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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have never taken my children's' temperature

60 replies

welliewarmer · 28/02/2022 16:54

I have two DC, 12 and 8. They often had a temperature when young; it was always obvious and I gave them calpol til they felt better. Currently my eldest is ill with a temperature and cough - I've been giving him a paracetamol every four hours and lots of liquids. He's just gone to bed as was looking very grey and unwell, also shivering but said he didn't feel cold. The room was warm. He wasn't sweating. He still just feels hot to the touch, rather that boiling, But I don't think I've ever seen him look so ill.

Maybe silly question but when a child's temperature gets dangerously high, what are the symptoms? As I don't actually own a thermometer.

OP posts:

JakeyRolling · 28/02/2022 17:57

I'd buy a thermometer because even if you don't use it regularly, if you need to call 111 or the GP the first thing they will ask for is a temperature and if you have given calpol it's also helpful to have a before and after temperature

ThinWomansBrain · 28/02/2022 18:07

You can buy perfectly reliable ones on eBay/amazon for £2-£3 - I think I bought on from a pound shop once.

My parents never took our temperatures - when I was about 14 I started staying with a family in France - exchange type thing - The mother was a GP, took temperatures for the slightest thing, anything as drastic as a headache and she'd take my blood pressure as well. V strange!

Ozanj · 28/02/2022 20:20

@daisypond

We don’t own a thermometer either. It’s never occurred to me to get one. My DC are adult now. Neither DH or I had thermometers in our houses when we were children. It just seems like a bizarrely medical thing to have at home - a bit like having a stethoscope.

You’re lucky they never had anything serious then. A low-high temperature, one many parents might not even catch via touch, can be an early warning sign of everything from sepsis to meningitis to Cancer.

Smashedavacado · 28/02/2022 20:28

Sons now 22 & 23. We only bought a thermometer at the beginning of covid.
I guess we were just lucky that we never needed one - also never dosed up with Calpol like so many other parents seemed to.

NudieUnderTheOodie · 28/02/2022 20:40

Is there another adult home? If yes, I think I'd nip to a supermarket or pharmacy and buy one now if it was me, just to check.*

Poor lamb, he doesn't sound well at all. 111 for an OOH appointment might be a good shout.

*I appreciate I'm in the middle of 3 large 24 hour supermarkets and a pharmacy that doesn't shut till 10pm within a short drive.

DetailMouse · 28/02/2022 20:49

The child is clearly unwell and has a temperature. A thermometer isn't going to tell OP anything useful she doesn't already know.

Yellowleadbetter · 01/03/2022 07:29

^^ agree, 100%

HeadingForHome · 01/03/2022 07:52

I'm really taken aback at the responses on here. Temperature is incredibly important, especially in young children. It's the not the be all and end all but it can be such an important part of the puzzle. I'm really surprised people wouldn't have one at home, I honestly see that as bordering on negligent.

stuntbubbles · 01/03/2022 07:58

also never dosed up with Calpol like so many other parents seemed to.
Oh god, are we doing competitive parenting about whether we give our kids painkillers or not?!

MRex · 01/03/2022 08:02

also never dosed up with Calpol like so many other parents seemed to
I know someone like this. Moaned frequently enough about how the kid was whiny, had been up shouting at night etc etc. But wouldn't ever give calpol on principle, so she got a special star for letting him suffer.

Abouttimemum · 01/03/2022 08:08

We have one mainly to make sure nursery will let DS attend before we take the trip! Probably a result of covid and temperature obsessions etc.

That said, it’s been useful as the times we’ve been on the phone to 111 (he gets croup all the time) they always ask what his temp is, as in a number.

toomuchlaundry · 01/03/2022 08:08

Do when one of the main symptoms in a pandemic was temperature people still didn’t get a thermometer

Thought thermometers would be standard parent kit

Abouttimemum · 01/03/2022 08:10

And Christ I give the poor kid calpol when he’s unwell. Just like I take painkillers when I’m unwell.

