How do you take their temperature?

We have just gone through a bout of sickness. The thermometer we have (ear) does not seem to be very accurate. I was wondering what method people use or what type of thermometer you could recommend. I was at the doctors today and was telling her how my DS felt warm for a couple of days, felt very warm last night and then was soaked with sweat. She responded by telling me that it would be very helpful if I would take his temperature when this happens so she can try to figure out what is going on. I originally did not monitor him as I thought it was just a cold. When I finally tried to take his temp, I couldn't get anywhere close to an accurate reading. I don't know if it is the thermometer or the person taking the temp. Either way I was embarassed and want to be better prepared for the next illness.

 

We use a temporal thermometer. It's actually the same one our ped uses. I got ours at Walmart.

 

We always do it under their arm. It seems to be right on

We always do it under their arm. It seems to be right on

 

I have an ear one that I also think is inaccurate. I've used ear thermometers for YEARS in the hospital, so I know it's not user error. So...I use our regular thermometer (from the hospital actually) under their arm. Rule of thumb is to add a degree for what their temp truly would be.

When Aiden was REALLY sick last fall & his underarm said 102.9, I checked him rectally. It truly is the most accurate temp so when it came to the high numbers, I wanted it perfect. That's the ONLY time I'd ever do one rectally.

In the hospital, we now have temporal thermometers, although I didn't know you could buy them over the counter yet! They work slick & are supposed to be as accurate as the rectal temp. They use them in our Peds clinic now, as well. That being said, our infection control doctor at our hospital still demands oral temps on adults or rectal temps on kids if they ever want a true, accurate temp.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Sep 30 2008, 02:27 PM) [snapback]1005209[/snapback]
We use a temporal thermometer. It's actually the same one our ped uses. I got ours at Walmart.


We have the same one and love it. DH checks his temp with it too...just for fun.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Sep 30 2008, 01:27 PM) [snapback]1005209[/snapback]
We use a temporal thermometer. It's actually the same one our ped uses. I got ours at Walmart.


I now know what I want for Christmas. ^

I take their temp under their arm with a digital thermometer. As for adding a degree I recently heard that you shouldn't do that anymore. I can't remember where I heard it though. I do remember the source was one I respected...

Christy

 

We got the temporal thermometer and found it inaccurate. Or else it was user error, but in any case it wasn't giving us the answers we needed!

 

For the most part I use the ear Thermometer, I have found it pretty accurate for me. If I feel the temps are way off I will take their temp rectally then since it is the most accurate.

I also have the temporal one too but I find it to be inaccurate for me though I beleive it may be user error on my part. I will use it if I want to take a quick temp while they are sleeping and don't want to wake them.

 

We do it underarm. I only have confidence in the reading within about 2 degrees, but it's close enough to tell me whether they have a high fever or not. As Dr. Sears says (I'm paraphrasing), if you need to know more accurately than that, then you should probably be taking your child to the doctor. But for home care, it's good enough to know whether they have no fever, a slight fever, or a high fever.

 

I have the temporal thermometer and found it to give inconsistent readings. I use it when I want to know if a fever is present but will do a rectal temp if I want an accurate reading.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Sep 30 2008, 01:27 PM) [snapback]1005209[/snapback]
We use a temporal thermometer. It's actually the same one our ped uses. I got ours at Walmart.

We found this to be inaccurate. I registered for it and thought it would be perfect.

When the boys were born, their ped said that if we ever call and talk to the nurse about them being sick, they would ask us what their temperature was and they wanted us to do it rectally so that is what we do each time. THe first time I was nervous to do it that way and now it is really easy.

 

After they were 6 months old, my ped said under the arm was fine but they may ask for a rectal. I do under the arm with a digital thermometer and add one degree. I use this one for underarm readings.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9875668

If that number is near 103, I then take a rectal temperature with a different digital to make sure. I find that the rectal temp usually matches well that way.

 

Under the arm, generally. We have a fancy ear one, but I think it is inaccurate. Since Ben had a febrile seizure at two years old, whenever he has a high fever, we take it rectally if necessary. But, he is starting to get a little old for that, so thankfully we have not had to do it in a long time.

 

I do the ear one. But if they have a high temp i do it rectal for a more accurate reading.. (Who ever thought i would be sticking a thermometer up someones rear?) :laughing: :blush:

 

I do there's rectally. Its the most accurate, and while I know its not the most fun way to do it, but it really works. I LOVE my thermometer, it's digital & small, I got it at Walgreens I believe. Its made just for rectal, and only takes a few seconds for an accurate reading. It's this one

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp...;id=prod1491321

 

QUOTE(Angela0580 @ Oct 1 2008, 05:21 PM) [snapback]1006732[/snapback]
I do there's rectally. Its the most accurate, and while I know its not the most fun way to do it, but it really works. I LOVE my thermometer, it's digital & small, I got it at Walgreens I believe. Its made just for rectal, and only takes a few seconds for an accurate reading. It's this one

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp...;id=prod1491321


This is the one we use as well. We have used it since their birth and I am confident with the readings. I have tried the ear thermometer but I was not confident at all with the result.