Is there some trick to using Brother Max 3-in-1 thermometer or is it just a crap product?

[YanknCock]

Bought a Brother Max 3-in-1 thermometer today in Boots after an appointment with the out of hours doc for my 7 month old. He's had a fever for about two days and we've been using a digital thermometer to take his temp under the arm. I know this isn't the most accurate way, so wanted to get an ear thermometer. DH saw this one and thought it looked like a good gadget, but.....

Got it out of package tonight, tried taking DS's temp. It came out quite low (35.9), and by feeling him I can tell he is feverish and there is no way his temp is that low. He'd not had calpol for 6 hours and was getty fussy, so am sure the fever was back. It was above 38 at the doc's this afternoon an hour after Calpol and he certainly hasn't gotten any better between then and now.

Then we tried the room thermometer function, and it said our living room was 27 degrees! Am sure that is at least 5 degrees higher than it really is, thermostat is set at 20, and I'd be sweating my arse off and complaining if it were really 27!

Tried using it on myself on forehead, and it came up lower (by about 2 degrees) than if I take it orally with my other thermometer.

Come to the conclusion it is rubbish. Unless someone can tell me what we're doing wrong? Have read the instructions and can't find anything. Most reviews on Amazon and other websites are positive, but I did find a few that describe exactly the same problems. Maybe it is faulty?

Lol, we found exactly the same. Think I'd be almost dead if I was actually as cold as it tells me! Also have another ear thermometer which is the same. Maybe there's a knack to using it, but I've never figured it out. It's the same on the forehead measurement as well, which is disappointing as that was why I bought it (ill babies not being well disposed to being stripped off and a cold thermometer shoved under their armpit).

I've gone back to using the forehead strip thermometer, but tbh just as good a guide is common sense - if you burn your lips when kissing their forehead, time to pump them full of drugs.

thanks lukewarm, reassuring to know I am not the only one. Wonder if buying a different ear thermometer is worth it, maybe will just get the forehead one and use underarm temps if really curious. £30 for something completelt useless--they better let me return it or I will be having words....

thanks brother max, will do

blimey, mumsnet really is getting high profile these days isn't it?!

Okay, I haven't taken it back yet, so will email you and see if you can help.

Well, so much for that. I emailed just after my last post and got some out of office reply from someone who is not Jonathan Gold, stating that the person would be back in on Wednesday the 24th. I'd left my phone number, but had not heard anything, so the thermometer went back to Boots today. Sorry if you feel this wasn't enough time to respond, but we are going on holiday soon and I wanted to get this resolved beforehand.

FWIW, we left the thermometer on in DS's room last night and it did appear to be matching our other room thermometer. However, if it taking temp by ear is so dependent on technique that it can say a kid has a temp of 36 when it is really 38.5, I don't feel confident in using any ear thermometer.

As we've already got a room thermometer, the Brother Max was surplus to requirements. I didn't trust the forehead measurement either, and there are much cheaper forehead thermometers out there anyway.

'We were expecting your email but were not able to make the connection between this and your Mumsnet post as the issues mentioned differed as did your name.'

Frankly, this is a ridiculous statement to make. Below is my email, copied and pasted word for word. How did you not 'make the connection' when I stated clearly I had started the thread and referenced it in my email? (I have checked, mine is the only thread about your product). In my email, I summarized the problems I had with the product--the issues mentioned did NOT differ! Your second post asked for my phone number, but I had already provided it.

My email:
'You got in touch regarding my post on mumsnet about my problem with the Brother Max 3 in 1 thermometer. I started the thread, and appreciate you responding and offering to assist. My problems are as I detailed in the postEar temperature is clearly wrong, forehead temperature could be wrong, and room temperature is very wrong. We did follow the instructions and waited well over an hour from bringing it in to the house to using it for the first time. It is back in the box awaiting return to the store unless you have some ideas? I have no quibble with the concept and design, I think those bits are greatbut in practical terms, the product is doing me no good if I
can't be sure of an accurate temperature. I have seen a few other reviews where similar problems are described. I can be contacted on xxx-xxx-xxxx.'

