7 Things You Should Know About... Fever

Your little one’s forehead feels warm and her cheeks are flushed. Should you call the doctor? Before you start panicking, here’s what you should know about fever in babies and toddlers.

- Eveline Gan

1 It’s not a fever until the thermometer reads 38 deg C.

That is, if you’re going by your baby’s rectal temperature (taken in her bottom), according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A body temperature of 38.5 deg C and above is considered a high fever.

The normal body temperature can range from 36.1 to 37.8 deg C, says Dr Leo Deng Jin, an associate consultant at the department of emergency medicine at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). Not only do babies and younger kids have a higher body temperature than adults, it can also vary throughout the day for different reasons, from being over-dressed to the time of the day, experts say.

Even the device and method you use to measure your little one’s temperature can make a difference. For example, a temperature reading taken in the bottom tends to be higher than in the underarm. You may also get slightly higher readings from infrared thermometers compared to electronic ones, Dr Leo says.

2 Rectal readings are the most spot-on.

No one likes sticking a thermometer into their little one’s bottom. But it provides the most accurate readings for babies, particularly those under the age of three months, as well as toddlers up to the age of three, says Dr Michael Wong, deputy medical director at Raffles Medical.

For accuracy, take the temperature twice each time.

Digital ear thermometers, which use infrared rays, aren’t recommended for newborns. They are for babies older than six months, older kids and adults.

Armpit temperatures are the least accurate. And don’t bother feeling your baby’s skin to check if she’s having a fever – it’s not accurate as it depends a lot on your own body temperature, says Dr Wong.

According to him, your child has a fever if her: