Thread: Thermometer help!

What thermometer do you use to check your kid's temperature? I have purchased 4 different kids and not a single one gets a consistent reading. My most recent one is a forehead thermometer, and if I check her temp 4 times in a row, in the same spot, I get 4 very different readings. The other day I had one show 102 and the next one showed 98.8 and then the next one showed 97. All done in under two minutes! It's very frustrating and I'm tired of spending money on these devices and non of them work properly. I've read and re-read the directions to make sure I'm using it correctly.

The forehead ones SUCK!!!!! Someone bought it for me at my shower so I tried it but it's waaaaaaaaaay off. We use as Safety First one and I love it!!! It's always spot on. I've used it just before going to the dr's and it's pretty much the exact same as theirs. I always do rectal on him too.

I have a cheaper Gerber digital one and also 2 other cheap no name brand digital ones (I think one is even ment for temping and charting, lol). I've had the best luck with those ones always. I do temps for both boys under the arm and add a degree to the reading. All three come in within +/-.03 of a degree of each other.

I use a normal thermometer under the arm, I can't justify the $60- $100 for a forehead or ear one when the $8 one I have does the trick

I like feverbugs. They are not degree accrate, but with a quick check, I can see if the temperature has gone up or down.

I have an armpit one and I hate it. It takes 3-5 tries to get consistent readings and T is struggling the entire time. The damn thing beeps and says its done and it reads 97 or it'll give me a warning that her temp is over normal but then it stops reading and gives me a lower than actual reading. It will eventually give me a decent reading but I just hate that it takes so long. I go by instinct mainly and only whip it out if I'm worried that her temp might be over 102.

Originally Posted by TiggersMommy

I have an armpit one and I hate it. It takes 3-5 tries to get consistent readings and T is struggling the entire time. The damn thing beeps and says its done and it reads 97 or it'll give me a warning that her temp is over normal but then it stops reading and gives me a lower than actual reading. It will eventually give me a decent reading but I just hate that it takes so long. I go by instinct mainly and only whip it out if I'm worried that her temp might be over 102.

This is my issue exactly. I started with one that can go either mouth, underarm or rectal that I used to take her temp rectally for a while. I bought a second Vicks one because I didn't feel I was getting an accurate reading on the other one I had. I would use both to cross reference and they'd be different by as much as 5 degrees! So, since it was becoming so difficult to take her temp rectally, being the octopus-monkey-wild-indian that she is, I bought an ear thermometer and NEVER could figure out how to make that darn thing work right, it was ridiculously complicated. Then I spent about $30 on the temple one I've been using, but if I take her temp 3 times I get 3 vastly different readings.

I need something that is quick, easy and accurate because to hold her down and get a rectal, underarm or mouth temp would be a screaming, fighting, intensely stressful battle that I am not willing to deal with. I don't take her temp unless she feels really warm to the touch, but I'd like something efficient and reliable.

I use the forehead one if I suspect there's a fever, but it does not give consistent readings. I just use it for a quick check for a general idea. If they do register a fever on the forehead one and I want to know more accurately, I bust out the underarm one. I think it is vicks brand. I had a cheapo, but it took so long to get the reading it wasn't useful. I don't really get the thermometer out very often, I mostly do the "kiss test." If they feel really hot and are acting miserable, then I'll get out a thermometer.

i use the same one that i had used for NFP haha. It goes under his arm, but we have a difficult time getting a reading sometimes as he struggles and you have to be still for it to work. I heard of a vicks one that changes colour based on temperature? I wanted to check that one out but i can't find it anywhere.

The Safety First one I have reads in 30 seconds so its not too bad. I find the rectal is actually the easiest because I can give him something to play with or distract him and he doesnt really realize what I'm doing. He gets weirded out by it when it's under his arm for some reason. I guess wondering what it is/what I'm doing.

I also do the kiss test first. If he feels hot, THEN i use the thermometer.