I regret taking my children's rectal temperature.

[EarthMama]

I am feeling REALLY REALLY bad right now. My kids recently had a sickness...104 degree fevers. I had to monitor around the clock. I wasn't able to get a real accurate temperature reading by putting it under the arm, in their mouths. So I did the rectal temp, as I was too frazzled to think of anything else, or even think "I can go out and buy an ear temp gauge...". I'm not as worried about the 5 month old, but I am worried that I traumatized my 3 year old.

I took his rectal temp a few times...each time he was held in a loving embrace and often I nursed him (he's not weaned yet) while my husband helped me. It seemed fine as it seemed more important at the time to get an accurate reading...in case we needed to go to the ER. This was our first major sickness for our kids.

But today (temp is down) he's really set on having his diaper on all day (was potty training) and when we changed him he grew very upset and it dawned on me that he might be upset because he's worried we're going to stick something up his butt again...

I feel SO SO BAD!! I can't believe I didn't consider the long term effects of taking a rectal temp with him...I was just worried about the temp. I just ordered a $40 ear temperature gauge to have on hand, god forbid they get sick again.

Anyway. I'm going to talk to him about it tomorrow and let him handle the sanitized thermometer and show him exactly what it does...and have him take a doll's temperature...which I didn't even think to do when my kids were throwing up and running such high fevers...

*sigh* I'm open to your feedback. Am I just freaking out? Will he be ok?

 

[AngelUK]

I think he will be ok. I had mine taken like that too when I was little and of all the things that upset me in my childhood, this was not one of them. Mum did put a little cream on it though so it would not hurt. Maybe you didn't and it was a bit uncomfy for him?
All that being said, I do think that the new ear ones are somewhat more dignified! However, mine hate that thing and it makes them squirm and they try to escape when ever I bring it out. I am not pressing it into their ears very hard so I am not sure why it should hurt them but it was upsetting them enough that I now got an Medisana FTN Infrared Clinical Contactless Thermometer.
Please don't worry about your boy. I am sure he will have no lasting emotional scars. I hope he and his sister are all better now

 

[Bex84]

I would just talk to him and tell him that you have bought special new one which is nicer but you took temperature to make sure he did not get to sick. I personally just use forehead strips but that's due to I tend to think you can tell when a child needs medical treatment and its not always a certain temp. In my family it seems common for are regular temperature to be lower so when my daughter has high temperature or my son does it can be same as someone else's normal. I'm sure your son won't be traumatized though

 

[RaspberryK]

Ah ds has to have suppositories sometimes and after he is a bit funny about his bottom-plus they can make him sore but he will forget about it.
Xx

 

[RaspberryK]

Ah ds has to have suppositories sometimes and after he is a bit funny about his bottom-plus they can make him sore but he will forget about it.
Xx

 

[noon_child]

You weren't forcing him in a violent way, you were lovingly doing something uncomfortable for his welfare. They don't go in very far, so yes he might be on edge that it will happen again but doubt he's traumatised. Having blood taken, getting jabs, swallowing yucky tasting medicine is all unpleasant and can make us wary but doesn't traumatise us unless accompanied by callousness or violence.

 

[sbl]

Lo had to have suppositories for a viral infection in November.
I felt awful doing it but I know I was doing the right thing to make my daughter better as were you with your children.
hugs mama

 

[EarthMama]

Thanks everyone...the fever was very scary.

 

[storm4mozza]

Eek... I often do things without realizing how the 'other child' may see it. An example (and mistake of mine) was to get son's needles done with his little sister in the room. >.> I had a rough few weeks after this BUT it didn't last long. Im sure your son will get over this it probably has made him a bit nervous but he will get over it, my personal opinion is to just watch he isn't watching next time if possible (i have to do it with DD who is 2 and understands quite alot of what is going on).

Oh and your not alone i had to give DD a rectal temp and it was her that was not happy with me
Good Luck x