Safety first! Who's with me?

OK, my opinion to any first time woot parents out there thinking of buying a Thermometer (either oral or rectial)don't do it. Spend the extra money and buy a Temporal Artery Thermometer. There are a few companies that make them. You do not have to wake the baby/kid up. They are accurate.

burns72 wrote:OK, my opinion to any first time woot parents out there thinking of buying a Thermometer (either oral or rectial)don't do it. Spend the extra money and buy a Temporal Artery Thermometer. There are a few companies that make them. You do not have to wake the baby/kid up. They are accurate.

Sorry, no they are not accurate. Or, rather, they are not as accurate as a rectal thermometer.

They are handy for getting a quick temp without waking the baby, but they can be off by as much as +/- 1 degree C or more. Temporal Artery Thermometers can also be thrown off by evaporating sweat, cool breezes, or warm lights.

TAT's are more accurate than Ear thermometers, and about as accurate as an Oral thermometer, but if your baby shows a fever with the TAT, confirm it with a rectal thermometer. That's the first thing your doctor is going to do anyway.

Also, they are $30+ at Wally world.

TLDR: Temporal Artery Thermometers are OK, but Rectal thermometers are better.

...if your baby shows a fever with the TAT, confirm it with a rectal thermometer. That's the first thing your doctor is going to do anyway.
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I have never had a doctor take a rectal temperature on any of my three kids. We have had the same (ear) thermometer for 8 years, since my oldest was born. That is also what the doctor's office uses, as well as the urgent care that we have used. A temporal or ear thermometer is easier to use, more practical in the long run - what 8 year old do you know who is okay with getting their temperature taken rectally? Wait, don't answer that - and it is still plenty accurate.

More important than a degree in either direction is learning to read your child. Are they lethargic? Are their ribs heaving when they breathe? Get that kid to urgent care no matter what the thermometer says. Are they happy and running around? Are they whiny and sleepy? Hope that they ARE running a fever - it is a fantastic natural response created to help their bodies recover.

Overall, pick something that is easy to use, because you will be using it often when they are sick. Pick something that you can use quickly. (I actually think an 8 second read time is a little long. I prefer a 3 or 5 second.) Pick something that will last.

According to Howard Stern's autobiography, his mother took his rectal temperature daily until he was in high school...

Okay, I'm about to be a new father in six weeks or so, so in for one on the baby first aid kit. But seriously fellow wooters, a sell out on the rectal thermometers?