How to take your baby's temperature - Your pregnancy and baby guide

A normal temperature in babies and children is about 36.4C, but this can vary slightly. A high temperature or fever is usually considered to be a temperature of 38C or above.

Your baby may have a high temperature if they:

feel hotter than usual to touch on their forehead, back or stomach
feel sweaty or clammy
have flushed cheeks

If you think your baby has a high temperature, it's best to check their temperature with a thermometer. This can help you work out whether you need to get medical advice.

How do I take my child's temperature?

Taking a baby's temperature with a digital thermometer

Ideally, you need a digital thermometer to get a fast, accurate reading.

You can buy these online or from pharmacies and most large supermarkets.

To take your child's temperature:

Hold them comfortably on your knee and put the thermometer in their armpit – always use the thermometer in the armpit with children under 5 years.
Gently, but firmly, hold their arm against their body to keep the thermometer in place for however long it says in the manufacturer's instructions – usually about 15 seconds. Some digital thermometers beep when they're ready.
The display on the thermometer will then show your child's temperature.

How can I make sure the reading is accurate?

If you use a digital thermometer in your child's armpit and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, you should get an accurate reading.

There are a few things that can slightly alter the reading – for example, if your child has been:

wrapped up tightly in a blanket
in a very warm room
very active
cuddling a hot water bottle
wearing a lot of clothes
having a bath

If this is the case, allow them to cool down for a few minutes, but do not let them get cold or shivery, then take their temperature again to see if there's any change.

Other types of thermometer

You can buy other types of thermometer, but they may not be as accurate as a digital thermometer for taking a baby or young child's temperature:

ear (tympanic) thermometers – these allow you to take a temperature reading from the ear and are quick but expensive; they can give misleading readings if you do not put them in the ear correctly, which is more likely to happen with babies because their ear holes are so small
strip-type thermometers – these are held against the forehead and are not an accurate way of taking a temperature. They show the temperature of the skin, rather than the body

You should never use an old-fashioned glass thermometer containing mercury. These can break, releasing small splinters of glass and highly poisonous mercury. They're no longer used in hospitals and you cannot buy them in shops.

If your child is exposed to mercury, get medical advice immediately.

What causes a high temperature in children?

A high temperature is usually a sign that your child's body is trying to fight an infection.

Some babies and young children get a high temperature after having their vaccinations. This should go away quite quickly by itself. If you're concerned, speak to a health visitor or GP.

What should I do if my baby has a high temperature?

You can usually look after your baby or child at home when they have a high temperature. Make sure you give them plenty of drinks, to avoid dehydration. If you're breastfeeding, offer your baby plenty of feeds.

Always contact a GP or call 111 if:

your child has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
your baby's temperature is 38C or higher if they're under 3 months old
your baby's temperature is 39C or higher if they're 3 to 6 months old

If you need to speak to someone outside normal surgery hours, you can call your GP surgery's out-of-hours service (if they have one) or NHS 111.

Page last reviewed: 27 February 2020
Next review due: 27 February 2023