Thermometers...

gmeyer1019 · September 2014

I know this is a little random, most of my questions tend to be, however does anyone have any tricks on seeing how accurate an old digital thermometer is? Im starting to question the accuracy of mine.

gmeyer1019 · September 2014

I was gonna be buying a new one soon anyway, just figured I'd see if I could get away with a few more months before DS gets here. Plus I'm not sure if its messed up or I am l get crazy readings often, so my temperature is not good for judging by.

AlwaysForgetful · September 2014

Good question. IDK if you can check them like you can the food ones. So I will not suggest it.

I second getting another one. Actually I suggest several. That way you can always find one. Although that may be a larger family issue and not one you have. lol

gmeyer1019 · September 2014

I don't usually need one, and haven't used this one for a while(hence not know how accurate its is.) But last night I was having horrible hot flashes on and off(worse than usual) and just felt like I was getting sick, so I wanted to check if it was hot flashes or a true fever. I hadn't used the thermometer in so long that I was just curious to see if the results were right or just screwy because they were kind of all over. But it seems(if it is accurate) that I was just hot flashing because it changed to my norm when my body cooled down.

@AlwaysForgetful ‌ Usually we do have more than one in the house. Apparently the main one is mia cause I cant find it lol. Thermometers I feel are always disappearing when you need them.

gmeyer1019 · September 2014

@AJIrishMama‌ what about those new ones that you just put near there forehead and it reads it? They're ridiculously expensive, I'm just curious if they work on newborns.

Jessie333 · September 2014

AJIrishMama said:
Also, you'll need a rectal thermometer for a few months for LO. Oral temps on babies isn't accurate at all.

They don't recommend taking a temperature rectally anymore. They recommend taking the baby's temperature in the armpit.

sysakbaby · September 2014

Someone got me a pacifier-thermometer for my shower. I wonder how accurate it really is. I have an appointment next week so I figured I'd ask my midwife about it. Anyone ever use one? I had never even heard of it before receiving it as a gift.

AllTheTeaInChina · September 2014

Jessie333 said:

AJIrishMama said:
Also, you'll need a rectal thermometer for a few months for LO. Oral temps on babies isn't accurate at all.
They don't recommend taking a temperature rectally anymore. They recommend taking the baby's temperature in the armpit.

They still took DDs temp rectally up til 18mo at the pedi. Is this an AAP rec?

Eta-- AAP still recommends rectal to age 3 with auxiliary being least reliable.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/How-to-Take-a-Childs-Temperature.aspx

AllTheTeaInChina · September 2014

SLC1102 said:
I got an exergen (sp?) temporal thermometer. Is that ok to use on LO? FYI, it was on sale recently at BRU for around $36

We have this one too but I don't think it's recommended for newborns. We started using it at 1yr but DD rarely has a fever.

Jessie333 · September 2014

AllTheTeaInChina said:

Jessie333 said:

AJIrishMama said:
Also, you'll need a rectal thermometer for a few months for LO. Oral temps on babies isn't accurate at all.
They don't recommend taking a temperature rectally anymore. They recommend taking the baby's temperature in the armpit.

They still took DDs temp rectally up til 18mo at the pedi. Is this an AAP rec?

Eta-- AAP still recommends rectal to age 3 with auxiliary being least reliable.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/How-to-Take-a-Childs-Temperature.aspx

Interesting. They never took DD's temp rectally. Even when we were in the hospital when I had her. My birthing class instructor said they recommend armpit and that some parents had done damage trying to take a rectal temperature. I don't think they even mentioned it in any of the books the province provided when I was pregnant/first had DD. My dr saw dd once a month until she was 1 and only took an armpit temp.

Jessie333 · September 2014

@AllTheTeaInChina‌ I found the book that my province gives new parents after the first set of vaccines. I took a picture of the page. So maybe the rectal vs armpit recommendation is based on where you live?

Eta sorry. I don't know why the picture is sideways.

AnonnAni · September 2014

For the ease of the parents and babies we recommend armpit here at the hospital as well as the crook between the thigh and calf. This was also recommended to me for my babies as well (delivered at a different hospital then I gave birth at). Some hospitals actually give you one to leave with as well when you are discharged and they let you know the highs and lows to look out for as well, which for those two places there IS a different acceptable range then rectal (which is still "best").

AllTheTeaInChina · September 2014

@Jessie333‌ you're in Canada? That makes sense the recommendation is different than in the US.

Cadg0986 · September 2014

I just received an early shower gift (shower is 10/12) and it was an ear thermometer. Anyone have experience with those?

Meether · September 2014

Our pediatrician told us now the recommended way to take the temperature is the temporal thermometer not rectally. I know several parents that have had babies this year and they were all told to record temperatures using the temporal thermometer for their infants.

amyhowellOD · September 2014

I've been a rectal temp taking machine over the past 2 years. (DS is now 26 months old) The best thermometer I've come across is the one given to me by the children's hospital from back when my son was admitted at 4 months old. It is rectal and super quick but it has no name! I've searched high and low for another one. I just put some petroleum jelly on the tip before I use it. And- as a side note- my experience has taught me that taking the temp rectally will encourage a bowel movement. If my DS seemed to be constipated- I took his temp just to encourage things to start moving down there. I'm not use if that is medically appropriate, but I swear it worked for me. I am interested in the temporal thermometer for this next baby b/c it seems easier.

nesenotes · September 2014

I also have always done the armpit. But mostly because im a huge wuss and couldnt do it rectally. Her pedi never cared if that was how i did it.

MrsNash37212 · September 2014

gmeyer1019 said:
@AJIrishMama‌ what about those new ones that you just put near there forehead and it reads it? They're ridiculously expensive, I'm just curious if they work on newborns.

In my experience, the forehead thermometers SUCK. My mother has several and the reading is never the same even if you take it right after. LO was burning up last time we visited and it registered 84.1.

Vicks makes a digital rectal thermometer that is designed to be short enough that you cannot insert it too far and it gives you a reading within 10 seconds. Those are the best.

Eora3 · October 2014

My pediatrician and both hospitals I have delivered at told me never to take a rectal temp on a baby. I was told that it is extremely easy to cause damage even if you know what you are doing. They never took recal temps in the hospitals either. They take under-arm temps.

If your newborn has a fever of any kind you will probably want to take them to the doctor anyway.

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