It's important to be able to tell what your baby's temperature is - babies have less control over their body temperature than adults. You can usually get a rough idea of a baby's temperature just by touching their forehead or neck with your hand - don't use the baby's hands as a guide though as the temperature of the extremities can vary from body temperature due to environmental conditions.
Clearly this is no more than a rough guide to the temperature of your baby. There will certainly be times when you want a more accurate reading. In such a case, using a thermometer of some type would be the obvious solution. There is quite a wide range of different types on offer - but which one is best for you and your baby?
Conventional Glass Tube Mercury Filled Thermometers These are very accurate - but there's always some risk of breaking and they do require to be kept in place for a minimum time period in order to obtain a good reading. They require to be placed under the arm, in the mouth or in the rectum. Any of those positions could be somewhat difficult if you have an unhappy, fractious baby as the patient.
Digital Stick Type Thermometer Pretty similar to a traditional thermometer - but battery powered and manufactured from plastic instead of glass. It also has a digital read out which will minimise the possibility of reading error. Stick one of these under the baby's arm for about thirty seconds and you should obtain an accurate reading.
Contact Type Plastic Strip Thermometers Just place the strip against your baby's forehead and keep it in place for fifteen seconds. The colour will change to indicate what the baby's temperature is. These are easy to use, cheap and accurate - but it is possible to misread them. The accuracy of the reading can also be impaired if there is perspiration on baby's forehead.
Non Contact Scanning Thermometers Nobody likes being poked or prodded when they're ill and babies are no exception. So non contact scanner thermometers are a great option since they don't require to touch any part of the body. They use infra-red (perfectly harmless) to take a reading of the skin temperature. Points where the skin is thin - such as the temple for example - are good points to take readings. Surface perspiration can still reduce the degree of accuracy obtained.
Ear Thermometers The ear is considered to give the most accurate reflection of the body's core temperature and should give you a fast and accurate reading. Most ear thermometers come with disposable caps which you put over the tip and then throw away after each use to make it hygienic. Digital readouts are normal and negate any user error.
Any of the above types of thermometer will work just fine. Your choice will most likely depend upon your own personal preference.
If you want to minimise the possibility of reader error, then a thermometer with a digital display probably makes a lot of sense.
A non contact thermometer, or an ear thermometer, is probably a good choice if you want to avoid upsetting your baby.
In terms of accuracy, the ear thermometer comes out on top.
So, overall - the baby ear thermometer is probably best - both for baby and for you.
Clearly this is no more than a rough guide to the temperature of your baby. There will certainly be times when you want a more accurate reading. In such a case, using a thermometer of some type would be the obvious solution. There is quite a wide range of different types on offer - but which one is best for you and your baby?
Conventional Glass Tube Mercury Filled Thermometers These are very accurate - but there's always some risk of breaking and they do require to be kept in place for a minimum time period in order to obtain a good reading. They require to be placed under the arm, in the mouth or in the rectum. Any of those positions could be somewhat difficult if you have an unhappy, fractious baby as the patient.
Digital Stick Type Thermometer Pretty similar to a traditional thermometer - but battery powered and manufactured from plastic instead of glass. It also has a digital read out which will minimise the possibility of reading error. Stick one of these under the baby's arm for about thirty seconds and you should obtain an accurate reading.
Contact Type Plastic Strip Thermometers Just place the strip against your baby's forehead and keep it in place for fifteen seconds. The colour will change to indicate what the baby's temperature is. These are easy to use, cheap and accurate - but it is possible to misread them. The accuracy of the reading can also be impaired if there is perspiration on baby's forehead.
Non Contact Scanning Thermometers Nobody likes being poked or prodded when they're ill and babies are no exception. So non contact scanner thermometers are a great option since they don't require to touch any part of the body. They use infra-red (perfectly harmless) to take a reading of the skin temperature. Points where the skin is thin - such as the temple for example - are good points to take readings. Surface perspiration can still reduce the degree of accuracy obtained.
Ear Thermometers The ear is considered to give the most accurate reflection of the body's core temperature and should give you a fast and accurate reading. Most ear thermometers come with disposable caps which you put over the tip and then throw away after each use to make it hygienic. Digital readouts are normal and negate any user error.
Any of the above types of thermometer will work just fine. Your choice will most likely depend upon your own personal preference.
If you want to minimise the possibility of reader error, then a thermometer with a digital display probably makes a lot of sense.
A non contact thermometer, or an ear thermometer, is probably a good choice if you want to avoid upsetting your baby.
In terms of accuracy, the ear thermometer comes out on top.
So, overall - the baby ear thermometer is probably best - both for baby and for you.
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