Was the rectal temp taken for accuracy, safety or both?

In my home growing up, my mother took rectal temperatures to age 6 or 7. It seemed she did this for safety reasons and did not trust a small child with an oral thermometer in the mouth. Then their was the accuracy issue, especially if one of us was running a high fever. Until the age of 7 or so, there were no questions asked, out came the rectal thermometer, petroleum jelly, bottle of alcohol and tissues.

Then is was over on your tummy and the bottom was bared and the cool lubricated thermometer slowly inserted and kept there for at least three minutes. If a fever was noted, the child could expect repeated readings on the order of every two hours. By the end of the day, one had a very slick rear and a tingling rectum. There were times when a child over the "switch -age" would find themselves on the receiving end of her rectal thermometer, though. My sister had the habit of holding the oral thermometer in place with her teeth, and not keeping her mouth closed for the full time it took to register. My mom would warn "Don't bite it and keep your mouth closed, or I'll take it in your other end".

Most times the threat of a rectal reading was enough to get her to comply and at other times not.

Once the rectal thermometer came out- there was no going back. I often heard "Come on, give me another chance" . My mother would ignore her pleas, shake down and lubricate it before getting her in position and making the insertion. This was often done in the presence of another child to show she meant business and they would get the same treatment for not following instructions with the oral thermometer. I should note that in the early 1970s' the glass thermometers were the only ones available and digital models her a thing of the future.

Only ever got rectal thermometers at home

In our home, only rectal temperatures were used, for children and adults. This was common in France 30-40 years ago. Adults and children old enough (6+ I think) to insert the thermometer themselves would do it under bedsheets, but mom inserted the thermometer with Vaseline in younger children, keeping them on stomach (I know this because I witnessed my little brother having his temperature taken).

My mother said rectal was accurate while oral and axillary were less reliable. She probably had read it in a home medicine book, or perhaps taken that from her own mother.

Same in hospital, the nurse would hand the thermometer for it to be inserted rectally. That was the procedure.

My Mom was the same she always took our temperature rectally, her saying was rectal temp were the only accurate temps you could get. Even as I got older and my temperature was taken orally at the Dr.s office she still at home would only take it rectally. And when my Mom had her mind made up she wouldn't change it. No matter what I said to her.

Another factor... Imagine I had fussed and demanded an oral reading. The glass thermometer we had, according to its instruction sheet, could be used anally, orally or axillarily. But did I want to put in my mouth a thermometer that was usually in somebody's rectum, even though my mom would completely clean it with alcohol after? So it would have meant buying another one.

I think it was both for me and my brother we both got rectal up until age 11.

I think it was for accuracy or just how they took your temperature back then. Rectal temps should still be an option in drs offices I think.

I think it was because it was the only thermometer we had. Of course, if you ask my sisters' girlfriend she will tell you that she has no clue. She used the one we had as a family under her tongue. She started gagging until we told her that we never saw mom or dad use it. Oh and it was clean.

For a long time, I thought rectal was the only way possible to take a temperature. I was surprised to see on TV people taking their temp under the arm or in the mouth.

I can only speak from my experience. In my home, and at my pediatrician's office, rectal was only done until you were old enough, (and capable), to be able to hold the thermometer under your tongue, without danger. For me, that happened around age 5. Rectal temps. sometimes came up in conversations with classmates, probably until we were old enough to discuss other, more important issues, i.e., cars, girls, etc. I did discover that some of my friends still had their temps. taken rectally. I found it kind of weird, and assumed that they weren't mature enough to have it taken by mouth. Much later, while in my early teens, I discovered that several mom's and doctors, still took rectal temps., even on teens, because of this unheard of concept called "accuracy." For those who were brave enough to admit that they still had their temp. taken that way, I don't recall anyone saying that they liked it. In fact, they hated it, and found it to be painful, and humiliating. I would like to think that the majority of mom's who still insisted on that method, did so out of genuine concern for their sons or daughters. However, over the years, I've come to believe that some of it may have been done to satisfy their own sexual perversions, and because they didn't want to accept that their child was no longer a child.

As stated previously I had my temperature taken rectally at the doctor's office and at home through the age of 18. I never once heard the word accuracy that I could remember. It was just done that way. I was also one of those who hated it and felt embarrassed by it, especially as I got older.

The rectal thermometer lived in a pearl white case that had a clip on it, like a fountain pen in those days. I expect the clip was intended for a nurse to keep it safe in a breast pocket. Ours lay on a shelf in the medicine cabinet, as did a jar of suppositories for the kids and an even larger jar of adult suppositories that were mom's. Also right there, ready for use, was the Vaseline. Sometimes an enema bulb, but it was also to be found in a vanity drawer if not in the medicine cabinet.

