Temporal Thermometers

I have one, it is an Exergen. I have not had any problems with it. My girls are 6. I am not sure how it will read on a smaller child who is wiggling around a lot. It has been pretty accurate also. My husband or I always test it on ourselves to see it the temp is regular then we do it to the girls. I think it is a good investment. You dont have to buy the probe covers or anything anymore.
N.

Hi V.~
The best way to take a temp (besides oral/rectal) is under the arm. Even the ear therm. are innacurate. We use one in our office and it's off by at least a degree, sometimes more unless you do it exactly right (which is almost impossible). We have 2 ear therm. at home and I don't use either one. With my baby, I still opt for a rectal temp on a digital therm., with the three year old it's under the arm. A degree or more is too much to be off when it comes to fevers. Just my opinion!
~L.

I am not sure what the contraversy is with these thermometers but we've been using it for over 2 years and haven't had a problem with it. It's always good to take the temp on both sides of the head so you can at least get an average reading. If you're really concerned with an infant or toddler's temp you should always do a rectal according to our pediatrician.

Hi, V.~

I bought the CVS brand because that is all they had. CVS claims that it is accurate and they have a guarantee but I'm not so sure about the readings. When it reads over 100 degrees, I know that something is wrong with the patient. But it makes a difference where on the forehead you place it and how hard you press.

I'm not sure Exergen's would be better or not but I don't I think I would have bought this one if I could have tried it first.

Hope this helps,
E.

I have one, sometimes it's dead on, sometimes it's maybe a degree high. When my DD read 105 on the Exergen, she was 104.9 rectal. My DD does love it, and it's alot easier then getting her to sit w/ one under her armpit.

When her temp is in the serious range, I'll use other methods to confirm. But otherwise it's just to check if she really is a bit hot.

I try not to medicate her fevers unless she's in pain, or really high 102+. (In the case of the 105 we went to the ER as meds weren't breaking it).

Our daycare uses one and I hate it. I don't know the brand and maybe they aren't using it right, but everytime they have called me saying my daughter has a temp of 101 and I need to come and get her I take her temp as soon as we get home (digital under arm - just like we did in the NICU) and it has NEVER been that high. I have had other parents tell me that they have the same issue with temps being taken.

V.,

As an EMT that also used to work in the ER, Temporal thermometers are not nearly accurate. If your husband is uncomfortable with doing a rectal temp, might I suggest an axillary (under the arm) instead. It is much more accurate and still nice to baby. My husband and I got the Summer brand thermometer which has a rectal, axillary, and oral. It also comes with an in unit storage for the different probs. I personally love this thermometer and would recommend it. Let me know how it all works out.

J. Goss