Do you need a Braun thermometer for a newborn?

[atvh]

These look really good but cost in excess of £50 for the latest model with age precision. Is it worth buying one or can I use a more bog-standard thermometer?

---

This thread is a little old now, but if you've landed here looking for more info on the Braun and whether it's worth it, plus info on budget alternatives, we’ve recently updated our best baby thermometer page – we hope you find it useful.

You can just use your hand tbh, you will know if they feel warm or not. If hot, take layers off, see if they cool down, and then give paracetamol afterwards as needed. Seen by doctor obviously if it continues

I just got a tommee tippee one from asda and it's served us well

Any thermometer will do. I have one that goes in the ear now DD is a bit older but had an under arm one for when she was tiny.

using your hand is not accurate so please don't listen to that!

but you can use one of those underarm thermometers (I have a braun one that was around £15, you can set the age on it before you use it)

I know if they have a temperature just by touching them. Mums just know these things.

Well I’ve not been wrong in 11 years yet, either way

I have the TT one and it's bloody rubbish! The readings are so off on little ones.
Under the arm is recommended by the NHS.

*I know if they have a temperature just by touching them. Mums just know these things.
*
not every child shows the same symptoms, some hide it very well.
Stop being goady.

There's a difference between a harmless fever and one that requires medical advice, so definitely go for an actual thermometer! I'm going to get an instant in ear one - the under arm one is fine when they're tiny, but it's too difficult to wrestle with a toddler. I just found one for over £100! Erm, not buying that one...

@Caspianberg has it right. You can feel a fever. You can feel when a baby is warm or cool. (Or see as they are normally pink)-- I did buy a thermometer for my first child.... hardly used it. Never used it on baby 2 or 3. My kids rarely get I'll so I know I am lucky and I trust my instinct a lot.

@UsernameUnknownn - you are right that some kids hide illness better than others. But you can't hide a fever. The child is either too hot or not.

You have about as much chance of getting a thermometer as toilet roll at the moment.....

I bought a brown one, took it as an investment as not cheap..sometimes my dd is hot but temp is only 37.5-37.8...sometimes she is hot and it’s 39..with a tiny baby and as first time mum I wanted to be sure..we’ve been using it for 5y..all the time (unfortunately mi dd gets ill a lot) . I’ve spent about £40 5y ago with age indicator etc so it’s about £8 per year..worth it for a piece of mind..

No. You can get an under arm one for £1 in poundland and gp’s and dr’s have told me it’s just as reliable.
Loads in our poundland, and our aldi and lidl have in ear ones for £10-15.

Sure your hand might not be 100%. but if your child has a fever, and is running around happy as larry its not an issue anyway. 99.9% of people who have an actual fever that requires attention will be lethargic, off food, super sleepy etc.

If your baby has no temperature and you check with a thermometer, but is lethargic, super sleepy or off food, they still require medical attention. So temp isn't the key thing.

In a normal day to day world, a thermometer helps you see if temp is going up and down, and reassures you. In the madness of the current virus, it is nice to have, but you will honestly be able to tell without until you can source one at a reasonable price.

Braun not brown..sorry, auto fill

Asda ones are very good and cheaper (hospital recommended it) but you might not be able to find them right now

We have a thermoscan and I wouldn’t be without it, we’ve had it 5 years and had never led us wrong. That said my 7month old had bronchiolitis twice before Xmas and when we where in the hospital with him they told us under the arm is more accurate for up to 6months.