Thermometers?? What kind do you use? What kind is most accurate?? About This Page:

[5SOXFNZ]

Today, a TON of kids got sent home from my children's school. By 12pm the school was down 1/3 of the students (there are only 140 in the school) Not out of the ordinary in this time trying to avoid the spread of flu BUT...at least 8 that I know of (mine included) were sent home saying their temps were exactly 100 and when they arrived home were checked by their parents and had no temps. All also told their parents that they did not feel sick rather, they did temperature checks on all the students regardless.

They use the forehead strips. Today leads me to believe that it's not a very accurate read by that method. I use an ear thermometer but it's 9 years old and I'm wondering if it's time to upgrade to to a different one.

What method do you use? How accurate do you find it? Are there any doctors or nurses on the boards that want to weigh in for which is the most "accurate" home one to get?

[Ceara's mawmaw]

Asked my DSil a nurse and she said that the ear themometer is better than the forehead one the school is using. She said the age of yours may play a factor but that yours is probably right. The forehead themometer is the least accurate and the digital themometer is the most accurate. The school is probably using the forehead one for a germ free way of not having to clean them or keep up with the covers on digitals. That is her opinion.....hope it helps

[Colexis Mom]

I use an oral mercury thermometer! Our ear one broke a couple years ago, and I didn't want to pay to replace it!

[home4us123]

We use an ear thermometer but I know that is off sometimes

[5SOXFNZ]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

I use an oral mercury thermometer! Our ear one broke a couple years ago, and I didn't want to pay to replace it!

UhOh Marnie...the Mommy Police are gonna come after you!!!

[CRCrazy]

I have a digital instant read thermometer with a bendable tip that goes under the tongue quite easily - and the kid doesn't need to keep it there long at all - just a few seconds.

I'm quite happy with it at the moment - it's showing that Sarah's fever is finally gone!!!

[Teresa]

Oral digital. If your child can't keep it under his/her tongue, you can use it under the arm pit. Make sure it's well into the center of the pit, and pull the arm across the chest (like she's trying to touch her other shoulder). Then, just add a degree. It's fairly accurate.

[scarlettsmom]

I just got a new one yesterday and its the wand you wave over the forehead. I first saw them in the er at Virtua when she was there

[BelmontBelle]

I use an oral digital as well. I think it's fairly accurate.

[B.M.]

I have an oral digital thermometer. The big kids use it under tounge and I put it under the youngest's arm. I have two and Ive had them for years, so they are cheap, reliable, and have lasted a long time!
I think I would be kind of frustrated with the school if they sent a bunch of kids home that were not sick due to a faulty thermomiter. I would kindly suggest they find something more reliable to use.....

[Belle*]

Another Oral Digital user here. It seems very accurate and is very quick. I also like that the display turns red for anything over 98.9 and green for anything under so even if I walk away for a second, I can see immediately if I need to worry.

[DopeyGirl]

I use a oral digital thermometer for DD and have a convertible temporal/ear thermometer for DS. The one I got to use on DS is nice because it only takes a few seconds to measure . . . and he is a major wiggler. I tried a digital thermometer under his arm for a while but he is just to wiggly and it was hard to get an accurate measurement. Both have been pretty accurate.

[Carousel96]

I use an oral digital one that I'm happy with. It's pretty quick.

[jenjen1127]

Right now we use an ear one but so many people are talking about the oral digital - I think I'll look into that.

[Donna Rae]

Hi! As an old mom and an older nurse, they don't make my most accurate thermometer any more--the good, old glass mercury-filled rectal thermometer----If my sons were little again, I would probably choose to use the digital forehead thermometer, its fast, and seems really easy because you slide it over your child's forehead and it measures the temp of the blood flowing through the blood vessels there, which I think would be very accurate. I've worked in a pediatrician's office and I really HATE the ear thermometers--depending on how you place it in the ear you can get a different temp, and if you suspect your child has an ear infection, OUCH!! I'd also suggest asking your pediatrician, or better yet, the office nurse to see what they prefer. Hope this helps!