Pink cheeks, sweating and unusual lethargy are all telltale signs that your child is sick. While pressing the back of your hand or kissing the top of your baby’s forehead will tell you if he or she is warm, the best way to tell if your little one has a fever is to take his or her temperature with a thermometer. Thermometers provide accurate numbers to act on, and experts suggest using ear thermometers for the most accurate results.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), ear thermometers - also known as tympanic thermometers - are handheld digital devices. They provide accurate results quickly, but to do so, we must insert them specifically. First, gently pull the ear back and place the thermometer in the ear canal toward the child’s eye on the opposite side of the head. This allows the thermometer to accurately read your child’s core temperature. It can take some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, the ear thermometer is a brilliant device to have around the house for the entire family to enjoy. Make sure you have one handy in your medicine cabinet.
1. Goodbaby Ear Thermometer
Watching your child battle a fever can be anxiety provoking, but the Goodbaby thermometer takes the stress out of (obsessive) fever monitoring. This two-in-one device uses infrared technology for a quick temperature reading taken from the forehead or ear, and displays the results in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit on an easy-to-read, dark LED HD screen. Goodbaby promises its thermometer is so discreet that you can even take the baby’s temperature while he’s sleeping. You can record up to 35 temperature readings to keep track of your little one’s fever, but our favorite feature is the smart fever reader, which flashes a green (below 99°F), orange (99.3 to 100.3°F), or red (100.4 to 109.2°F) light to quickly show temperature severity.
2. Thermometer for adults and children
Checking a sleeping baby’s temperature is a risky business: You don’t want to make too much noise and risk them waking up, but you also want to monitor their fever during the night. While some devices are noisy, this ear thermometer has a silent mode that you can activate during naps or at night. The infrared thermometer also has a fever warning system that emits combinations of lights and beeps that signal different temperature states. Plus, with an equally easy-to-use front reader, this device is ideal for the entire family.
Buy: Thermometer for adults and children
3. Braun Thermoscan 5 digital ear thermometer
This thermometer works as quickly and efficiently as any device you’ll find in a doctor’s office. It’s powered by digital technology with easy-to-use controls for the entire family to use, and its tip has been pre-heated to ensure accuracy to within a tenth of a degree. Unlike other devices that require some practice, Braun’s patented ExacTemp positioning system lets parents know with a light and a beep that they have found the perfect position in the ear for an accurate reading. Besides its fast, accurate results and data recall options, it’s also worth noting that this thermometer makes hygiene a top priority. Disposable filters allow you to move from patient to patient without having to clean the probe first (because cross-contamination, not to mention earwax buildup, isn’t exactly hygienic). The forehead reader is also touch-free, which is another protective shield to prevent the spread of germs.
Buy: Braun Thermoscan 5 digital ear thermometer
4. Infrared Thermometer
New parents don’t have time to waste, which is why this quick-reading thermometer is a must-have in your medicine cabinet. This battery-powered device stores 40 previous readings and is super portable - it even comes with a handy carrying pouch for protection.
5. Alcedo forehead and ear thermometer
This forehead and ear thermometer is ideal for babies and adults. It works with a simple button, so you don’t have to learn how to use a complicated new tool. It records up to 20 readings so you can keep a log, and it has four modes you can use depending on where or who is using it.
Buy: Alcedo Forehead and Ear Thermometer
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