I appreciate that you are trying to make Brother Max look helpful, but blaming me for your failure to respond is not exactly the way to go about it!

Anyway, as I stated before, I am not happy using ANY ear thermometer if they are so dependent on technique. I already have a room thermometer. I do not want a BrotherMax thermometer, even if it is free. If you are desperate to give one away and have someone write a glowing review on Mumsnet, I suggest you contact Mumsnet HQ about getting testers for it.

Hello, Jonathan here, owner of Brother Max and a dad of two boys myself. I was really concerned to see your latest post YanknCock. I am genuinely sorry about the confusion regarding your email to us. I have checked with Sue (my customer services colleague) again and can confirm that we did not receive your original email which lead to the confusion. To make matters worse, we did not pick this up due to us making the wrong assumption on linking your Mumsnet user name to a different email address received just before midnight on 22nd March. As the inventor of these products, it troubles me that, due to a lack of consistency in product and communication, we have disappointed you.

I understand that you don?t want a replacement thermometer, however I would still like to work with you to rectify the situation and your personal experience. Please do contact me directly on [email protected] with your contact details - including your phone number if you wouldn't mind - so that I can deal with this personally. Thanks. Jonathan.

I would never buy any brother max products again imo.
Yes they look funky and good ideas but ime when it comes to actually using the products they are poor.

I have also complained to brother max around 1-2 years ago when I experienced problems with the food storage/freezer tubs and never had a reply back.

They went in the bin along with my ability to buy your products again.

Don't know what the message were above as deleted BUT jonathan Gold, maybe you need to look into how your companies customer services is run. Seems like lack of a reply isn't just a "one off"...

Im really shocked at this thread...OK I can say ive used the thermometer, but I have used loads of their weaning products and I think theyre brill!!

I bought the ice cube for freezing food in and found them really easy to use and wash and i also use the red bowl everyday. I love how it has a seperate dish and space for the spoons...it goes everywhere wih me!

And my baby has just started on the beaker too...it doesnt spill and is easy for her to hold...

Thats all ive used so far but i would recommend them to anybody.

...I meant to say above 'I cant say ive used the thermometer' ! Sorry!!

Hello,

Thank you all for your feedback. In response to your queries we have now uploaded new FAQs for the 3-in-1 Digital Thermometer onto our website and hope this will help parents when using it in the future: www.brothermax.com/xFAQpdf/30102/1.pdf

?Shhhh? I am sorry that you have experienced some difficulties using the food portioners, and it does sadden me that you have given up on all our products due to the problem you experienced. We are constantly trying to perfect our customer services department which is how we were able to track this conversation; we ultimately want our customers to have faith in us and most definitely let us know if they are having any troubles with the products.

?Anaswe? many thanks for your kind comments and recommendations. We are delighted to hear that your little one is getting on well with the beaker.

I appreciate all your feedback and I can assure you that they are all taken into account. Please do feel free to contact me directly if you would like to discuss anything in person (see above). I would be happy to help.

JG, I guess its too little to late. Sometimes a companies appearance can be viewed diferently when someone has problems and even more so when the don't even get a response let alone a satisfactory one.

Sometimes people (esp mums) don't have the time or energy to give things another chance. I for one don't alway return to something I feel didn't treat me as I expected.
Thanks for your response however via mumsnet. BUT about 2 years to late sadly.

This device is SUPER ACCURATE....gives SUPERB readings IF you use it this way...

DIRECTIONS:

• Make sure device displays the EAR symbol
• Press ON Button once
• Device will display “Lo”
• Press ON button again once.
• Device will “count down” from 10, then it will display 0.00. It is now READY TO USE
• Place probe in ear first THEN press ON button once
• In ONE SECOND, device will bleep once. Accurate reading is displayed.

It took me AGES to arrive at the above method. Very, VERY accurate reading in ONE SECOND (checked carefully against other temperature devices.

Do try the above method if you have one of these.

Hope this helps someone!!!