Fever/thermometer help

DD had a low grade fever (highest was 100.7) on Sunday. Was fine Monday and yesterday then woke up today super cranky but no fever. Her temp has ranged from 98.5 to 101.3 over the course of a few hours with the ear thermometer. Took her temp rectally twice, highest was 98.8. She feels warm. Acting normally, eating like a pig, drinking.

Does anyone else have ridiculous fluctuations with the ear thermometer? I'm talking 101.3 one minute and 99.5 the next. I cannot undress a 20 month old every hour and stick a thermometer up her butt. Twice was hard enough.

Re: Fever/thermometer help

Rectal thermometer is the one to go by.
Stinks to undress them, but if I'm dosing my kids with meds... I use this one (even on a 5 year old).

I don't even have an ear one (it's hard to take temp accurately due to position and kid movement).

Re: Fever/thermometer help

Ear thermometers suck. The only thing that sucks worse is those stupid temporal forehead ones. A different reading everytime.
Rectal or when they are old enough, oral, is the way to go

Re: Fever/thermometer help

I had the same issues with the ear thermometer. Sometimes its correct, other times it fluctuates over a degree b/w ear to ear. My ped. said to start using the oral one, but even then, I was suspect of the reading, so I did a rectal on my 5 year old, which I haven't done in years. For a 20 month old, I would definitely do rectal even though it stinks having to take clothes and diaper off.

Fever/thermometer help

rectal is the most accurate. for those who don't feel comfortable with rectal but child isn't old enough for oral, you can use under the arm as well.