BTDT Moms: Health and Safety Kit for Baby

Izzy0927 · November 2014

Not sure if too many people are around this Sunday night. I'm working on putting together my baby first aid kit, and I'm a little stuck on what sort of thermometer to get. I'm reading that while ear thermometers are quick and easy to use, they're not totally accurate and aren't great for infants due to size. Would you just stick to a rectal thermometer or maybe get an in-ear one for when baby is bigger? I was looking at the Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer, but even that has mixed reviews. What do you all use?

Thanks!

misshart00 · November 2014

I just use whatever they used at the hospital and sent me home with.

Sorry. I'm no help.

Dani_Love · November 2014

I have the ear one and it hasn't been accurate and my daughter makes it hard to use. I'm getting the temporal one that you swipe over their forehead

chickyclg · November 2014

*following this post*

Izzy0927 · November 2014

misshart00 said:

I just use whatever they used at the hospital and sent me home with. Sorry. I'm no help.

Oh hmmm, I never realized the hospital sent you home with one! That'd be nice! I'd trust that more anyway.

misshart00 · November 2014

Izzy0927 said:

misshart00 said:

I just use whatever they used at the hospital and sent me home with.

Sorry. I'm no help.

Oh hmmm, I never realized the hospital sent you home with one! That'd be nice! I'd trust that more anyway.

I didn't realize I could until the nurse was helping me pack. They always just used it under her arm.

mandamoochie · November 2014

As an infant, I just used the rectal one (you only put in like 1/8th of an inch) on DS. He never noticed it until like 12 months. I just recently got the temporal artery one. There are a bunch of rebates available for it if you just google it

After all the rebates it was 6 dollars.

lizzybean · November 2014

We used the rectal one. But as Im reading this post, I can't even remember the last time I took her temperature..

t8keepr03 · November 2014

My hospital didn't send me home with a thermometer. The only time I saw a thermometer at the hospital was the one the nurses had on their own cart when they would come check on baby. I wouldn't rely on your hospital having one you can take. We use a Graco ear thermometer and have a regular one you can use under the arm or as a rectal. I usually use the ear one first as you should add a degree or 2 to it. If I feel like DD has a temp but the ear doesn't seem to be reading correctly I use the rectal thermometer. I usually take my temp with the ear one and then take hers and compare it.

Izzy0927 · November 2014

Thanks ladies- I'm going to scrap the fancy in-ear one and stick with the rectal one. If it doesn't work for this kid, I can worry about it then, but I'd rather start with the simpler, cheaper one.

Lrjjj08 · November 2014

I like the forehead one, but the recital is the most accurate for newborns.

krispy83 · November 2014

The hospital didn't send us home with one. We have the temporal one which I love! Also used an under the arm one when I noticed that was what they always used at the pedi's office. But the temporal one is great for a quick check if they're sleeping and you don't want to wake them by moving them around to take their temp.

Mlperez1012 · November 2014

If you use a rectal one just be super careful. Babies are umm delicate in there so you really need to be aware of how far you are putting it in. Oh and make sure you lube it up.

Izzy0927 · November 2014

krispy83 said:

The hospital didn't send us home with one. We have the temporal one which I love! Also used an under the arm one when I noticed that was what they always used at the pedi's office. But the temporal one is great for a quick check if they're sleeping and you don't want to wake them by moving them around to take their temp.

Great point- hadn't even thought about the sleeping baby temperature check! I just googled the rebates that @mandamoochie mentioned and found them easily- totally doing that. After rebates, I'm paying $8 for the temporal one. Totally worth it!

nohalo21 · November 2014

We have a rectal and a temporal artery one. I save the rectal for if the temp gets high and I need to get invasive. Huge fan of the forehead one!

t8keepr03 · November 2014

sarabeller said:

Mlperez1012 said:

If you use a rectal one just be super careful. Babies are umm delicate in there so you really need to be aware of how far you are putting it in. Oh and make sure you lube it up.

Really?! Using a rectal thermometer is really easy and you're not going to stick it in too far. It's comments like this that make new moms shy away from taking temps rectally, when it's the most accurate temp.

I've been using a rectal on DD for 18 months. We're thinking of getting a temporal one only because sometimes we're too busy to take her pants off.

I also agree, taking DD's temp rectally is super easy! Just use a little bit of lube and it's super quick. The pediatrician showed us how at her first appointment at 4 days old, we have never had any issues. It is the most accurate and it is always how the pediatricians office always takes DD's temp. You really can't stick in too far. Temporal or ear one are easy for sleeping babies but the rectal is easy to do when you are doing a diaper change.

RMSteele · November 2014

DS hated having his temp taken once he was a few months old so we took his temp under the arm. The thermometer we have reads the temp pretty quick so we didn't have to hold him down long. Before he could really roll and squirm we used the rectal temp since it is the most accurate.

