There is an enormous amount of thermometers available on the market today. With all the options out there, it can be tricky to decide which are the best and which are the most accurate. You also need to take into consideration your child’s age and how cooperative they will be able to be during the temperature taking process.
Digital thermometers are the most accurate and reliable thermometers available. They come in three types: rectal, oral, and auxiliary (under the arm). If your child is under three years old, taking their temperature rectally is going to be your best bet. It will provide you the absolute most accurate and reliable reading possible. The older your child gets, however, the harder it may become to get the child to lie still long enough to get an accurate reading.
If you child is over three years old and taking a rectal temperature is no longer realistic, your next best bet is going to be to use a digital thermometer orally. Since it can also be hard to get a child to hold the thermometer in their mouth properly and long enough, an auxiliary reading, although not as good, is your next best choice.
Ear thermometers are the most expensive thermometers available. They are also about the easiest to use and provide the fastest reading. However, there are several situations that can occur that can cause an ear thermometer not to provide an accurate reading. This is especially true in infants younger than three months old. Their ear canals are very small and can prevent you from correctly positioning the thermometer in the child’s ear. Also, if the child has too much ear wax it can cause the reading not to be accurate.
Mercury thermometers used to be the thermometers of choice. Now, however, with the dangers associated with mercury and the toxins it puts out, it is no longer recommended that you use them. In fact, it is recommended that you not even keep mercury thermometers in your home. Do not throw mercury thermometers in your trash. Check with your child’s doctor for proper disposal procedures for the thermometers.
At this time, the above mentioned thermometers, with the exception of the mercury, are the only ones recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are other types available. Pacifier thermometers are not recommended because they are not accurate. They require the child to hold the pacifier in their mouth for a certain amount of time in a certain position. This can be very difficult, especially for small babies. And we have all seen the strip thermometers - the ones where you put the strip across the babies head. These are also not accurate - especially for the smaller babies.
Fevers can become very serious. It is extremely important, if you think your child may have a fever, to accurately determine the child’s body temperature. Your hand placed on their forehead can give you an idea of whether or not a fever is present, but taking the child’s temperature is the only way to know for sure. Since using a thermometer is the only accurate way to measure your child’s body temperature, it’s important to use what is going to give you the most accurate reading possible. Digital rectal is best. And even though it may be a little uncomfortable for your child, knowing the seriousness of you child’s fever is more important.
