What Thermometer Do You Use?

[Cradle2crayons]

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.

Here in my state they do rectals in the hospital as well... But every two hours ... And if they are in icu they will do them every hour if necessary... All rectal. Actually rectals aren't invasive at all. You don't put the thermometer two inches in there

[craftymissbeth]

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

My DS was born in 2006 (so things may have changed since then) and was born at 34 weeks. No one in the NICU or Special Care Unit took temperatures rectally... and when I was being "trained" by the nurses in the SCU to care for my itty bitty baby they advised me to never take his temperature rectally. In the 6 years that he's been alive I have *never* taken his temperature rectally. I'm not sure what docs normally recommend, but I just don't feel comfortable taking a child's temperature rectally especially if they are not my child... simply because of the recommendations of my son's nurses/docs.

[Cradle2crayons]

My DS was born in 2006 (so things may have changed since then) and was born at 34 weeks. No one in the NICU or Special Care Unit took temperatures rectally... and when I was being "trained" by the nurses in the SCU to care for my itty bitty baby they advised me to never take his temperature rectally. In the 6 years that he's been alive I have *never* taken his temperature rectally. I'm not sure what docs normally recommend, but I just don't feel comfortable taking a child's temperature rectally especially if they are not my child... simply because of the recommendations of my son's nurses/docs.

Maybe they don't advise it because if you don't do it correctly it can cause a problem.... I've been a nurse since 1997 and that's all we've ever done in infants and kids under two. As a matter of fact, in adult ICU everywhere I have worked, IF we KNOW the patient has a high temp, they are done rectal as well. I can't tell you how many doctors in critical care insist its the most accurate.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't just do rectal temps every day . But if I know already that baby has a fever, I do a rectal temp. If they just feel a teensiest bit warm, I may not. But over age two, ear or laser forehead.

[countrymom]

they don't do rectal anymore (even when I was a nurse they stopped doing this) very unsafe. Most common is the ear.

now I'll be the odd one, but I haven't owned one in maybe 13 yrs. You ever see raymonds mother (every one loves raymond) how she kisses raymond when he's sick, well I can tell by touch, acually more like common sense. trust me, when they have a fever you'll know.

[Cradle2crayons]

Maybe it's just a locale thing. I've noticed that a lot of states and etc do things related to different topics way different than others.

For instance, corporal punishment. Schools here still do spankings here.

Licensing rules are way different here too.

I've noticed a lot of cultural things reflect the differences where I live as well.

To each their own. Related to temperatures and every other topic

[Starburst]

I think it would depend on the child. For the most part, they are younger I would probably use an ear thermometer, if older I probably would either use an ear thermometer or just use a standard mouth thermometer (and just sterilize it after each use).

I saw this on Pintrist and thought it would be cool for testing an infants temperature if they were fussy or had ear aches or ear issues that made the ear thermometer difficult to use, I am just not sure how accurate it is.

http://pinterest.com/pin/390828073882868726/

[Cradle2crayons]

I think it would depend on the child. If they are younger I would probably use an ear thermometer, if older I probably would either use an ear thermometer or just use a standard mouth thermometer.

I saw this on Pintrist and thought it would be cool for testing an infants temperature if they were fussy or had ear aches or ear issues that made the ear thermometer difficult to use, I am just not sure how accurate it is.

http://pinterest.com/pin/390828073882868726/

I was told these were terribly inaccurate and I tried them when my daughter was little..l very unreliable in my experience... Let me find a picture of what my np and I use....

[craftymissbeth]

Maybe they don't advise it because if you don't do it correctly it can cause a problem.... I've been a nurse since 1997 and that's all we've ever done in infants and kids under two. As a matter of fact, in adult ICU everywhere I have worked, IF we KNOW the patient has a high temp, they are done rectal as well. I can't tell you how many doctors in critical care insist its the most accurate.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't just do rectal temps every day . But if I know already that baby has a fever, I do a rectal temp. If they just feel a teensiest bit warm, I may not. But over age two, ear or laser forehead.

I'm positive that's the reason why it isn't recommended. I can't imagine that the average parent or even in home daycare provider is trained properly in taking temperatures rectally KWIM?

[Cradle2crayons]

This is what all my docs use and me too.... It gives the exact same number as the second one I'm going to post....

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Clinical-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B004AMVVJI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1367893780&sr=8-7&keywords=forehead+thermometer

Here is the other one I have...it takes a little practice but if you do it wrong it doesn't give a wrong number it just says error...again it gives the same number as the first one...

http://www.amazon.com/Exergen-Temporal-Thermometer-TAT-2000C-Battery/dp/B00005UMZS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1367894508&sr=8-3&keywords=forehead+thermometer

[Cradle2crayons]

I'm positive that's the reason why it isn't recommended. I can't imagine that the average parent or even in home daycare provider is trained properly in taking temperatures rectally KWIM?

Also in my experience I've seen almost every parent of patients of mine do axillary temps incorrectly too....

I've been trained how to do them all... But I can definitely see how people do all methods wrong....

[craftymissbeth]

Also in my experience I've seen almost every parent of patients of mine do axillary temps incorrectly too....

I've been trained how to do them all... But I can definitely see how people do all methods wrong....

That's a very good point, but taking a child's temperature via armpit is far less likely to result in an injury than rectally

Honestly, I guess the reason I oppose it is because of my own fears and that doesn't make me right

[Patches]

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.

I'm glad I'mnot the only one. I was beginning to think I was the last person on Earth still taking underarm temps::