To not have a thermometer?

[GenerationGap]

And have never taken either of my children's temperature? What is this obsession about?

Yes, I have a digital thermometer and find it very useful. Firstly, DD's creche will send children home if their temp is over 38.5, so it helps if I can check her temperature at home if she feels a bit hot.

In fact the hospital here in Belgium gave me the thermometer when DD was born, and while I was still in hospital with her (they keep you in for a few days here) I had to fill in a little chart detailing her temperature every day! It was actually very helpful to see how a newborn's temperature can fluctuate - as they can't regulate their body temperature easily, just little things like putting too many/too few layers on them can have a real impact on their temperature.

BTW, the standard method here is to take babies'/young children's temperature rectally. Very accurate and actually pretty easy as you just take it when changing their nappy.

I hardly ever take DD's temp now though I know that just using my hand is totally unreliable (for me) as if my hands are cold I'm convinced she has a temp when she doesn't! Somebody told me that using your lips on their forehead is more reliable than your hand.

Anyway I don't really see anything wrong with owning a thermometer if you find it useful, as we do in our family. Each to their own!

Yanbu. You dont have to have a thermometer if you dont want one. I, however am quite happy with mine so :P

I agree with Trinity. I have an old digital one stashed somewhere, but temperature is just a single measure of being ill - it doesn't give the whole picture. I think to rely on temperature alone can make you miss other important symptoms you would get from general observation of your child. I also don't bring down every temperature because it is part of the body's defence mechanisms.

Well put ABF Missing you on the Dec thread...

lol AmazingBouncing Too right

Just because a person uses a thermometer it doesn't mean they ignore the other signs, FFS.

I feel my son's cheeks (his forehead is always warm, since birth!) and his hands. I see how he's behaving, i.e. is he playing or does he want more snuggles and I check his temperature.

Why is this such a big deal to people? Isn't there enough crap we judge each other on when it comes to parenting without adding thermometer ownership to the mix?

The majority seem to think they are not a necessity then

As a GP I'm constantly surprised when parents bring a child to see me with "a high temperature" that they haven't actually bothered to measured. Yes, of course I then measure it, but a record of what the pattern of fever has been is invaluable; you know whether or not it is responding to treatment etc.

We did a study in our surgery recently involving, among other things, parents' reports of children's illnesses. We found that of those reporting "a fever", 60% HAD actually measured it (and so knew what they were talking about). Of the 40% that had not, only a tiny proportion (about 5%) of the children DID actually have a raised temperature when measured (allowing for medication given before temp was measured).

Other studies have shown that 'measuring' temperature based on feeling the child with your hand is ridiculously inaccurate; "fever" can be imitated by prolonged crying, and sweating, for example, when there is no actual rise in core temperature.

IMO a thermometer is a basic essential of family self-care, like having plasters and paracetamol at home. They are easy to use, and accurate (if using an aural thermometer). Forehead and armpit thermometers are almost useless, oral ones are usually OK, but often hard to use with children.

My overall impression was that more people said they do have them.

That's reassuring dockate.

We have a thermometer - an in the ear one like the one they use at our surgery.

When DD was in NICU and SCBU they took her temperature every 4 hours and kept a record. I couldn't go from that level of data to nothing at all! Have often been asked by Docs, NHS Direct and OOH Docs about what the temp reading is - and if we've said we haven't taken it for a while, they've asked us to.

@ dockate I wonder how GPs have managed all these years when their patients haven't had these 'basic essentials'

Just because you have something doesn't mean it is a necessity.

mutznutz are you under the impression that thermometers are new?

"The clinical thermometer was invented in 1866 by Sir Thomas Clifford Allbutt, an English physician." - Discoveries in Medicine

Thank you Tee but no I'm not.

However what I am saying is that as a 41yr old mother of 3, I have never needed one and my GP nor any other medical proffesional has had a problem with that or even suggested I need one as a 'basic essential'

The problem with taking temperature by touch is that it depends on how hot YOU are. If you are ill as well, a child with a temperature won't feel as hot.

I was actually severely told off by a senior consultant for not having a digital thermometer in the house when dd was 1.
She was extremely ill and because I had no digital thermometer I didn't know how high her temperature was - I was using one of those strips that change colour when pressed to the forehead (it was a long time ago).

I knew she was hot but not how hot. I did, however, phone NHS 24 and get her to hospital quickly - she was in for a week!
When we left the consultant told me to go to Boots on the way home and buy one.
The need for them is rare and many of us hopefully will never need them but when you do need them you sometimes need them fast and to be accurate. My dd nearly died and a digital thermometer, although not removing the problem, would have alerted me to the severity of the problem quicker.

The gp wanted to know my temperature when I had flu last year.
My DS has GEFS+ so may still get febrile convulsions and ny daughter has had them as well, so I take temperatures with ear ones.

When DS was in hospital he had his temperature taken regularly and dosed with paracetamol. The ambulance took his temperature and they wanted to know his temperature when he arrived in a&e.
There seems to be quite a few posters on Mumsnet who seem to think not taking temperatures seem to make them "wonderful mothers" or something as they keep boasting about it and criticizing others for taking temperatures and or treating a temperature, but seeing their other posts I wouldn't trust their medical knowledge at all.

I bought one last winder when the swine flu panic epidemic was on, but I have never used it. My children are 9 and 15.

I believe in treating children and symptoms, not numbers. You can be very hot but not seriously ill and vice versa.

To be fair I haven't seen anyone claiming to be wonderful...I think the attitude is more 'each to their own'?

I have a thermometer. It's been useful when DS has had a very high temp to see that he is responding to calpol and the temp is coming down. As advised by NHS direct.

It is also essential for me for monitoring my own health.

I have never had one- dcs are 14 and 11. But they do not get ill-if they did, maybe I would have one.
In the Sixties, my mum had a mercury one.

I am not necessarily talking about this thread but MN in general but the fact someone chose to make it IABU makes her sound superior

And I don't think I would take a child to the GP because it had a raised temperature - I'd need a few more symptoms first. A temperature is just that, a symptom. It isn't an illness in itsself.

My DS had a convulsion at 18 mths and I now own several thermometers. But I always feel down the back of the neck first, I think it is a very accurate way to tell. Basically if they have a fever and you feel the heat at the back of the neck/upper back, you will know. My GP always says don't worry about the thermometer. Use your mummy senses!

Thinking about it though, it's dangerous if temperature is over 40 c so the thermometer is also useful to establish that. I would probably ring NHS direct if the temp was over 40, and didn't come down with medicine, given DS's history.

For me it's a comfort, if ever I am not sure, after the scare of the convulsion and ambulance ride to an overnight hospital stay. So that's why the slight obsession for me. Also, generally I only give Calpol if the thermometer confirms a temperature, as I am mean with medicine.

But NBU, you can manage without one.