How often should you take a temperature?
Now it's getting curious. Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder told the Süddeutsche Zeitung this week that he takes his temperature every day. And he's not the only one. But is that even necessary?
We have actually already ticked off the topic of "fever". In the media centre on our website, there is a video and a tip to read about it. In everyday practice, however, people often ask: "How often do I need to take my baby's/toddler's temperature?" That's why I've decided to add the aspect of "taking a temperature" to the old fever topic.
It is important to us: Please do not take a temperature regularly as a ritual! It's not necessary, it stresses the child, it stresses the parents. And it leads to nothing. Instead, develop a feeling for how your child is doing. And I promise you: If your child is really so ill that the temperature is relevant and important, then you will notice it. Guaranteed. But because of other factors: Your child is much more clingy, less active, less alert, etc.
If your child is so ill and you want to check the temperature, then the following applies: measuring in the bum is the most accurate, but you don't need this precision. Measuring in the ear is accurate enough and much less struggle and agonising for the child.
But if your child is fit as a fiddle and perhaps has a little cough or a runny nose, then taking a temperature won't really help you because it simply has no medical relevance.
Further interesting tips
Blood sampling
Today we are focussing on taking blood samples. This is not such an uncritical issue in the paediatric practice because very few children find it cool. So here are a few things to bear in mind.
War - how do I talk about it?
One topic that I would not have liked to have dealt with: talking to children about war. This is a topic, similar to death, where there is no one right way. Because everyone is different, deals with such topics differently and, of course, age also has a big influence. Nevertheless, there are a few basic aspects.
U-examinations
They are fixed points for all parents: the famous U-examinations, which, at least in the early years, are documented in the equally famous yellow booklet.