Get The Bump digital magazine >

tools: My Baby Calendar | Baby Namer | Gender Chart | How Big is Baby?

community

all boards


birth clubs


nest boards


my blog

my photos

my boards


200+ Easy Weeknight Meals!

Green living: Eco-friendly tips & tricks!

< Previous topic | Next topic >

All Boards > 2nd Trimester

Sort:
12-30-2012 at 4:44 AM
RussianMom...
Not Ranked
Joined on 06-05-2012
3,283 Posts
55,661 Points
RussianMommy is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 7:29 PMSilver

Thermometers

Ear or rectal??? Some moms on the April board said ear theometers were not accurate. If it's calibrated correctly it should work, no?? Right now I have a safety first ear thermometer on my registry. Do I need a rectal one too or instead?
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 6:11 AM
ladybugpjb
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-21-2008
4,568 Posts
71,519 Points
ladybugpjb is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 7:35 PMSilver
I read and was told that rectal is more accurate. At the doctor, the nurses used the ones that they swipe across the forehead, but then the doctor wanted the rectal one time when DS was sick.
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 7:22 AM
emibat85
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-20-2010
New Jersey
605 Posts
1,698 Points
emibat85 is not online. Last active: 05-06-2013, 4:49 PMBronze
I've always used a rectal thermometer for DD. I wanted the reading to be as accurate as possible.
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 7:37 AM
JenG329
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-04-2008
Delaware
4,212 Posts
3,523 Points
JenG329 is not online. Last active: 04-28-2013, 1:57 PMSilver

I have the temporal one (swipe across the forehead) and I use at with DS now.  It may not be as accurate but it gives me an idea how high the fever is.  

When DS was a baby, I only used the rectal, because that's all I had.  This time, I will use the temporal, and if I he does have a fever and it is higher than 101, or so, I'll use rectal to be more accurate. 
BabyFruit Ticker
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 8:21 AM
Momma2Mich...
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-29-2011
570 Posts
9,099 Points
Momma2Michelle is not online. Last active: 12-31-2012, 10:19 AMBronze
Temporal, our pediatrician recommended it.
Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers Lilypie Maternity tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 8:21 AM
heavenpaig...
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-04-2012
2,456 Posts
53,080 Points
heavenpaige is not online. Last active: 06-13-2013, 9:11 PMSilver
i dont think that ear ones are accurate either. (especially for baby/kids). rectal is more accurate as far as hospitals are concerned but i also like the ones that you rub across their forehead. (these are accurate also and easy when the baby is sleeping. (we had a home nurse that used it for our ds)
BabyFruit Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 8:47 AM
mainerocks
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-10-2006
Massachusetts
11,446 Posts
26,627 Points
mainerocks is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 2:00 PMGold

You definitely need a rectal one. I have this one and I really liked it. The shape prevents over insertion.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266320

 
Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 8:48 AM
emenninga
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-17-2012
57 Posts
1,002 Points
emenninga is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 7:43 PMNewbie
Rectal is recommended. I keep both on hand. If they are 4 months and under i automatically do rectal. After that i do ear and if it comes back elevated ill do a rectal.
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 8:59 AM
elmoali
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-15-2003
Boston
12,692 Posts
58,414 Points
elmoali is not online. Last active: 06-17-2013, 12:33 PMGold
I think ear are least accurate, temporaral next best but for an infant, yes, have a rectal on hand.  It's the most sensitive and in a newborn, the tiniest difference can be a big deal.  When they get a tiny bit older you can always start with the temporal and if that comes back elevated you can follow up with a rectal for the truest reading.
Pregnancy Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 11:08 AM
hogrefea
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-23-2012
2,018 Posts
37,389 Points
hogrefea is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 7:39 PMSilver
Long ago, when I was in nursing school (about 10 years ago, ahhh!) I did tons of research on this.  What I discovered was that rectal was best up to 1 year.  However, as a Mama, I did rectal until 6 months and then went with temporal.  I love our Exergen Temporal thermometer and it has been used and abused for nearly 4 years and still works great!  
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker BabyFruit Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 11:51 AM
AFBTB
Not Ranked
Joined on 10-24-2005
La la land
1,171 Posts
11,347 Points
AFBTB is not online. Last active: 04-26-2013, 6:48 AMBronze
I have always used an ear thermometer on DS. If he feels overly hot to me I'll take him to the Dr, or the ER and they'll get a more accurate reading. But I've never been a fan of using a rectal thermometer because it just seems too invasive to me. There's a reason DS screams and cries when the Dr does it.
BabyFruit TickerLilypie Third Birthday tickers "You don't marry someone you can live with, you marry the one person you can't live without." 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 12:32 PM
elmoali
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-15-2003
Boston
12,692 Posts
58,414 Points
elmoali is not online. Last active: 06-17-2013, 12:33 PMGold

