Which Thermometer to Buy?

Hi S. I think that you should get a temporal thermometer I just bought one a couple of weeks ago and then my daughter that is 7 months old got sick for the first time and I used it and it was great when I used it it gave me a reading of 103.1 and when Itoke her to the doctor they did a rectal temp and it was 103.1 the exact thing. I personal am very glad that I bought it, it is very easy and kid friendly to use. all you do is sweep it across the temple and walah it read that quick and if it dosent get a good reading it will let you know. the week that my daughter was sick it was a life saveryou know it is hard enough for a baby to be sick but to have to hold them downa nd run a thermometer up the rear can be very challenging when they alrady dont like to be held down for it and you know. and in my opinion about the ear thermometer that can be challenging enough as well trying to get a prob in a babies ear when they they have an ear infectionthat coulbecome a problem. the tube peice that goes in the ear can be quit painful to a child and I say this becase i see it all of the time I work at a doctors office and some chioldren dont care for it. But good deciding on what you want to do and if you get thr trmporal thrmometer keep in touch let me know how ot does for you .

thanks
Brnady mother of 3 beautiful kids Alexis 10, ryan4, and Alyssa Reese7 months old

I just bought the Exergen, you slide it across the forehead. I love it better than my ear ones. It was $35 at WalMart.

I have the Red Cross Ear Thermometer, and I don't think it's accurate. I've been testing it on myself, and it always says that I have a fever, and it gives me a different reading even if I use it 3 times in a row.

Hey S.,
We have both an ear and a temporal thermometer. Got the temporal one after battling with the ear one - our son couldn't stand to have it in his ear for any length of time. The temporal one works great and our son finds it very interesting and doesn't mind if you take his temperature with it. We have the exergen one and really like it. Don't waste your money on an ear thermometer!
Cyndi

I tried the temporal one because in theory I thought it was a great idea and was supposed to be very accurate. I had problems getting my son to hold still long enough to swipe his forehead. It puts out a red light that scared him, so he didn't want that thing anywhere near him. When I held him down to do it, it came up with very different readings each time I did it, so I got rid of it. Having said that, I haven't found an ear thermometer that is great, either. I loved my old one by safety first (it was about $15), but when my middle child got ahold of it and lost it, I went and bought another one and it doesn't give accurate readings, so I'm not sure if they changed it or what. Good luck...

We use the Braun Thermoscan ear thermometer and are very pleased with it. It works well for the whole family. And it's the only thermometer my 3 year old lets me use. She actually turns her ear towards me when she sees it and holds perfectly still until I'm done. :)

S., there really is no reason to use rectal unless your child is really really ill, and then the Dr should be the first step. I used to use the ear thermometer for my children and changed to the basic mercury, under the arm...simply because i would get different readings each time...even 2 seconds later. At our clinic we use the temporal. They seem to work well as long as you do them correctly. I actually do not use any at all on my kids. I don't need the reading, as long as they feel warm, lips to forehead, I treat them accordingly. If they are just a little warm, I let the body do the fighting...but of course, accurate readings are very important. Good luck and hope he stays healthy!

I like the temporal - easy and you can even check while they sleep. I just always make sure I tell the doctor how I checked their temp to be safe. ( :

Exergen takes the temp across the forehead, its pretty accurate and doesn't make a loud beep, so you can take a temp when the kid is asleep. Its read a temp in less than 3 seconds, which I like-my daughters both have/had febrile seizures, so I need to know quickly if their temp is rising too fast. I like it better than the ear thermometer, because if they have an ear infection, your not shoving something in their ear that already hurts and making it hurt more. I am on my second only becuase my other one fell out of the cabinet and broke!

My doc said the ear was more accurate than the temporal. I never was willing to take a rectal. Fortunately I have a very healthy baby and haven't had to do much temperature-taking, because I don't feel that I am qualified to do that. :)

Hey I have both of them and I LOVE the temporal one... i have a 5 year old and 8 year old and I love it... I have used it since my youngest was 15 mo... He was very sick as a baby and I had to take his temp alot...I checked and the temporal one was just as acurate as taking it rectaly...and better if it was an ear infection causing the temp...Hope this helps...One of the reasons I love it is cause when he is sleeping it can take his temp without waking him up

I asked my sons' ped this same question and he said to get a temporal one. It is the most accurate once you move from the rectal kind...which they stop using after a year. Temporal therm. is great b/c I can even take my sons' temp while he is asleep. Ear therm are not as accurate in toddlers (try taking temp three times and you will get a different reading each time). Also, if child has ear infections you will not get close to your son's ears. I say go for the temporal...you won't regret it..def worth the cost. Hope this helps.

hi S.,

we have the temporal scanner and both of our kids love it! it is very accurate, and the whole family can use it rather than having to have a thermometer for each family member. plus you don't have to worry about if he will like having the thing stuck in his ear or not... i even know of several pediatrician offices that use the temporal scanner. i hope that whatever you decide on works great for your family! :) good luck

I would get an ear one. I have heard the temporal lobe ones aren't very accurate. You might also call your pediatrician and ask what they think.

My son in law and daughter and 2 grands are living with us right now. The baby has had a recurring high temp for several days. They were both remarking about how wonderful this thermometer is that we have. You swipe the forehead into the hairline, and get a very accurate temp. We bought it at Costco or Sams.

we have both, the temporal and the ear thermometer and I like the ear thermometer better. It seems to be record the temperature better and I never felt I was using the temporal thermometer correctly. I know that sounds weird, how hard can it be to run something over a forehead, but I would always redo it to make sure I covered the correct points or held it in just the right spot.

we use the temporal... its awesome & my 2yo even likes it lol he thinks its kinda cool. its accurate & can be used while they're sleeping we love it