Why do we compete over who can give their kids the least medical care and attention?

mizzo · 01/03/2022 08:19

@toomuchlaundry

Do when one of the main symptoms in a pandemic was temperature people still didn’t get a thermometer

Thought thermometers would be standard parent kit

It has said on the NHS website for sometime that a high temperature means the person is hot to touch on their chest or back, there is no need to measure temperature.

Yellowleadbetter · 01/03/2022 08:24

Holy shot calpol is definitely in the parents kit!
Why on Gods green earth would you not give pain relief to a kid in pain?!

And to the poster claiming that not having a thermometer is bordering on negligent, have a word with yourself, what a wanky thing to say.

RampantIvy · 01/03/2022 08:27

When DD was little she was in and out of hospital. The first thing I was asked every time she was admitted was what was her temperature at home? One time her temperature rocketed to over 40. I rang the GP who came out (because you could still get home visits back then) and shortly after he arrived DD stopped breathing, so he called an ambulance.

At the hospital I was told that she had had a febrile convulsion, and that a temperature spike could trigger another one, and I was to check her temperature if she started to look off colour. Feeling her forehead wasn't sufficient.

Yes you can tell if a child has a temperature, but can you tell if it is dangerously low without a thermometer?

So bully for those of you who have had children who have never been seriously ill.

mizzo · 01/03/2022 08:30

I don't know what difference knowing the figure makes. If they're hot and unwell they're hot and unwell regardless of how hot they are.

mewkins · 01/03/2022 08:31

@daisypond

I was going to say the same. We never had a thermometer. You just use your hand. I can tell whether someone is slightly warm or burning up. Burning up and I would seek help immediately.

Yellowleadbetter · 01/03/2022 08:32

For a kid with a history of febrile convulsions it is import auto have a thermometer.
For kids with significant medical history then it is important to have a thermos.
For every other kid with every day infections that will recover without medical intervention them touch is absolutely fine.
It does not change what you do for the kid.
Calpol if they have uncomfortable symptoms of being hot, fluids, fluids, fluids and monitor.

You know your own kid inside and out, if they are hot and have anything else that is worrying you then get them seen.

You don’t need a number to give you any of the vast amount of information that you as the parent will get from looking, listening and feeling your child.

DSGR · 01/03/2022 08:35

Never occurred to me NOT to own a thermometer with children!
Every GP uses a thermometer.. every hospital uses them on ill children.
Very high temps need a qualified professional to check them out.
In that regard, please call 111 or your GP as much better to be safe than sorry

mnnewbie111 · 01/03/2022 08:39

I never had one til covid. It's not exactly expensive and a pretty sensible thing to get, considering. No need for guess work

YesILikeItToo · 01/03/2022 08:41

My GP very much discouraged me using a thermometer when I had a baby, so I haven’t used it a great deal since. I’d struggle to tell you what temperature people are meant to be, tbh. I don’t think you’re unreasonable.

TulipsGarden · 01/03/2022 08:43

I find it a bit weird not to own one. A very high temp in a child can be dangerous, and you wouldn't be able to feel the difference. Of course you treat the child rather than the fever, but if my son's temp is pushing 40 I keep a close eye on him, sleep in his room etc. It doesn't feel any different to 38.5ish, which is what he often gets with a cold.

bruffin · 01/03/2022 09:03

DS and DD had a condition called GEFS+ (inherited through me for many generations)
DS had over 20 febrile convulsions up to the age of 13. Dr's always asking or taking temperature. Back in the 60s my DM had the little glass mercury one, when dc were little i bought an ear one and now we have the forehead one since COVID

Even when i had swine flu the first thing the GP asked was what was my temperature.

mizzo · 01/03/2022 09:18

The only time I've ever been asked about temperature was when my waters broke but I wasn't having any contractions so was sent home and told to record my temperature hourly in case of infection.

The GP has never asked for the exact figure for any of the children. I just say they feel hot or very hot and list any other symptoms.

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