AFBTB:
I have always used an ear thermometer on DS. If he feels overly hot to me I'll take him to the Dr, or the ER and they'll get a more accurate reading. But I've never been a fan of using a rectal thermometer because it just seems too invasive to me. There's a reason DS screams and cries when the Dr does it.

I really think getting on board with taking a rectal temp when needed is preferable to going to the doctor or ER so THEY can get a more accurate temp, kwim?  It's not really that invasive.  You put the teeny tiny tip in their but.  You rough them up more cleaning a nasty shitt off their ass :) 
Pregnancy Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 1:49 PM
RussianMom...
Not Ranked
Joined on 06-05-2012
3,283 Posts
55,661 Points
RussianMommy is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 7:29 PMSilver
Why are the ear ones not accurate??
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 2:02 PM
KateRN08
Not Ranked
Joined on 07-30-2012
2,632 Posts
50,831 Points
KateRN08 is online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 8:01 PMSilver

RussianMommy:
Why are the ear ones not accurate??

Because it is not as close to the core as rectal. Rectal is most accurate but you do have to be careful with infants and perforating the bowel. In the hospital we do auxiliary (armpit) and if they have an infection or fever we do rectal if they need to be monitored closely.  
Lilypie First Birthday tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 2:57 PM
sware2010
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-22-2009
36 Posts
797 Points
sware2010 is not online. Last active: 06-12-2013, 2:13 PMNewbie

RussianMommy:
Why are the ear ones not accurate??

Holding a tympanic (ear) thermometer at slightly the wrong angle or even having wax in the ear can cause a falsely low temp. Otherwise, as pp said, it isn't as close to the core. The children's hospital where I work doesn't even carry them. 
Anniversary BabyFruit Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 3:06 PM
RussianMom...
Not Ranked
Joined on 06-05-2012
3,283 Posts
55,661 Points
RussianMommy is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 7:29 PMSilver

what age do you stop using a rectal one and use a different one?

looks like the place I'm registering at only carries ear ones and then they have this kit that includes a rectal/under arm thermometer, nose aspirator and room/bath thermometer - should I place that one on the registry instead?
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
12-30-2012 at 3:33 PM
Ceefome
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-16-2008
1,463 Posts
8,514 Points
Ceefome is not online. Last active: 06-16-2013, 5:06 PMBronze
We have a thermometer that has 3 interchangable tips - Rectal, underarm, and oral.  The rectal tip is shaped so you can't place it too deeply.  Another bonus to having a rectal thermometer around - if you're dealing with constipation, one thing to try is taking a rectal temp.  Sometimes that helps gets things moving. 
"Little seahorse/Floating on a primal tide/Quickening like a/Spark in a haystack side/I already love you/And I don't even know who you are" -Bruce Cockburn BabyFetus Ticker

Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers

BOOKWORMS and BUTTERFLIES

 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-01-2013 at 9:20 AM
mainerocks
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-10-2006
Massachusetts
11,446 Posts
26,627 Points
mainerocks is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 2:00 PMGold

AFBTB:
I have always used an ear thermometer on DS. If he feels overly hot to me I'll take him to the Dr, or the ER and they'll get a more accurate reading. But I've never been a fan of using a rectal thermometer because it just seems too invasive to me. There's a reason DS screams and cries when the Dr does it.

That's a bit ridiculous. As a mom you have to do things your kid doesn't like but you do it because it's the best for them. I used the rectal until about 1.5 years on my LO and he never once fussed over it.

Taking the LO to the ER in the middle of the night b/c you are too afraid of a rectal thermometer is a lot more disruptive than taking a quick rectal temp at home. 
Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-01-2013 at 1:37 PM
CarolynL8
Not Ranked
Joined on 10-18-2012
5,662 Posts
105,928 Points
CarolynL8 is not online. Last active: 06-18-2013, 7:51 PMSilver
mainerocks:
You definitely need a rectal one. I have this one and I really liked it. The shape prevents over insertion.http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266320nbsp;


That looks like a nice one. Great reviews and a great price. Thanks for sharing!
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board