Which thermometer do you use?

[chocolateshoes]

Had to use one for the 1st time yesterday with DS. It was a Tommee Tippee forehead one, which said he was cold - yet he felt hot. When I got him to the DRs he had a temperature of 39! When I got home I tried it on myself and it gave no reading at all. Hmmm! Can anyone recommend a reliable thermometer & where do you think its best to take it - ear, armpit?

TIA!

this thread had a very useful link
In hospital we use tympanic thermometers, ear scanners. These are pretty reliable unless your child has perticularly waxy or cold ears.
I would not reccomend mercry thermometers for the armpit, they are dangerous if broken and take too long for as wriggly child.
Fever scanners will only give you a skin temperature and not a core temperature and the wtwo can vary quite dramatically.

we've got This one which is down to 30 quid at the moment. It does seem pricey, but well worth it to have an instant accurate reading. All that trying to keep them still for a few minutes with the others are a right faff.

I use a braun thermoscan - comes with a little plastic protector - one used each time.
It is brilliant becasue it is very accurate and only needs to be placed just in the opening of the ear - rather than shoving it right in - like you had to do witht he old style thermometers.
Brillliant.

Ive never used one at all! Are they really that essential?

So the Braun one looks the favourite.

Kelly, when I rang the Drs they asked if DS had a temperature, & I'm not confident to say yes or no without thermometer. It was the 1st time I needed one in 8mths.

By the way, do you all have 1st Aid kits?

braun thermoscan
tip top

Also use the Braun, has been absolutely invaluable and very easy to use.

I used a digital normal one and take their temperature rectally when they're too little to keep it under their tongue!

But then I am German.

asked ds father to get the braun he brought the very similar looking mothercare one, digital ear one second reading. however either it is rubbish or i am pathetic as i can't seem to work it. gives a completely different reading every time, within moments of the previous. highly unrecommended!

hmm, I don't have a doctor neither! I just check the back of their necks for temp. When dd was born nearly 6 years ago I couldn't afford one, now I dont think about it.

it does seem to depend on ear canal shape - I do have a braun thermoscan (after all, it does look easier than shoving a thermometer up a child's bum) but found it totally useless, the readings varied wildly.

well, just went to buy Braun thermoscan from local chemists....£40.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will now lokk at Boots online!

chocolate shoes - we have a HUGE 1st aid box which DH put together when we went to France on holiday the other year (he got a bit carried away on Pharmacy2U!) - I laughed at the time but it has been really useful as we just chuck it in the car when we go out and has everything we need in it...

We also have the Braun and use it for us as well as the girls...

Yup Braun Thermoscan here too ...wouldn't be without it as DD used to have febrile convulsions

Chocolateshoes if you have a Boots reward card it is worth getting it from there as you'll get a heap of points.

Thanks everyone! The Braun wins hands down, & you're right I'll get loads of points on my reward card. That's the job for this weekend then...1st Aid kit.

Hmmm sounds like a new thread to me!

Thanks!