RMSteele · November 2014

Whoops, double post.

Beth.1212 · November 2014

The hospital didn't send me home with one, either. We have a rectal thermometer that we still use with DS if we need to take his temp. (He's almost 2.) He's a pretty chill baby, though - I'm not sure how many 2 year olds would tolerate it.

yesiknowwhatcausesthat · November 2014

Sorry I'm lol'ing because with 9 kids and daycare I've only taken a rectal temp once. Ever. And that reading was so high that when I called the nurse hotline they didn't believe me. I am trying to picture how this would even work in my house now and it's just not coming together for me.

. I have an underarm thermometer and I know it's not the most accurate and it's definitely not the most fast either. I lose thermometers easily so I buy the cheap ones. Oops. I figure it will give me an idea of what I'm dealing with and help me make a decision about treating at home or going to see a dr. I let my older kids use it orally. We also have the forehead temporal thermometer. Like other people said it's not as accurate but it is fast and does serve its purpose. Practice. Take regular (when not sick) temps for an idea of how it reads.

tee18 · November 2014

nohalo21 said:
We have a rectal and a temporal artery one. I save the rectal for if the temp gets high and I need to get invasive. Huge fan of the forehead one!

This is us exactly! If I can remember correctly, consumer reports rated the temporal one highly for accuracy

addysensmommy · November 2014

I have a rectal thermometer for my DD, she will be two in January and she still tolerates it. Pediatrician has always told me rectal is best until 2 years old, so I guess it's about time for me to buy a new one too.

tifnalex · November 2014

I'm working on my third baby and have only taken a rectal temp once when we were in the process of moving and had to use a borrowed one from the neighbor. Fevers really are important for your body and I mostly let me kids "suffer" through them rather than checking and giving medicine.

smg2302 · November 2014

I had a rectal for the new born phase, but never needed to use it. Now I have a temporal one. It's nice, but the battery drains pretty quickly.

triplej9 · November 2014

Rectal is definitely the most accurate, but I highly recommend having a temporal on hand like pp's have said for when baby is sleeping or when you are in a difficult place to wrangle pants off.

We love this one . It is quick, accurate and just all around better than the other temporal scanner we had!

ordinary1 · November 2014

I got a rectal one. My hospital wouldn't see us without a rectal temp.

chicagojackie · November 2014

Rectal is the most accurate before age 2. It is crucial you have the correct temperature on your baby in the first 60 days of life if you think the baby is sick or having a problem or whatever.

Rectal temperature taking is extremely easy and nothing to be worried about. Bring your thermometer in your hospital bag and ask the nurses to show you how if you're scared. Or ask at the pedi or family doc office to show you when you go for your two-day appointment.

The reason the doctor office uses the ear ones or the temporal ones on healthy kids for a well check is because the kid is well and there for a healthy check. It doesn't mean YOU should use an ear or a temporal one on a newborn.

Now that DD is >2 years we have an ear thermometer. You need to have the nurse or MA at your pedi show you how to use that one too, or you'll always get a reading too low. You need to kind of jam it in there more than you would think...

Oem617 · November 2014

We only used a rectal one for over 2 years. Until last week when my son was sick and just won't tolerate it anymore. I just bought an ear one. I don't think it's as actuate, but it does the job okay. I got that Braun one you mentioned.

Like others said, it would be nice to have both on hand and use them as needed.

chickyclg · November 2014

But guys, what else is needed for a baby first aid kit (meds and other stuff). I did a Google search but the list seems so long, I know I need a nose frida lol.

ordinary1 · November 2014

Saline spray
Nose frida
Gas drops
Gripe water
Vitamin D
Nail clippers
Nail file
Infant Tylenol (I think that's the one)

Oem617 · November 2014

ordinary1 said:

Saline spray Nose frida Gas drops Gripe water Vitamin D Nail clippers Nail file Infant Tylenol (I think that's the one)

This is a good list!

animalcrckr · November 2014

I would also recommend printing out the dosage table for both infant tylenol and motrin. Having a copy along with the meds saves 2AM googling for your particular formula. Infant vs kid meds vary on the mgs/mLs.

RedGiant · November 2014

I recommend looking for dye-free infant/children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It took me a while before I realized they existed, and are so much nicer than having pink stains when small kids dribble the medicine.

For acetaminophen (not sure about ibuprofen) it looks like most infant and children's versions have the same concentration of active ingredient. So i buy the larger bottles of children's since it is cheaper than infants.

Knottie70610593 · November 2014

The most accurate thermometer for newborns is the rectal ones. I have tried using it once, but it turned out really bad because my baby was crying the whole time. I feel frustrated and disappointed to myself. I've tried the ear one as well, it is good at first, but baby starting to hate the way I take her temperature, so I've decided to buy a forehead thermometer for her.

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