To not own a thermometer?

[Reali]

In five kids I’ve never needed one, either they have a fever to treat/ are ill or not. I look for signs like flushed cheeks, warm nape of the neck, lethargy etc. One gets super hot easily, one can be really ill before getting hot... I don’t worry so much about numbers.

Just told a friend and she seems to think it’s pretty neglectful.

Is it that unusual not to?

We have an asthmatic kids triggered by viruses, a thermometer is essential kit for us as it's one of the indicators of a hospital trip or not.
If you're kids are basically healthy then I can see why you don't think you need one, it's one of those things though that can really make a difference to how fast you ask for or get treatment when someone is very ill and you haven't quite realised.

@Baaaahhhhh

There's another thread running where poster is checking temperatures every day!

I've never had a thermometer, and over on that other thread, about half of respondents haven't either. I suppose as with many things, it depends whether you need reassurance or whether you can just trust instinct. Neither is wrong, and to not have one is certainly not neglectful.

My childminder has asked me to take my daughters temperature every day before she gets there.

I can’t see that lasting too long, tbh.

Three teens - never had one, never needed one. YANBU.

We did have one when I was growing up in the 70s but I think that was because DM was a health care professional and it was part of the general medical kit we had lying around. I'm not sure it was normal.

@unimaginativeusernamehere sure but they had other symptoms, right?
Just that if my toddler had a runny nose and a v slight temp of under 38, I wouldn't be rushing around to get her a bloody test to return to nursery.

As it was, she had a regular virus with a temp of 39 the other day and it took me three days of us all staying in the house to get a drive in appt. Negative of course.

@YukoandHiro

Useful now, when corona is only suspected over 38.5. Lower than that and it's just a cold

This is not true.

I’m surprised with 5 children that you’ve never been asked for the exact temp by the GP/111 etc. It always seems to be so they have a fever, what is it, does it go down with Calpol etc.

I have only needed one once in 23 years of parenting which was when DD1 was discharged from hospital 3 times with appendicitis and I was certain she was very unwell despite being 'reassured' that she wasn't.

I used a borrowed thermometer to check that my instincts were correct, which they were.

Always used touch but did purchase one when this all started as a precaution.

Sailingblue - I’m surprised with 5 children that you’ve never been asked for the exact temp by the GP/111 etc. It always seems to be so they have a fever, what is it, does it go down with Calpol etc.

111 has only been around for a few years. Depends how old your DC are. Wasn’t in existence when mine were babies and my youngest is in primary school. So I’ve never spoken to a doctor on the phone about the DC. Notice they aren’t well, keep an eye, rest up and fluids, if I’m still worried make an appointment with the doctor, they have a thermometer and take it then. To be fair, the only times I’ve needed to make an appointment with the doctor they have been sent on to hospital, where they also take their temperatures.

I can understand absolutely how for some families it’s an essential but equally it’s very much an optional extra for many.