Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

I have the Exergen Temporal but I have to say- I really think it stinks.
It never ever says my DD has a tempature- even when I know she does.
I have tried it on myself too and it always seem low compared to when I take it in my mouth with a digital oral one.
Maybe I'm doing it wrong but I do it like the Dr does with their professional version.

What do you guys use on your toddlers? Anything that works better?
I'm fed up

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

we had the exergan - i switched to Braun ear and LOVE it!

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

So you ladies find the Braun ear more accurate then?
Because I am stressing out that I can't get a real temp reading and it worries me!

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

I use the Braun Ear one BUT I find it runs low. When that comes up with a high reading I will do a rectal to double check its accuracy. 99% of the time, my DD's fever ends up being higher.

Message edited 12/12/2012 4:47:05 PM.

Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

We have a Braun ear one that we use for us and it has always run low, so I don't trust it. We still only do rectal temps on our almost 3yo.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

rule of thumb with the ear - add 1/2 degree as per my ped.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

I use the exergen and have been for years now and once I figured out how to use it right I find it to be very accurate - I test it from time to time (with myself or rectal with DD) and it is always very close. I will say it took me a LONG time to get the hang of it and my DH still cant use it right! My ped said its more accurate than the ear one.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

I still use a rectal on my 3 year old. It is the only reliable one for him. We have an exergen temporal but it always is wrong when he has a fever. One time it read 99.2 and he was 103.. Not good for me. It works ok when he ha a low grade temp.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Posted by Onemoretime

Posted by computergirl

Posted by maymama

we had the exergan - i switched to Braun ear and LOVE it!

Love the Braun ear!

Braun here as well. I could not imagine using a rectal on my 2 and 4 yo

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

I have the same issue with the exergen. I have an ear one somewhere I should try with my toddler.

To pp who stated they love the exergen, how do you use it correctly?

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

for those who say the ear is not accurate enough (tends to be about 1/2 degree low)

and i am not trying to be a smart assss does it matter if the temp is 101.6 or 101.1? Still a fever. I can see if the reading is 104.6 and we are possibly talking over 105 or something similar where you may need to seek urgent care but a fever is a fever. You don't treat 101 differently than 102.

I guess my point is this, when I use the braun, if it says 101.7 i know he has a fever and I treat it or seek medical attention. I wouldn't do anything differently if it were 102.3, KWIM? The difference isn't that huge.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Posted by maymama

for those who say the ear is not accurate enough (tends to be about 1/2 degree low)

and i am not trying to be a smart assss does it matter if the temp is 101.6 or 101.1? Still a fever. I can see if the reading is 104.6 and we are possibly talking over 105 or something similar where you may need to seek urgent care but a fever is a fever. You don't treat 101 differently than 102.

I guess my point is this, when I use the braun, if it says 101.7 i know he has a fever and I treat it or seek medical attention. I wouldn't do anything differently if it were 102.3, KWIM? The difference isn't that huge.

Message edited 12/13/2012 10:01:27 AM.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

My ped says both the ear and the forehead scan thermometers arent very accurate. My 2 year old refuses to let me take a rectal temp on her anymore. I hve the Vicks underarm thermometer and I like it. It was only .2 degrees off the reading at the peditricaians office. I also have the Braun earn one and find it runs low.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Posted by maymama

for those who say the ear is not accurate enough (tends to be about 1/2 degree low)

and i am not trying to be a smart assss does it matter if the temp is 101.6 or 101.1? Still a fever. I can see if the reading is 104.6 and we are possibly talking over 105 or something similar where you may need to seek urgent care but a fever is a fever. You don't treat 101 differently than 102.

I guess my point is this, when I use the braun, if it says 101.7 i know he has a fever and I treat it or seek medical attention. I wouldn't do anything differently if it were 102.3, KWIM? The difference isn't that huge.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Posted by Onemoretime

Posted by maymama

for those who say the ear is not accurate enough (tends to be about 1/2 degree low)

and i am not trying to be a smart assss does it matter if the temp is 101.6 or 101.1? Still a fever. I can see if the reading is 104.6 and we are possibly talking over 105 or something similar where you may need to seek urgent care but a fever is a fever. You don't treat 101 differently than 102.

I guess my point is this, when I use the braun, if it says 101.7 i know he has a fever and I treat it or seek medical attention. I wouldn't do anything differently if it were 102.3, KWIM? The difference isn't that huge.

Ita fever is a fever. After infant stage , why use rectal? I seriously can't imagine, my kids would freak out if I tried to take rectal temp

Message edited 12/13/2012 10:57:47 AM.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Posted by Onemoretime

Posted by maymama

for those who say the ear is not accurate enough (tends to be about 1/2 degree low)

and i am not trying to be a smart assss does it matter if the temp is 101.6 or 101.1? Still a fever. I can see if the reading is 104.6 and we are possibly talking over 105 or something similar where you may need to seek urgent care but a fever is a fever. You don't treat 101 differently than 102.

I guess my point is this, when I use the braun, if it says 101.7 i know he has a fever and I treat it or seek medical attention. I wouldn't do anything differently if it were 102.3, KWIM? The difference isn't that huge.

Ita fever is a fever. After infant stage , why use rectal? I seriously can't imagine, my kids would freak out if I tried to take rectal temp

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

We have the Braun ear. I agree and think it tends to run on the low side. If it comes up in the 100-101 range I just treat it as a fever even if it is a half or degree/degree off. If the ear comes up with a 102-103 reading then I take it rectally to be more exactly. My toddlers are still 17 months so they are on the younger side.
Honestly I havent found any thermometer that I love. We have tried a bunch and I just do not feel like any of them work all the time. It is so frustrating sometimes.

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

Re: Can we talk thermometers for toddlers?

I got nothing.

But I use Exergen Temporal and have never had any problems with it. Works like a charm.

I hate ear ones because AJ's ear infections would mean one ear would run so much higher than the other.

Took a bit to get the hang of the Exergen Temporal, but I love mine. My aunt uses it too. I dont use it like the doctor does. I just go temple to temple not behind her ear. That never works for me (behind the ear). Temple to temple works though.