Thermometer for baby...

Lexie Marie

I am in the process of registering for things here and there and I know a thermometer for baby is a must. But when it comes to what kind I am clueless... rectal, non-contact, underarm, pacifier,...there are just to many!

Any recommendations or suggestions for a newborn/infant?

aewood97

We were given several as gifts. They are all the drug store ones that are a little bit flexible (to be used rectally). They all stopped working over the course of the year! Our go-to thermometer has been the one they sent home from the hospital. Still working after a year and it is just a cheap digital! 

makinithappen

I had an ear one that worked great until it got lost somehow when my son was 3 or so.  It was a name brand one and was in the $30-40 range I believe.  It got very accurate results within about 3 seconds.

lbparadis

I registered for a temporal thermometer.  I don't want my temp taken rectally (is that a word?) and I'm sure my baby wont either.

They are a little expensive, but I felt like the benefits out weighed the cost. 

Mereou12

All you need is a good quality rectal thermometer -- I like the Vick's rectal, around $12 at BRU/Amazon.

If your child is sick, the only temp a pedi will care about is a rectal temp. Other types of thermometers are notoriously inaccurate, particularly ear thermometers. This is not an area where more expensive = better product.

Klikina

We registered for and received the Vick's, but then the hospital gave us a digital one, so we took the Vick's back. We can use it as a rectal or under-arm thermometer.

The ones that go across the forehead are very inaccurate for infants. When you want to be sure about your child's temperature, rectal is best.

Ashley&Scott

Mereou12:

All you need is a good quality rectal thermometer -- I like the Vick's rectal, around $12 at BRU/Amazon.

If your child is sick, the only temp a pedi will care about is a rectal temp. Other types of thermometers are notoriously inaccurate, particularly ear thermometers. This is not an area where more expensive = better product.

This. 

littlemiss511

Mereou12:

All you need is a good quality rectal thermometer -- I like the Vick's rectal, around $12 at BRU/Amazon.

If your child is sick, the only temp a pedi will care about is a rectal temp. Other types of thermometers are notoriously inaccurate, particularly ear thermometers. This is not an area where more expensive = better product.

We got these as well, also for the same reasons. The tip is really short so you can't hurt the baby. We looked at several thermometers, this one had the best rating all around and was said to give the most accurate reading vs. oral/ear/etc thermometers.

baby3ob

everyone told us to get a rectal thermometer - said that they are way more reliable than ear. same as above, we purchased the vick's rectal thermometer (one of the best rated, got on Amazon for about $13).

j2carrie

Someone mentioned to me the other day that most doctors do not recommend the ear device? Not sure why... anyone else hear that?

Mereou12

j2carrie:

Someone mentioned to me the other day that most doctors do not recommend the ear device? Not sure why... anyone else hear that?

They don't recommend them because they're not accurate. Your technique has to be perfect to get a good reading...and even then, it's still not nearly as accurate as a rectal.

OCW2010

Thanks for the tip.  I added the Vicks to my registry!

eawilson

We were told at the hospital that you should take a newborn babies temperature underarm using a basic digital thermometer.  I'm not comfortable taking a rectal temperature, and my NICU nurse sister said that underarm is adequate.  It's how they do it at the hospital.

We used flex spending money at the end of last year to also purchase an ear and temporal thermometer.  You can't use an ear thermometer until a baby is a bit older because it won't be as accurate.  But at 4 months I love the temporal thermometer, and I highly recommend that.

 

KERJF

we have a, i think its by Safety first, from target - that has attachments so you can take underarm, mouth or rectal. we like it and if LO has a temp it alerts you by flashing red.