A Guide To Your New Family's First Weeks - Meriter Health Services

Recognizing Illness
Illness in a newborn can be a serious and life-threatening event. It is important to recognize the early signs of
illness (see the inside cover for signs) and report these to your doctor.
Taking Temperatures
Ask your nurse to demonstrate how to take your
baby’s temperature, both rectally and under the arm.
Practice each method before you go home with your
baby.
Types of Thermometers
You will go home with a digital thermometer.
Digital thermometers are inexpensive and accurate.
Ear thermometers may be expensive and difficult
to use. They are not recommended for infants.
Fever strips placed on the forehead and pacifier
thermometers are not accurate and are not
recommended.
How to Take a Baby’s Temperature
To take an underarm temperature, turn the
thermometer on, slip the thermometer underneath
your baby’s clothes and place the bulb end in your
baby’s armpit (skin to skin). Hold your baby’s arm
down over it. Wait for the thermometer to beep.
Your doctor may ask you to take a rectal temperature
if your baby is ill. Lubricate the end with a petroleum
jelly product. Place a diaper under your baby’s
bottom. Lay your baby on his tummy. Use your free
hand to hold and gently separate your baby’s bottom
while inserting just the silver tip of the thermometer
into the rectum. Once inserted, hold your baby and
thermometer securely. Use a plastic thermometer
sleeve or wash thoroughly when finished. Nursing
staff will demonstrate temperature taking before you
go home. An underarm temperature is slightly lower
than a rectal temperature.
When to Take a Baby’s Temperature
If your baby seems uncomfortable and warm, do not
rely on touch; take your baby’s temperature.
Normal temperatures ranges:
Rectal: 97.9° to 100.4° F (36.6° to 38° C)
Axillary (under arm): 97.5° to 99.1° F (36.4°
to 37.3° C)
You should report a rectal temperature greater
than 100.4° F during your baby’s first two
months. A low temperature may also be a sign
of illness; report a temperature less than 97°F.
Using A Bulb Syringe
We suggest you keep a bulb syringe handy in your
home, and bring it with you when you leave your
house with your baby. You may use a bulb syringe
to clean your baby’s nose and mouth of formula or
mucus on occasions when your baby spits up, has a
stuffy nose or sneezes. (Babies sneeze to try to clear
their noses.)
To use a syringe:
• First, squeeze the bulb until you collapse it.
• Place it in one nostril and quickly release the bulb.
This will bring the spit-up or mucus into the bulb.
• Remove the bulb syringe from the nose and
squeeze the bulb quickly into a tissue to get rid of
collected material. Repeat for the other nostril and
mouth, if necessary.
To clean a syringe:
• Each day you use the bulb syringe, clean it with
hot soapy water.
• Rinse in hot water.
• Be sure to clean the inside of the bulb by
squeezing the bulb while the tip is in the soapy
water.
• Rinse by repeating the procedure with clean hot
water.
• Discard after any illness and use a new syringe.
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