First, which Thermometer?

It’s tough to figure out the most accurate way to take a child’s temperature to see if they have a fever. OK, I have heard how it is best to take infants temperatures, but if you are like me, you cringe at taking your child’s temperature rectally. I never was able to do that with any of my children – I’ll leave that to the professionals.  Then, how do you want others to take your child’s temperature? What if you have a babysitter? Or you leave them at an early learning center like Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s?

During the COVID pandemic, I saw a lot of people using the point-and-shoot method where they used the trigger aimed at your forehead and it was super fast and likely the easiest.  But I have heard that they weren’t and still are not very accurate.

I am taking the point-and-shoot ones that we got for the center home to use and got two new ones to use.  One is a digital thermometer by Vick’s and gives a quick read. The other is one that you can use in the ear by Braun. I’m more comfortable with the recognized brand names when it comes to taking children’s temperatures.  Both are used only with covers on them, which I really like for cleanliness.

Cheat Sheet for Taking Temperatures of Children

Since I was replacing the thermometers, I thought a cheat sheet would be helpful to train our team members. This could come in handy for new team members as they come onboard and it will be placed with the thermometers in our health basket as well. I usually do a search on Google first. If I can save time and use something that exists, most of the time I will. I did not find anything that would work, so I created my own version.

The benefit to creating my own is that I can share it! It might be handy for people to have at home to leave in the cabinet with the thermometers or with a babysitter.  Of course, taking temperatures doesn’t seem that complex or difficult to those who have been down the road as far as I have been, but we all start somewhere!

Enjoy this copy of the Taking Children’s Temperatures Cheat Sheet below and feel free to share with others too!

Download your copy of the Taking Children’s Temperatures Cheat Sheet here.

This time of year there tends to be an uprise in illnesses. Unfortunately, the State of Wisconsin, including Waukesha County, has a current outbreak of both the Norovirus and  Respiratory Syncytial Virus, RSV. If you visit the National Outbreak Reporting System’s (NORS) dashboard from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), you will see that Wisconsin has the most outbreaks of emerging diseases than any other state.

Norovirus: 

• Highly contagious
• Flu-like symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and cramping for 1-3 days
• Spread through direct contact, food, or contaminated surfaces

Many young children are being hospitalized with Norovirus, but there is no medication for it. Rehydration is important to make up for loss of any liquid. Fox6 reports, “Anyone suffering from dehydration should seek medical help. Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing. Dehydrated children may be unusually sleepy or fussy and cry with few or no tears”.

Here is a graph below from the CDC that shows that the number of outbreaks is higher than in previous years. The red line is depicting 2024-2025, look at the peak!

What Can You Do/Prevention

 From the Wisconsin Department of Health Services:

People can protect themselves and others from Norovirus by taking simple prevention steps.

• Wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, after changing diapers, before preparing foods, and before eating.
• Handle and prepare food safely. Carefully wash fruits and vegetables and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly.
• Do not prepare food or take care of others if you are sick and for at least two days after symptoms stop.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces with a household bleach solution immediately after someone vomits or has diarrhea.
• Wash soiled clothes and linens thoroughly

RSV: 

• Highly contagious
• Cold-like symptoms: runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever
• Spread through direct contact with someone who has RSV, airborne particles, and contaminated surfaces
• Leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States
• It is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age

Up-to-date vaccinations are the best way to keep children and adults safe from RSV.

Earlier this month, I attended a webinar titled, “What We Want You to Know: Quick Tips Every Childcare Provider Should Know”  with Dr. Vavsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD from The Early Childhood Health Consultation in Wisconsin. Dr. Vavsaria made it known that Pertussis, commonly known as Whooping Cough, is on the rise, and Wisc

onsin is one of the leading states for cases as well. Vaccines and handwashing are the best methods of prevention for this as well.

Stay healthy and happy,

Lauren