For a child under three years old, a normal rectal temperature may range from 97 to 100 degrees. For children over four years of age, a normal oral temperature varies from 96 to 99 degrees. Children's temperatures vary depending on the time of the day, the temperature of the room, the weather, the amount of clothing the child is wearing, and what the child has been doing. Always dress children so that they are comfortable and can move easily, overdressing will increase their temperature. As a rule of thumb, a temperature is a fever if it is over 101 degrees rectally or 100 degrees orally after the child has been at rest for a while.
Children can develop a fever for many reasons.
A fever may be a sign of a cold, or a reaction to a recent immunization. One of the most common causes of fever is infection. Children get frequent viral infections during the first five or six years of life. If you suspect a fever, take your child's temperature. Don't rely on feeling the child's forehead.