A baby thermometer is an important piece of baby equipment that parents need to buy. In fact, many parents buy more than one. Let’s face it, as parents of young children we do our utmost best to ensure that we keep them healthy, well and safe from harm.
Sometimes though, it can be an unexpected event that catches us unawares and unprepared. For example, if your baby or toddler suddenly became unwell, started crying and wouldn’t stop, would you know what signs to look for? This is why a thermometer is necessary. Now, a rise in temperature could be caused by many things, including something as trivial as your baby teething, it could also be a sign that something is really wrong.
However, choosing the right thermometer can be a challenge if you do not know what you want as there are several different types of baby thermometers on the market and each takes a baby’s temperature differently.
Oral thermometers
Oral thermometers are often shaped like pacifiers to make them easier for a baby to hold onto in their mouths. This type of thermometer takes the baby’s internal temperature. It must be held under the baby’s tongue for two minutes in order to get an accurate reading. Even though this is the type of thermometer that many parents grew up with it is not the most accurate thermometer on the market today. Oral thermometers are usually best for older children who can hold it under their tongues easily.
Ear thermometers
These are similar to the thermometers that pediatricians use and they are considered the best for parents to use on children that are six months or older. The thermometer probe is covered with a small plastic sleeve that can be removed and thrown away. It can be easily slipped inside the ear, even if the baby is sleeping, and it takes a digital reading of the baby’s temperature in just three seconds.
Forehead thermometers
These can be very accurate tools for assessing a child’s fever by measuring heat omissions. It generally takes only a couple of seconds to get an accurate reading using a forehead thermometer. These thermometers can be used on children of any age.
Underarm thermometers
They can be analog or digital. The probe on the thermometer sits in the baby’s armpit to measure the temperature. Analog thermometers take about five minutes to give an accurate reading. Digital ones can give readings in just seconds. Just like forehead thermometers, these can be used on babies and children of any age.
Rectal thermometers
Taking a baby’s temperature using a rectal thermometer is usually more uncomfortable for the parent than the baby but it can cause the baby some distress. The probe should always be lubricated with some petroleum jelly to make it easier to insert. Only about a quarter of the probe needs to be inserted to get a good reading. It usually takes about two minutes to get the rectal temperature.
That said check out tech product reviews for more on the best thermometer for kids.