What Thermometer Do You Use?

[2grls4us]

I had dcd try and drop off his child with a fever again today.
Maybe I'm just more experienced at these things having a teenager and now toddler. But how could they not notice 102+. He handed her to me as she was crabby and crying for him. I just barely touched her and could feel her warm all over. I told him to not leave until I checked her temp. Yep. 102 in one ear and he asked me to check the other. It read 103! Then talking to mom on the phone apparently he was upset that I sent them back home. Really!! We've been texting back and forth this morning and she now tells me they gave the child the meds last night before bed thought she was teething. Now she says they've only gotten 98.5 under her arm so even adding a degree 99.5 and have not given her anything?
I have a Braun ear thermometer has always worked in the past.

So here's my question what type of thermometer do you use? What do you find to be the most accurate?

[snbauser]

I also use the braun ear thermometer although I need to get a new one. Mine is from when my now 21 year old was about 2. LOL!!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I just use a plain old digital one under the armpit. I had a Mom demand that I get a better thermometer and to not take her child's temp under the armpit because it is ineffective. I told her that I was sorry she felt that way and if she wanted to provide a different thermometer I would be more than willing to accept it. However, the state says that underarm temps ARE valid.

[littlemissmuffet]

I had dcd try and drop off his child with a fever again today.
Maybe I'm just more experienced at these things having a teenager and now toddler. But how could they not notice 102+. He handed her to me as she was crabby and crying for him. I just barely touched her and could feel her warm all over. I told him to not leave until I checked her temp. Yep. 102 in one ear and he asked me to check the other. It read 103! Then talking to mom on the phone apparently he was upset that I sent them back home. Really!! We've been texting back and forth this morning and she now tells me they gave the child the meds last night before bed thought she was teething. Now she says they've only gotten 98.5 under her arm so even adding a degree 99.5 and have not given her anything?
I have a Braun ear thermometer has always worked in the past.

So here's my question what type of thermometer do you use? What do you find to be the most accurate?

I use any old digital thermometer - but I *always* do rectal temps for 12 months to 3 years. 3+ I do underarm temps and add 1 degree for accuracy.

[MamaBearCanada]

I use the Braun ear one too.

[Oneluckymom]

I have about 3 different digital ones. I have been know to take a temp 2-3 times with a different one each time. Just to confirm a reading

I take it under the pit too...it is accurate.

[2grls4us]

Thanks for all the replies. My husband happened to have an appointment with our pcp today. I had him ask which would he recommend. He said the forehead and ear thermometers are accurate and the reason they and most doctors use the forehead is now because of cost. Which I understand those covers are costly for what little you use them.

[2grls4us]

Sorry he also said to take the temp in each ear if you don't like the results. If still not what you want wait a few minutes and try again.
Which is what we do so glad we're on the same page as our doctor.

[snbauser]

Sorry he also said to take the temp in each ear if you don't like the results. If still not what you want wait a few minutes and try again.
Which is what we do so glad we're on the same page as our doctor.

This is what I do. I take it in both ears. If I'm not convinced that it accurate I will wait a few minutes and take it again.

[Cradle2crayons]

I use a plain ole digital thermometer and do rectal for all children under 2. Rectal is the most accurate method there is. For over two, I use the Braun ear one and always do both ears. I never do armpit.

[MNMum]

FWIW, in the hospital we use a simple digital thermometer and do underarm temps. I feel if it is accurate enough for our preemies, it's good enough for daycare.

[Unregistered]

FWIW, in the hospital we use a simple digital thermometer and do underarm temps. I feel if it is accurate enough for our preemies, it's good enough for daycare.

your hospital does underarm temps in PREEMIES? in my state, all babies in the hospital get rectal. wow.

[MarinaVanessa]

Just for my sake I have all types of thermometers. I have:

A forehead digital one


Forehead thermometer strips (so I can keep an eye on a DCK if a temperature reading is just below 100) similar to the ones below but not exactly like it, mine stick on. (My MIL brought them to me, she works at a hospital)



An ear thermometer


A few of the regular oral digital thermometers






and an underarm thermometer


I've collected them all over the years because of parents that argue about temperature, whether I'm using it wrong or not, the type of thermometer etc. If I take a temperature reading I'll take it again with each thermometer type just to be sure. It's hard to argue with 4 thermometer readings .


The only type of reading I won't do is rectal.

[littlemissmuffet]

your hospital does underarm temps in PREEMIES? in my state, all babies in the hospital get rectal. wow.

Our hospitals use armpit readings for preemies as well. Our NICU is one of the best in Canada.

[MNMum]

your hospital does underarm temps in PREEMIES? in my state, all babies in the hospital get rectal. wow.

We do. And we are one of the best hospitals around. We check temps every 4 hours. Rectal temps every 4 hours poses a risk to the child, especially a preemie. An armpit temp is much less invasive.