Thermometers

[Francine]

I am having such a hard time with kids and temps , I'm not sure if I need a new themometer or what the problem is. Yesterday I woke a little guy up at 2:30 - 3:00, he sat on the couch for a little while and then sat at the table and had snack. As I was getting him down from the table I was hugging on him and noticed that he felt really warm. I took his temp, it was 101.7....I took his sweatshirt off and let him have just his t-shirt on for about 10-15 minutes and then retoke it, 102.1. Mom came and picked him up, took him to the Dr. 97.9 totally normal and nothing wrong with him. I just took my own temp with the same themometer and got normal both times. What the heck? What kind of themometers do you guys use?

[SilverSabre25]

We have an underarm thermometer and a newly acquired temple thermometer (pricey, but I've seen these getting the highest recommendations on parenting boards). The underarm thermometer is okay...I feel the need to warm it up before sticking it in there otherwise it seems to cool the skin off and misread the temp a bit. The temple one is awesome so far, I'm really loving it. It seems very accurate and is very easy to use.

I've had problems like you described with some thermometers...maybe it just needs a new battery?

[DancingQueen]

Which temple thermometer? Some that I'm finding are really cheap and I am so tired of the thermometer battle.

[BentleysBands]

i have always used the 'old fashion' ones LOL.....just put under the arm and wait for the line to rise makes it hard sometimes BUT i find them very reliable compared to the newer models they have out now

[nannyde]

We do two bilateral armpit temps at the same time. One with digital and one glass. We videotape with phone the whole process and show both thermometer results to the camera then send the tape via phone to the parents.

That way there isn't any interpretation of the results. Two methods used simultaneously and videotaped net proof positive.

I don't have any issues with parents calling me and telling me the childs fever droped four degrees in one half hour and is running around like a crazy man eating frosted fritos.

I'm able to deal ONLY with the temp shown at my house. It doesn't matter what happens afterwards. 99 out of a 100 parents are going to bring them back the day they can so what happens after they leave my house means nothing. Just have to start over assessing the child on the day he can return.

I do videotaping now for every possible illness exclusion. I video tape any vomit clean up... behavior etc. I also save any diapers that make the kid qualify for exclusion and show directly to parents.

Visual explanation is worth SO much more than verbal. It can not be denied or twisted.

[DaycareMama]

I have had this problem with my own child first hand. I will take her temp here being that she is little rectally, get to the doc and they use the ear one and it ALWAYS comes back 97 something. I think it happens cause the ear ones are done so fast and/or the nurse rushes. I have asked on many ocassions for them to redo it using another method and it would registar with a fever. I don't understand why they continue to use the ones they do.

[DCMom]

I have all different kinds, but the one I trust the most is a digital made by Braun that I have had for years. You can use choose 'oral' or 'armpit' and the time adjusts automatically.

I usually take temps three times at 10 minute intervals before I call the parent; especially if it is after a nap.

[DCMomOf3]

i have always used the 'old fashion' ones LOL.....just put under the arm and wait for the line to rise makes it hard sometimes BUT i find them very reliable compared to the newer models they have out now

I thought mercury thermometers aren't allowed anymore.

[Lilbutterflie]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again! I do NOT trust digital underarm thermometers! I have never been able to get one to be accurate. And there was a time my 3yr old DD had a temp of 101.7 at home with my Braun ear thermometer; took her to the Dr. and they did an underarm... it showed 97.6. The nurse said, "Oh, she's just fine!". I made the nurse feel her forehead with her hands to convince her she was running a fever. I made her retake it with an under-the-tongue (the only other one they had); and it was 101.9. She then tested positive for Strep. If I had let the first temp stand, they probably wouldn't have even tested for strep and sent her home with no diagnosis. I know they work for some people, but I personally LOATHE underarm thermometers!

[BentleysBands]

I thought mercury thermometers aren't allowed anymore.

dunno, but its what we use and prefer. i only use for underarm tho...i never take a rectal temp. didnt in my own kids and will never for dck's
too much with a wiggly baby and fear of it going in to far.

[Unregistered]

We use that Braun digital one that you rub across the hairline. It's not perfectly accurate, but is good enough. Mercury ones are not allowed and there is no way I'll be sticking one up the rectum of any child..... I can still remember my mom using it on us when we were sick, she'd be smacking our rear & telling us to relax - which was almost impossible to do do when your siblings are standing outside the door laughing at you. I love them almost the same way I love those old blue enema thingies - years ago, they were the parents cure-all for everything.... that and castor oil. Thank God we've come a long way from that. .

[Abigail]

To anyone who will answer:

1. Where do you keep your thermometer? daycare area, first aid, bathroom, with other family personal items?

2. Do you have two or more you use just for daycare?

3. Is anyone required to take an infants temperature with a rectal one like they recommend until they're a year or just treat them like an older child and under the arm, ear, or in the mouth?

4. Last question, how do you clean it or does it have a new plastic cover you use each time?

[marniewon]

To anyone who will answer:

1. Where do you keep your thermometer? daycare area, first aid, bathroom, with other family personal items?

2. Do you have two or more you use just for daycare?

3. Is anyone required to take an infants temperature with a rectal one like they recommend until they're a year or just treat them like an older child and under the arm, ear, or in the mouth?

4. Last question, how do you clean it or does it have a new plastic cover you use each time?

1. I have a cupboard in my dining room that I keep my thermometer in.

2. I have 2, but try to only use the one (ear thermometer).

3. Nope - i take the temp in the ear or under arm.

4. My ear thermometer has plastic covers that we use each time and discard after each use.

[BentleysBands]

To anyone who will answer:

1. Where do you keep your thermometer? daycare area, first aid, bathroom, with other family personal items?

2. Do you have two or more you use just for daycare?

3. Is anyone required to take an infants temperature with a rectal one like they recommend until they're a year or just treat them like an older child and under the arm, ear, or in the mouth?

4. Last question, how do you clean it or does it have a new plastic cover you use each time?

1. I keep up by the cubbies in our own seperate cubby w/lotions,etc...kids can't reach

2. i have 2 ...1 for daycare and 1 for my own kids

3.i do NOT take rectal temps, never will. i do underarms with all ages

4. i use the plastic covers

[SilverSabre25]

Sorry, I forgot to come back and answer the brand question from earlier!! Um, I'm not sure. DH bought it and opened it and I don't see a brand written on it anywhere. And mush-for-brains doesn't know where he put the packaging. He said it was green...