Taking Baby's Temperature Using a Rectal Thermometer

Here's a great article I found about using a Rectal Thermometer that are made of glass and contained mercury. I know this things are considered unsafe now a days. But in some remote areas, some people do still use this kind of things.

So here are some important guides if you are still using this mercury contained glass rectal thermometer.

If baby seems unduly listless, cries as though  in pain or gives other indications of possible illness, take his temperature rectally. A baby's normal rectal temperature ranges between 36.7º C and 37.5º C (98.6 and 99.6º F). A rectal temperature of 37.8º C(100º F) does not necessarily mean that he is ill. However, a temperature over that is a good indication that he is not well. Being able to take his temperature is, therefore, important, and you should always have a rectal thermometer on hand. A rectal thermometer has a large bulb, and if you are not already familiar with thermometers, be sure to have a druggist or your doctor show you how to read it and how to shake the mercury down.

The mercury should be well down below normal before taking Baby's temperature. Shake it down if it isn't. Put baby oil or petroleum jelly on the bulb end for easier insertion. Your physician will advice you which of the following methods he wishes you to use.

A. Lay Baby on his back on a table or bed. Hold him by his ankles with one hand, raising him slightly. Slip the bulb end of the thermometer in to his rectum about an inch.

B. With a towel on your lap, lay Baby on his stomach. Holding his legs gently but firmly, press the buttocks apart and insert the bulb end of the thermometer about an inch.

DO NOT LEAVE BABY ALONE OR LET GO OF THE THERMOMETER WHILE IT IS IN HIS RECTUM. Hold it there for three minutes, then take it out. The mercury wont slip down in the thermometer, so you can put it in a safe place while you put Baby back to bed.

Even if the thermometer used in the article is a Rectal Thermometer that are made of glass and contained mercury. You can still apply some of the guide in the article with a Rectal Thermometer that are digital.