To be annoyed at all of them!!

[Kat256M]

I have used not 1 not 2 but 3 different thermometers trying to figure out if the baby has a temperature. I don't know if it is because he is small or because it is has to keep still but I ALWAYS get different readings. Wildly different. Two ear thermometers and one armpit one.

Help. I want to Amazon Prime asap a forehead thermometer but I want recommendations for something that works because they can be expensive. Before I throw all of them out the window!

If under 3 years old, armpit is notoriously inaccurate. In ear is much more effective (make sure you don't do one ear after the other as the second reading will be enhanced artificially) but a forehead one is the best. Worth the investment, get a Braun one, it's what my local hospital uses.

I've never had a good experience with a forehead one. We've used a braun thermoscan in ear one for years .

I have the same one and it’s great!

That is interesting, why would the second reading on the other ear be higher?

I’m a paediatric nurse and actually recommend an armpit thermometer for babies, this is NHS guidance and that’s also what we use at work. I can link the one I have if you like. My baby had a temperature on the weekend and it was accurate and gave a similar reading to the one in hospital ☺️

I think we used an underarm on when kids were really wee actually

I rarely used a thermometer on my 4 when little. You can feel a temperature usually. Hot little hands and radiating from the neck and armpits. Take a step back and look at the baby. Are they alert? Taking any food? Liquids? Are they hysterical or rigid. Or floppy and dozy. That usually told me what action to take more than anything.

Yes please link it! He is still very young and it is scary not being able to get accurate readings. And thank you for the recommendation 🙂

The problem with ear thermometers is usually the way you insert them. If you don't get the angle right you can get different readings.
Also normal to get different readings from different locations
https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/tw9223

I agree with a PP...most parents can accurately sense a child with a temp be feeling the back of the neck...but taking a reading is obviously helpful if you are trying to track it getting beter/worse

Exactly, I can already tell he has a fever but I need to know if he is getting worse or not. And I hate the ear thermometer, I probably don't insert it right everytime. That is why I am looking for an (even passable one!) forehead thermometer

with young children their ear canals are small, it’s helpful to pull the ear out away from the head slightly to get a better angle, and ensure you hold the thermometer in for long enough to read accurately. Mine (Braun) will beep to let you know when.
hope your little one is better soon. ❤️