If you have a baby then it’s a good idea to have your own thermometer at home. Having an accurate thermometer is important if you want to properly assess your baby’s fever. There are many different kinds of thermometers available. There are digital thermometers and there are analog thermometers.
There are simple thermometers and there are high-tech thermometers. If you don’t know which one to get, then you’ll find this article to be useful. Here, you’ll find the different kinds of thermometers available together with their advantages and disadvantages. After reading this article, you can make an informed decision on the type of thermometer you should get.
Oral thermometers
This is probably the type of thermometer that you grew up with. These are often shaped like pacifiers so babies can easily hold them in place in their mouths. It’s a type of thermometer that takes the internal temperature of a baby. For it to work properly, it must be held under the baby’s tongue for at least two minutes.
This is a popular kind of thermometer because it’s cheap and it’s easily available. This is not the most accurate thermometer available. And it’s really not ideal for very small children who may have difficulties holding the thermometer under their tongue for two minutes.
Ear thermometer
This kind of thermometer is best for children who are six months old or older. It’s designed in such a way that it can easily be slipped inside a baby’s ear. The best thing about this kind of thermometer is that you can use it even when the baby is sleeping. This is a big plus for mommies who don’t want to disturb their babies when they’re sleeping. It also works fast. All you need is three seconds for it to work.
Forehead thermometer
This is actually an accurate thermometer. It can assess a child’s temperature by measuring heat omissions. It also works fast like the ear thermometer. All it needs is a couple of seconds to read a child’s temperature accurately. The best thing about this thermometer is that you can use them on children of any age.
Underarm thermometer
There are two kinds of the underarm thermometers, analog and digital. An analog thermometer is not the fastest thermometer available. You need to pin it under the arm of the baby for at least five minutes for it to work. But if you have a digital thermometer then all you need is a few seconds. You can use this type of thermometer for children of any age.
Rectal thermometer
This is not the most comfortable thermometer to use. That is the biggest disadvantage of this kind of thermometer. Your baby may even get traumatized with this kind of thermometer. You also need to lubricate the thermometer first before using it to be able to insert it easily. Avoid using it without lubricant. You only need to insert about a quarter of the thermometer for it to work. To get a good reading the thermometer must be held in place for about two minutes.