Advice on varying temperature using an underarm thermometer and a non touch forehead thermometer

[torsy7]

Looking for some advice. My babies temperature is measuring at 38.2 he has had a fluctuating temperature all week and had to take him to the out of hours doctor in the middle of the night on Tuesday. The dr said she thought he had a sore throats and it was just a virus so keep giving regular calpol and he should be fine within 48 hours. Roll on 4 days his temperature is high again. The underarm temperature is 38.2 but the forehead thermometer is now saying 40!!!!
When he had a stint in the children's hospital three months ago they said the forehead thermometers were not at all accurate in babies under 1year of age. However when you google it says the forehead thermometers are the most accurate types of thermometer.
I don't want to take him unnecessarily down to A&E but at the same time don't want to delay if the forehead thermometer is the more accurate reading of the two. Anyone else have experience of this or have any understanding of it?

How old is your baby?
I think I'd give NHS direct a call or your out of hours GP (ours will do a telephone consultation).
I'm not familiar with the non-touch forehead ones but I kind of would think you're unlikely to get a overreading. I may be wrong there.

Unless he's under 6 months, what I would do is give calpol (or preferably ibropofen) and see if the temperature goes down. If it does go down then worry less.
But really a better guide is how your baby is in themselves. My GP gave me some very wise advice (with dd1 whose temperature hitting 41 wasn't uncommon) which was that the temperature in itself doesn't pose a worry, however look at the behaviour of the baby (dd1 was crawling around and chatting with this temperature). If they're floppy, not responding etc then a temperature of 37.1 is much more worrying than a temperature of 40+ where they're bouncing on the trampoline.

Thank you, I've been to see the out of hours doctor who then confirmed with the children's hospital not to pay any attention to the forehead thermometers. His temp was 38 there so going to monitor him and see how we go. He is grumpy but no other symptoms. Gosh they are such a worry!

I've got a forehead one and usually get accurate-ish readings, (although didn't know that it wasn't accurate for under 1s so I'm glad you posted that.

I have an in ear one too and usually use that to confirm temperature if I need to call the doctor/I'm worried for any reason. If anything my non-contact forehead one usually measures a little bit cooler than the in-ear one.

You prob already know this but (as I didn't know this for ages!) it's important to make sure the thermometer is out of the case with its batteries in and at room temperature for 15 mins before you use it, otherwise it's inaccurate.

Hope your DS gets better soon.

I wouldn't personally rely on either an underarm or a forehead one.
Get an in ear one if you can.
Or, if you're brave, take it up the bum. That's how we did it in my family when I was growing up.

If he feels hot, is obviously unwell and you're worried, go to ooh or a&e.

If not, not.

Go by the child, not the thermometer.

Ring 111 and get advice if you are worried and down the line but an in ear thermometer