Recommend your thermometer

[Anonymous]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but as we move to a new normal of temperature checks every day, I am in the market for an easy to use (especially with young children), accurate thermometer. Which are the best? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Following. All our thermometers suck.

[Anonymous]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/784285.page#14500104

Link to a thread about thermometers in this forum last year. There also was a more recent thread I think around March of this year. Search function shows thermometers have come up a lot on here over the years so you'll find a lot of recommendations.

Our pediatrician, who published a couple of articles about fever in children, always said something parents do not want to hear: Rectal temps are the most accurate temps for young children at home. Ear thermometers are loved by parents who hate to take temperatures but she said most ear thermometers available on the home market are not that great OR they're fine but parents just don't use them accurately on wiggly kids. She always recommended getting over any squeamishness about rectal temps, especially if you really think a young kid has a fever. Under the arm is just useless, as is forehead temp, unless you have one of the super professional ones like are being used for covid-related scans.

Be sure you get thermometer covers, and plenty of them, as well as a lot of first aid type alcohol wipe pads. Whether you're doing oral or rectal you will want both to cover and then clean thermometers. We use the CVS house brand thermometers and/or Braun thermometers (kid is much older now and we do all oral temps) and they have been fine. I always have two thermometers around so if I'm concerned about one reading I can do it again on another one.

[Anonymous]

I have the Kinsa, which I really really like for ease of use. I have the ear one. It is also a smart thermometer and can collect data about fevers and record trends globally, which is awesome for public health reasons. I find it accurate - if I am feeling normal, it reads normal. If I am feeling feverish, it reads that I have a fever - how accurate it is, who knows, but I do not get crazy readings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Be sure you get thermometer covers, and plenty of them, as well as a lot of first aid type alcohol wipe pads. Whether you're doing oral or rectal you will want both to cover and then clean thermometers.

Dissenting opinion. You don't need that many thermometer covers. Our Braun ear thermometer has to have one on it to function. We use the same one until it's gross. Oral and rectal thermometers are only less palatable and tolerable with scratchy plastic covers. Clean with soap and water.