To not have a thermometer?

[GenerationGap]

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

BTW the Peadiatrician did ask me for temperature recordings when DS had his convulsion.

I have permanently freezing hands (onset of Raynauds I think) so am a very unreliable tester of temp. As such, I have a thermometer.

The last GP I saw told me she bought her digital ear thermometer from Boots because it's as good as the ones from medical supply companies and much cheaper! We have a digital ear thermometer too. I use it if my (small children) feel hot, to check if their temperature is something to worry about. My 17 month old has had a temperature of 40 degrees twice, which is something to worry about - have taken him to out of hours GP both times and he needed antibiotics. They asked for the actual temperature on the phone. I imagine people managed fine before these thermometers were available, but I find it reassuring to be able to check.

Measuring a temperature doesn't make you suddenly lose all willpower and perspective and give medication in a knee-jerk way. The reverse if anything, because measuring properly means you can put a temp in context, see if it's getting better or worse for instance, so even if it's still very hot you might know it's actually an improvement on a few hours ago. My dcs can tolerate quite high temps but still be up and about and playing and that's why they mostly don't end up having any medication for it (nor do I ring a doctor just for a temperature). I don't lose the ability to judge how they're coping just because I happen to have a thermometer too!

They do have a clinical use. When I was in hospital with an infection in my leg when I was pregnant, it was temperature readings alone which determined when I could go from intravenous antibiotics to oral ones, and go home. I was nearly there at day 4, my temp spiked overnight, which set me back 2 days, and I was finally released on day 6.

I haven't really had the need to use a thermometer on my children yet, maybe I never will. But they do have a clinical purpose, which is why they use them in GP surgeries and hospitals.

I am not aware of anyone being "obsessed" despite this.

I don't have one. Well that's lie i do but the battery died years ago and i haven't replaced them.

Mum used one for us all the time, i had a very expensive digital one that seemed to tell us we all had low temps normally

I also don't use my hand, i use my lips. If they feel hot to touch on their bodies, i know they have a temperature. If, when i kiss their forehead, they are hot on my lips i know to use calpol (or similar). And will do all i can do to bring down the ir temperature. If they are obvioulsy very unwell, i ring the DR, if they don't improve after a number of hours (i don't have a number set in gstone), then i rig the DR.

For me, knowing the numbers would make the whole thing very stressful. Yet for others i can see that it is important.

NHS DIRECT info on checking temps with no thermometer