Furthermore, normal body temperature varies depending on gender, activity levels, food and beverage consumption, time of day, and stage of menstruation. For example, while the average normal oral (under the tongue) temperature of an adult is 98.6 ☏ (37.0 ☌), ear (tympanic) temperature is typically 0.5 to 1 ☏ higher and can hover close to 100 ☏ (38 ☌) and be considered normal. Not every area in the body is supposed to have the same temperature at all times. Understand normal body temperature differences.

The ear thermometer bounces an infrared signal off of the eardrum to read the temperature, so creating a seal around the thermometer by placing it far enough into the canal is important also.

Follow the directions to ensure that you insert the thermometer the correct distance into the ear canal-there's no need to touch the eardrum (tympanic membrane), because the thermometer is designed to take a remote reading.

X Research source Straightening the ear canal will help prevent injuring or irritating it with the tip of the thermometer and allow for the most accurate reading. More specifically, if it's an adult ear, then gently pull it up and then back if it's a child's ear, then gently pull it straight back. After turning the hand-held ear thermometer on, try not to move your head (or hold your child's head still) and pull back on the top part of the ear in order to help straighten out the ear canal a little bit and make it easier to insert the tip. Pull the ear back and insert the thermometer.

Regular digital thermometers can record temperatures from the mouth (under the tongue), armpit, or rectum, and are appropriate for newborns, toddlers, older kids, and adults.

This means an ear thermometer typically gives too high of a reading with ear infections, so check both ears in case one is infected.

Ear infections are quite common in babies and toddlers, and that affects the readings of ear thermometers due to the inflammation within the ear.Mild-to-moderate fevers in toddlers can be more dangerous than in adults, so accuracy during the younger years is especially important. X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source You can use an ear thermometer at a younger age to get a general reading (which is better than no reading at all), but until about the age of 3, readings from the rectum, armpit, and temporal artery (in the temple region of the head) are considered more accurate. Up to an age of about 3 years, a rectal thermometer still provides the most accurate readings for core body temperature. Use an ear thermometer cautiously with toddlers. X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Babies may not regulate their body temperature very well when they're sick, and they may become cooler rather than warmer and feverish. Newborns have lower body temperatures than adults-typically less than 97.5 ☏ (36.4 ☌), versus a normal of 98.6 ☏ (37.0 ☌) in adults.

Some medical research suggests that temporal artery thermometers, which you use by pressing a sensor against the baby’s temple, are also good options for newborns due to accuracy and reproducibility.X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source Earwax, ear infections, and small, curved ear canals interfere with the accuracy of ear thermometers, so they are not the best types to use for newborns. From birth to about 6 months of age, using a regular digital thermometer to take a rectal (anal) temperature is recommended because it's considered the most accurate. The best or most appropriate type of thermometer to use to measure body temperature depends mainly on age. Select a rectal thermometer for newborns.

Aural thermometer