A Simple Guide to Baby Thermometers

A baby thermometer is one of the most important pieces of baby equipment that parents should buy. In fact, many parents buy more than one. Various high-end thermometers can take different types of temperatures so parents can take various readings to help them know for sure if a child has a fever. Having a reliable, high-quality baby thermometer is essential for parents.

There are several different types of baby thermometers on the market, and each takes a baby's temperature differently. Here is a brief look at the different types of baby thermometers and how they work:

Oral Thermometers: Oral thermometers are often shaped like pacifiers to make it easier for the baby to put in their mouths. This type of thermometer takes the baby's internal temperature. It should be kept under the baby's tongue for two minutes to get an accurate reading. Although this is the type of thermometer that many parents grew up with, it is not the most accurate thermometer on the market today. Oral thermometers are generally best for older children who can easily hold it under the no contact virus detector.

Ear Thermometers - Similar to thermometers pediatricians use, they are considered the best for parents to use on children six months and older. The thermometer probe is covered with a small plastic sleeve that can be removed and thrown away. It can easily slide into the ear, even if the baby is sleeping, and it takes a digital reading of the baby's temperature in just three seconds.

Forehead Thermometers: They can be very accurate tools to assess a child's fever by measuring heat omissions. It usually takes only a couple of seconds to get an accurate reading with a forehead thermometer. These thermometers can be used on children of any age.

Thermometers for armpits: they can be digital or analog. The thermometer probe is located in the baby's armpit to measure the temperature. Analog thermometers take about five minutes to give an accurate reading. Digitals can give readings in just seconds. Like forehead thermometers, these can be used on babies and children of any age.

Rectal thermometers: Taking a baby's temperature using a rectal thermometer is generally more uncomfortable for the father than for the baby, but it can cause some distress. The probe should always be lubricated with a little petroleum jelly to facilitate insertion. Only about a quarter of the probe needs to be inserted to get a good reading. It usually takes about two minutes to get the rectal temperature.