Rectal thermometers

Hyfagal

I'm just putting this out there since I had no idea they existed but they make thermometers with interchangeable tips for oral, rectal, and armpit use. I was able to breath a little easier after finding these. As awful as it is I was always afraid my hand would slip or something and I'd end up stabbing my baby in the rectum with the thermometer.

https://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Exchangeable-Tip-Thermometer/dp/B001UFBVA2

ETA: Link and the picture doesn't show it well but the armpit one is like a flat disc with the metal sensor on both sides that you hold the baby's arm around.

Brittanie_1987

lol...it is more like the baby moving than you!  Somehow we get through it, but this is a good idea!

BeetleLinz1125

That is a good idea....just don't get them confused!

missfire

My pedi's office doesn't even use rectal thermometers anymore - just the underarm ones.

SarahTx5701

That one for rectal is good.

I was afraid at first but it gets easy after a few times. You wont stab them.

Like I said, so much easier on a newborn than a wigging 1 year old. THATS when I got worried I would damage his poor tushy.

Also when I switched to the thermoscan head scanner thing

Erin0922

We have an armpit one - and HATE it. We got it for our (then) 2yo, and the reading is never consistent - even if we do it 3 times in a row. We have a forehead one we LOVE. And we have the rectal as a back-up.

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Clotho!

we've never used a rectal thermometer and neither does our pedi. He doesn't recommend them either. He says to just take it under the arm.

princessvespa1

I didn't think anyone used rectal thermometers anymore...we will be using either the ear ones, or the forehead ones.

mommydale

We never used the rectal, now my parents did, which is probably why I wouldn't use it, mom said we absolutely hated that!!

drpayne

What's wrong with the ear ones?? I'm obviously clueless... I assumed no one used the rectal ones now.

ncbelle

It's really not a big deal to take a rectal temp...promise ;-)

And I always did it that way since it's far more accurate than other methods.

Hyfagal

drpayne:

What's wrong with the ear ones?? I'm obviously clueless... I assumed no one used the rectal ones now.

The ones you get at the store are typically not very accurate.

Hotomale

My cute old grandpa Elmer had a favorite joke that this reminds me of:

"What's the difference between a rectal thermometer and an oral one?"   The taste

 

 

sweetgirl425

drpayne:

What's wrong with the ear ones?? I'm obviously clueless... I assumed no one used the rectal ones now.

The ear thermometers have to be positioned just right to get an accurate temp. Rectal is definitely the most accurate.

I work in a pediatric ICU and we typically just do axillary (under arm), unless it is high, then we do rectal (on infants and toddlers) to verify. Some patients we even have rectal probes that stay in continuously, or there is a temp probe connected to the foley catheters that gives us a continuous "core" reading! 

I guess my point is it's ok to use other methods, but be aware they may not be the most accurate and if you call the dr with a concern, be sure to let them know how the temp was taken. In general the rule to just add a degree when doing under the arm is true. But some kids are different and I've seen it either run the same or the rectal is even higher than a degree, so the axillary wasn't reading as a fever! 

drpayne

sweetgirl425:

drpayne:

What's wrong with the ear ones?? I'm obviously clueless... I assumed no one used the rectal ones now.

The ear thermometers have to be positioned just right to get an accurate temp. Rectal is definitely the most accurate.

I work in a pediatric ICU and we typically just do axillary (under arm), unless it is high, then we do rectal (on infants and toddlers) to verify. Some patients we even have rectal probes that stay in continuously, or there is a temp probe connected to the foley catheters that gives us a continuous "core" reading! 

I guess my point is it's ok to use other methods, but be aware they may not be the most accurate and if you call the dr with a concern, be sure to let them know how the temp was taken. In general the rule to just add a degree when doing under the arm is true. But some kids are different and I've seen it either run the same or the rectal is even higher than a degree, so the axillary wasn't reading as a fever! 

 

Well that's kind of a bummer.  I thought we'd come so far with technology - lol. Adding it to the list of things I'm learning right now.  Thanks!

Ladydianna

drpayne:

sweetgirl425:

drpayne:

What's wrong with the ear ones?? I'm obviously clueless... I assumed no one used the rectal ones now.

The ear thermometers have to be positioned just right to get an accurate temp. Rectal is definitely the most accurate.

I work in a pediatric ICU and we typically just do axillary (under arm), unless it is high, then we do rectal (on infants and toddlers) to verify. Some patients we even have rectal probes that stay in continuously, or there is a temp probe connected to the foley catheters that gives us a continuous "core" reading! 

I guess my point is it's ok to use other methods, but be aware they may not be the most accurate and if you call the dr with a concern, be sure to let them know how the temp was taken. In general the rule to just add a degree when doing under the arm is true. But some kids are different and I've seen it either run the same or the rectal is even higher than a degree, so the axillary wasn't reading as a fever! 

 

Well that's kind of a bummer.  I thought we'd come so far with technology - lol. Adding it to the list of things I'm learning right now.  Thanks!

We use an ear thermometer it was a little expensive (around $50)  but we brought it with us to our first appt. w/ DD to make sure we were using correctly and have never had a problem.