Toddler Thermometer???

I have 3 kids, and I use a thermometer by Omron. It is digital-and you can choose rectal, pit, or mouth, and then it beeps when it is ready, and beeps when it is done-it is quick, and I dont have to remember if i am supposed to add a degree, or subtract a degree...Love it-had it about 5 yrs.

Mine is a ReliOn and cost about $15. I have had no problems with it and have had it for about 6 yrs.

any of them are fine. I use a Braun ear thermometer, and I spend no more than like $35---I think the one I have now (on my 2nd one! was $28 from Costco.)

I say, What are you worried about? A fever or (temperature) is the natural response of the body that is fighting a intruder(virus). The best thing to do is keep your child cool (with cold wash cloth) and let the fever do it's thing. like fight the virus or cold. I have a 6 year old and have never used a thermometer, when he had a fever, I just used a cold wash cloth to bring the fever down. (Never used tylenol, or any drug to bring it down un-naturally.) It just interfears with the body's natural healing process! By the way I just did the Camp Pendelton Mud Run!

For more info,
C.

I've always used an inexpensive digital thermometer under their arm. You have to add one digit to make it accurate (ex. if the thermometer reads 99.6 you would add one digit and the accurate under arm temperature is 100.6) I think it's more accurate than the forehead and taking the temperature in the ear can be difficult with a squirmy toddler, not to mention expensive.

C.~

When my son was your son's age, I used a digital thermometer and put it in his arm pit. I would hold him on my lap with this back to me, the thermometer under his arm, and wrapped my arms around him with a loving hug to hold his arm against his body. It worked quite accurately, and with little or no problem.

Hope it helps!

With any thermometer that isn't meant for either the mouth or the rectum you run the risk of it not being accurate. For a toddler I would suggest getting a regular digital mouth thermometer and using it in the armpit- use it until it beeps (or if it's a quick read leave it in until the temp stops rising, some of them beep way too soon). Then add a degree to the reading you get.

I started out with a Braun Ear Thermometer and really came to rely on it. However, constantly finding and replacing the plastic tips became annoying and costly. Then I discovered Homedics Model TT-201 (also for the ear). It was around $25 at Target. We have had it for years without a problem. It seems to be just as accurate as the Braun, except it has some major advantages. First of all it is MUCH smaller and easier to store. Second, it does not require any plastic covers...you just wipe the tip with alcohol. It is has a 3-second read...which hasn't been a problem even with my little guys. I know there are 1-second reads out there which may be easier, but they will most likely be much more expensive. Hope this helps! Good luck.

Hi C.
The forehard thermometers are good but tend to be pretty expensive. The ear ones I have tried all seem to be inaccurate. I have the same problem with my 5 yo girls. They would see me coming with the thermometer and RUN the other way knowing where I intended to stick it! LOL I think I finally found one that works, it's oral (mouth) and seems to be pretty accurate.

It is made by Timex and it has a curved, flexible mouth piece that, when placed in the either side of the mouth, kind of falls into the proper pocket to take a temperature. It was only about $12 and I bought it at Rite Aid.

BTW I worked in the for 7 years and we tried the really expensive "temporal" thermometers and they were NOT accurate.

Good luck!

E.

Hi C.,
I have a Gerber forhead strip that you place on the forhead and the temperature of the child changes so you can read it easily. I also have a Braun ear one. But it is best to take it in both ears because if you don't have it tilted just right in the ear canal it is off by a little in the reading. D.

The Braun ear thermometer is worth every penny! Have had ours for over 2 years - not one problem & love the quick readings. Also stores in its memory the last reading - which is helpful. Highly recommend it - have bought it for other family members, and they wish they had one from the start!

I tried using a Braun ear thermometer and it was very inaccurate. I went flying to the doctors office because it read such a high fever. My doctor advised against ever using the ear ones and said to throw it away. He said they are known to be a very inaccurate measure of temperature. He advised using the ones that can go rectal or under the armpit, tongue, etc. We've tried using the ear one and then a traditional thermometer just to see the difference when our little one was sick and sure enough, there's always a misread with the ear version! I hope that helps!

Try ebay. You can survive with at digital one by measuring from the armpit. Simply adjust the reading accuracy as appropriate(1-2 degree difference).

Hi There-
I had a tough time finding one that was accurate when my son was a baby. The forehead ones are tricky to use & give a different read-out every time you swipe. The best I've found is by Braun & the package will state that it's especially designed to fit smaller ears (might say toddler or infant). We use this for the whole family & it's been GREAT. It's not the cheapest one out there (I think it's about $30-35, but since we can use it for everyone and it seems to last (we've had ours for at least 3 years so far & it's still ticking :)), it was well worth it). We found it at Target & the protective covers are easily available too. Good luck!

I love my Braun ear thermometer, I usually take my Daughter's temperature on both ears for accuracy. I think it's about $35-40. Good luck

We use the Braun Thermo Scan. It was recommended by my father-n-law who is a Pharmacist.

I just have to ping in and say I hate the Temporal Scan Thermometer, it was difficult to understand (you're supposed to run it across the forehead) and very inaccurate (different temp every time). Seriously, my temperature was different every single time I took it, when I took the readings back-to-back. If it is something you're interested in try a friend's first before you buy it.

I have been using a digital thermometer in the mouth, my son is almost 3 and some how it has worked for us.

I have an Exergen Temporal Scanner and I love it! It's accurate and super easy to use.

Hi...

We recently purchased a Temporal Thermometer at Costco.. it's called a "Temporal Scanner" by the Exergen Corp. (www.exergen.com). There are many brands of these, and I recommend them highly. You simply run it over the forehead, or you can put it behind the lobe of the ear. It's super fast and easy digital numbers make it easy to read. There are no special covers or directions.,..

Hope that helps!

L.

Braun is the only good brand!

T.

I know how you feel about the rectal thermometers! I recently purchased a Fever Reader for the forehead from CVS. It was less than $5 and my 2 1/2 year old loves it because it is just a strip that goes over his forehead. I was worried about its accuracy but I spoke with a nurse at Blue Cross and the triage nurse at our pediatrician's office the last time my son had a fever and they both said they liked the forehead strip and used it all the time. We didn't have luck with our ear thermometer because it seemed like if the placement was different by even a little bit we would get different readings. I hope you find something that does the trick! -M.

C.

Hi I'm N.. My son is 3 and very active. I found a great forehead (temporal lobe) thermometer at costco for about 20 dollars. All you have to do is put it on the childs forehead and then slide it down to the temple hit the read button and presto instant temperature without all the struggle!
Hope this helps
N.

Hi,

I really like the Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer. I use it on all three of my children from age 6 month to 10yrs old. It's moderatly priced but works really well and they sell it at Wal-Mart too.
Hope this helps.

J.

I have a Braun thermoscan and my 2 year old doesn't complain at all when I use it (it's an ear thermometer). It works great- very accurate. Just make sure that, with an ear scanner, you always take the temp in BOTH ears every time. If the temps are significantly different, it could be a sign of an ear infection.
As for price, it wasn't cheap, but sometimes, you get what you pay for:)

wow C., you and I have a lot in common. I'm 25, have a son who turned 2 in March and my husband is in the airforce. Where are you guys stationed at?