Rectal temps were the norm. The way things were done. "I'd better take your temperature," meant the glass rod would be soon sliding up your bottom.

If I was in bed she'd fetch the thermometer and Vaseline, I'd be invited to roll over, down came PJ bottoms, the sound of the Vaseline jar being opened, if I looked up I'd see the business end of the thermometer being dipped into the goo and coming out with a big dollop on the end of it, then my cheeks pried apart, some warning such as, 'in we go' and slowly but firmly the cold thermometer would be inserted a couple of inches.

Sometimes, I'd be told to get out of bed, mom would sit on the bed, down went PJ bottoms and over her lap I'd go for the insertion and holding. While I liked the OTK contact with mom's lap I'd also be a little anxious as it was too like being spanked for total comfort. Mom was aware of this too as she might raise the topic while I was OTK.

One thing I liked either OTK, or when mom sat beside me on the bed, was how she'd place her hand on my bottom either with the thermometer held between her fingers, or between her thumb and index finger, or sometimes she'd just rub her fingers on my bottom while she talked to me. I liked that except when she'd say something like, 'I'm pretty sure you are running a temp and if you are I think I should give you an enema next.' Another not welcome comment, more likely if I was OTK, was, 'I'm going to take the thermometer out in a minute and I want you to stay where you are. You know you've been a bit naughty the last few days, don't you?' I'd have to admit I knew I'd been a little naughty, as I was always testing limits, and she'd say, 'As long as we're here I'd best give you some spanking to help you be a good boy. Now let's see if you have a temp.'

As a 60's kid and 70's teen my temperature was taken rectally it's all i knew, so there was no saying why it just was. When i turned 13 the doctor's nurse started asking how i wanted it taken, as i didn't mind rectal i just let her do it that way, as for home, we only had rectal thermometers. My mom did buy an oral one for my bother when he turned 14. But as i didn't mind rectal that's how mine was done till I left home at age 18, either by mom or my self. Mom let my brother and I take our own temps from about age 10 or 11 on but we did have to show the thermometer to her after.

In the days of mercury thermometers yes rectal was more accurate and safer ,many kids crunched the thermometer when used orally ,now a days thermometers are faster and can automaticly convert an oral ear or forehead temperature to a rectal , I believe if I remember right your rectal temp and true core temp can vary by several degrees .

Rectal was used as we all grew up. I still like the reading of a rectal temp. I believe our parents did not trust us with Oral temps. I was one who would be threatened to be quiet or it was rectal. It did not bother me so I would always talk. Being a mom of a son who has severe autism he refuses any other way but rectal. I don't trust the newer generation of thermometers. They always seem to be off. Especially if the batteries are going dead. I hate that on rescue go to use the modern day ones and the batteries are dead. Just give me a glass rectal or oral on rescue and.i be happy. Having been on rescue and having my son I learned to get a temperature without even taking it.

Mom took my brother and my temperature rectally for accuracy

It was done typically if mom needed to call the doctor about my feeling sick or if I was attempting to miss school! I learned fast that faking illness was going to result in a rectal temperature and/or a trip to the doctor with the same result!

I didn't even know that it was more accurate until I was in my early 20's. Neither my parents nor any doctor or nurse ever mentioned that to me. It was just the way it was done, and I had to accept it.

As I have said in other posts, rectal temps were a norm in our house. No discussion, unless you wanted some other consequences and your temperature was still going to be done rectally. I got them in high school, the last one at 17. As I said it was norm. I would also say that my mother in trying to be good mother, along with grandmother and aunt (my fathers sister and she was a nurse) were all in agreement of this practice. Thinking back, it was probably both accuracy and safety. Although was I started in my teen years I was normal kid and accepted the practice so safety should not have been an issue.

I do know that when it was taken rectally and I had follow up doctor visit, my temperature would taken again rectally. Prior to about 13 all doctor visits when my temperature taken was rectal. On a few visits as I was becoming a teenager and visited the doctor and my temperature was taken, it was oral but even as teen if it was done at home rectal and I visited the doctor it would be rectal. I assume this was for accuracy.

When I left home for college, I purchase a rectal thermometer and took my rectally when I did feel well. I think this part of the way I was raised, so I guess I believed accuracy but it also turned me on as a laid on the bed with a thermometer in my butt.

....so I guess I believed accuracy but it also turned me on as a laid on the bed with a thermometer in my butt.

That is a better reason than accuracy!!! 😄

At home wen we ware little mom took my temp in my ass it was the standard for me and mommy, it was always over mom, grandma or auntie lap. I got my temps taken like this until las years.