Thermaoscan Ear Thermometer. This is a life saver, I highly recommend it...

[Resi]

-What temp does your Dr consider a fever? No clue. I never asked.-What temp do YOU consider a fever? I have no idea. I have been wondering the same thing the past few days.-How often do babies get little illnesses, typically? Oliver is sick with his first cold right now. He has never been sick before. -Do you have a thermometer you recommend? Share the type and brand and where you bought it. No. I need to get a rectal thermometer. I have one that you put on the child's forehead. I got it as a gift from my SIL. I hate it. I never get a good reading from it. It's always different.