ACCURATE thermometer for babies and children??

[GeminiWarrior]

I have bought two thermometers so far (a forehead one and an armpit one) and both give such varying readings at any one time that I don’t feel that I can even trust them. Checked my daughter just now and had results ranging from 36.5-37.8 on the forehead one and the armpit one was just as useless.

Can any one recommend a trustworthy thermometer? Don’t want to keep buying ones that are rubbish. Links to exact models would be helpful, thank you.

(For a 6 month old).

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We can see this thread is quite old now and some of the suggestions may be outdated, but our best baby thermometer page has lots of great options, as recommended by parents – we hope you find it useful.
MNHQ

Honestly they're all shit! Just go by instinct. If they have a temperature you'll feel it.

We had a Calpol in-ear one when the kids were babies

I have a digital thermometer that you use in the ear. I've seen the same models in use at my GP surgery so I figured they're the best option!

Armpits and foreheads don't give very accurate readings

Just to add, it's a Braun Thermoscan thermometer.

I have a Braun Precision. I use it in the armpit and recommend it. It’s consistent when testing more than once - and consistent with my GP’s readings...

According to the NHS a babies temperature should be taken in the armpit using a digital thermometer.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/how-to-take-your-babys-temperature/

I have the Braun in ear one which is exactly what they use in hospital and the paramedics use them too.

Our GP recommended the Braun Thermoscanner as that's what they use.

We’ve got a Braun in-ear one. NHS advise an armpit thermometer for very small babies as it’s harder to get it in the right place because their ears are so little! But past a certain age they’re too wiggly for an armpit thermometer to be any use, and forehead ones are not advised at all.
Although, when my baby had a temperature, I didn’t really need a thermometer to tell me!

Our armpit one is annoyingly slow while you are trying to keep the baby/toddler still. I agree that to know if they have a high temperature use the ‘kids test’ if their forehead feels warm when you kiss it they have a fever - however I want a decent thermometer to know if it’s a ‘give calpol and put them to bed’ fever, a ‘strip clothing and call NHS direct’ fever or a ‘take them to hospital fever’! I will finally spend on the Thermoscan I think although IIRC it had very mixed Amazon reviews.

Gah! Kiss test, not kids test!

I have a brain forehead thermometer... it's ok but in all honesty you know when they're too hot. I go for the forehead kiss every time. If they're too hot you know.

I still can't use an in ear thermometer to get a valid reading on DD and she is now 11 months. The thermometer isn't faulty as I've checked my temperature with it but it can read DD's as up to 3 degrees lower than it actually is. Chocolate teapots spring to mind.

The one time she had a really high temperature (40 degrees) I didn't need a thermometer to tell me. She was absolutely boiling!

I can tell simply by looking at them, if awake. They look glazed. But i also kiss test. If that feels hot, then Braun in ear thermometer.

My pp should have said Braun... not brain!