Key points to remember about taking a temperature
- the normal temperature inside your child's body is around 37 degrees Celsius
- a fever is when the temperature is more than 38 degrees Celsius
What you're measuring when you take your child's temperature
When you take a temperature, you are trying to measure how hot your child is inside their body. This is called their 'core temperature'.
You measure the temperature in places that are closest to the inside temperature:
- inside the mouth (oral)
- under the arm (axillary)
- in their outer ear canal (tympanic)
Should I measure my child's temperature in their bottom?
In hospital, doctors and nurses sometimes measure temperatures in children's bottoms - they take a rectal temperature. Don't take your child's temperature this way at home.
What's a normal temperature
The normal temperature inside your child's body is around 37 degrees Celsius. Your child's brain helps control their core temperature and to keep it around that level.
After 3 months of age, body temperature changes with a daily rhythm - rising toward the end of the day before dropping overnight and then slowly coming up to about 37 in the morning.
Young pēpi (babies) are not as good at controlling their temperature as older tamariki (children).
What temperature indicates a fever
A fever is when the temperature is more than 38 degrees Celsius.
A fever is when the temperature is more than 38 degrees Celsius. A fever by itself does not indicate whether your child is seriously sick or not.
