To get them a thermometer as a new baby gift?

[TheBabyAteMyBrain]

Mutual friends of me and dh are due their first baby in Dec, they have a large family and friend circle and the child will be the first grandchild, so they will be inundated with cute outfits, blankets, toys, gifts for mum.

Speaking with dh last night I said it would be a good idea to get them a Braun Thermoscan thermometer as a new baby gift as it's been a life saver for us and our two dc. Dh thinks it's a boring gift and we should do the usual personalised blanket or cute outfits. I think it's practical and will be used straight away from first vaccinations and is one of the things people tend to forget to buy when preparing for a first baby.

So, AIBU? Would you have appreciated a thermometer or should I get the usual bits for a new baby?

When I had my first baby an aunt gave me a basket she’d made up of practical things that she’d found really useful- metanium, thermometer, grip water etc. Much of it I wouldn’t have known to buy myself as I’d never had a baby so didn’t know they would be needed of how effective they were. It’s the one gift that really stuck in my head as it was so thoughtful and useful. I really appreciated it. Like you say OP- everyone will get them blankets and teddies etc. I think your gift is a great idea.

I think most people expecting/with a newborn will already have one, because they'll have googled "newborn checklist" and it's always on those sorts of lists.

It'd be much better to get something where it doesn't matter if they have multiple, such as clothes etc.

Would love this as a gift. I got a digital thermometer when my eldest was 6 months and it was an expense I would have rather avoided when on mat leave. Would also have much rather received this than yet another blanket to add to the pile of unused blankets or outfits involving braces for a three month old.

Maybe get it with a gift receipt so they can return it if they already have one.

In hospital studies a consistent indicator of more severe infectious illness is the heart rate, particularly whether it also settles when the temperature goes down (it should).

I would have appreciated this. Send with gift receipt in case they already have one.

Brilliant idea. When my ‘normal’ dd1 was a baby she had pneumonia and her temperature needed monitoring every hour. So while it may be a ‘boring’ gift it will be a damn sight more useful than yet another blanket. I seem to remember it costing about £60 back in 2004 so I’d have been v grateful for it as a gift!

I also used the thermometer loads when they were babies.

I never owned a thermometer when I had my 3 DC and my mum never had one either for her 5 DC.

Having said that, if it's something you think she's likely to want then go for it.

I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

Great gift idea!

Oh come off it @nolongersurprised. When your baby has a fever at home you don't strap on a tiny baby heart rate monitor. You take its temperature! A thermometer is absolutely a useful gift. Aside from initial diagnosis, I found mine useful just to see when it was time to top up the Calpol again.

The NHS guidance specifically references when you should seek medical advice with respect to numbers. Clearly it has relevance.

I don't know a single parent who doesn't have a thermometer. How can you tell if a temp has dropped from 39 to 38 with calpol without one?

Get a gift receipt from boots, if they don't want it they can swap it for clothes/nappies/wipes!

I am baffled by posters claiming they have never used a thermometer... a temperature of 38 or 39.5 means very different things and it is important to have a reasonable reading of the body temperature and its evolution when the child is ill.
I think it's a great gift.

I think it's a great idea. I got one as a gift when I was expecting. My son is now 2 and is rarely sick, but I've used it a few times. And it's something you can use for years to come, and for any future babies or any family members.

Is it boring? Not really, even if it is, it's a good gift when you are close to the couple but not too close. Like you said, gps and close family will probably want to buy all the cute outfits, adorable blankets, etc.

Its also something that can be regifted more easily than a personalised blanket.

I would maybe check if they have one first. I would this exact one when I was pregnant with my first (with no experience of what to buy), so it must have been on some list from somewhere that I was following!

We bought a Braun Thermoscan partly using a Boots gift card given as a present, and it has been invaluable to us. You could either give a gift card, or buy the thermometer and give with a gift receipt. I always bought baby outfits and blankets as gifts prior to having my first baby - my eyes were opened, and we couldn’t use all of the things we were given. Very kindly meant, but I wasn’t comfortable with how much ‘waste’ there was. A thermometer was something we hadn’t even considered, but as a pp said upthread, when you need it you really need it!

My children reached the ripe old age of 20 and 10 with me not having a thermometer at all.

Age 10, DS2 got an ear infection and I was chastised for not having one by the GP as he wanted me to keep an eye on his temp.

It might be because both my children have dealt with fever by spiking to a delirious state for one night and then cooled right down.

So, I could tell they were burning up and was on standby in case it didn't drop, but in every case it has done so by the following morning.

As others have said, a hooded bath towel is great. Doesn't matter if they get more than one, will last for years and is a somewhat more sweet present than a thermometer.

A hooded bath towel is a great idea.
A new DM can't have enough of them.

I've never really seen the point of a hooded bath towel to be honest. I got given about 10 but I'm not sure why you can't just use a normal towel!

Also a useful gift OP- costa gift card

Never used a thermostat in my 7 years as a parent. I feel as though lots of parents depend on them rather than using their own judgement and common sense

A hooded bath towel is also free to all parents based in Scotland in the baby box.

The government intention with the box is to reduce SIDS, extreme child neglect & improve health outcomes.

If the government are funding the free thermometer I'm fairly sure there will be a pile of evidence based studies to prove the return on investment justifies the purchase.. I'm sure they'll not be included in the box if they're "useless" for most parents...

Oh come off it @nolongersurprised. When your baby has a fever at home you don't strap on a tiny baby heart rate monitor. You take its temperature!

And do what?

If they feel consistently hot and they’re

I’ve had three DC and have never taken their temperature, or anyone’s temperature. I think it’s a bit of a ghoulish present, to be honest, like expecting/wishing sickness upon them. But because I never used one maybe I am overthinking it.

I don't see why hooded bath towels are so great. And they don't last "for years" unless you plan to use them as tea towels, as they are always tiny and to small to dry anything over a 1 year old baby.

I think it's a great idea.

Having dealt with a lot of ill children, I've found that not only can one feel perfectly cool but have a 39.7 Celsius temperature that's still increasing, others can feel red hot but be normal - and if I'm coming down with something, my warmth perception goes out of kilter, too.

Another thing would be a cheap daylight simulator light, as they have low light settings that don't wake you or baby up as much as a standard nightlight or lamp if you need to see what you're doing.

But for those without that much cash, hooded baby towels are brilliant.