Do you have a thermometer in your home for taking someones temp?

[KirstenB]

I'll confess...I'm sure we have an ear thermometer somewhere around here that needs batteries!! Our 11 yr old was constantly sick with ear infections....3 sets of tubes later, she's rarely sick. However, I used the ear thermometer with her, and found it to be inaccurate.

Now I just put my mouth to the younger one's forehead. You can absolutely tell if it's a 100 degree wait and see, vs. a 103-104, go to the doctor's now!! Thank goodness our 4 yr old has only been sick 3-4 times in her life.

 

[DMickey28]

I have a digital under the tongue one, a digital ear one and two digital infant rectal ones!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I'm sure my post is one of your three -- unless there are 4 going around.

I don't really see the point in taking DS's temperature. If DS is sick, I'll know because he'll have symptoms. If he has symptoms, I'm not going to send him to school regardless of his temperature. If he's hot to the touch, achy, or has the chills, and grouchy/sleepy, then I'm going to medicate him regardless of the temperature. If he's glassy eyed, unresponsive and lethargic (the symptoms he's had when he's had a 105 kind of temperature in the past) I'll medicate AND seek emergency care, regardless of the temperature.

this has always been my philosophy, I just went out and purchased a thermometer (oral digital) so I could comply with my hospital's H1N1 protocol for returning to work if I get the flu.

 

[TwinsinCA]

We have a few. The kids still have the digital under the tongue thermometers with their names on them that they got from the hospital when they were born. They use those. Then we have at least one digital and one glass around for Dh and me. And I think I still even have a basal thermometer around somewhere.

 

[2bearsmom]

We have an ear thermometer but right now the battery is dead. I do have quite a few throw away strip ones that a family member uses for doing home health care.

While I might take my ds's temp when they are sick I don't automatically give them a fever reducing medicine. That is their body's way of fighting whatever infection they have and sometimes the medicine can do more harm than good. My boys have never been sick with anything where I had to call the dr because of a high fever.

 

[5 'LIL *TWINKERS*]

I have 2 digital battery ones that I use for underarm or under the tongue. I always clean with alcohol after each use. Had to use these when taking basal body temp. while trying to conceive.

I also have a glass mercury one that I could never understand how to read You know, the one that you shake down. That one was used for a rectal reading for the babies. I made sure I labeled it

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

So, I took DS to the "minute clinic" at CVS today because he just wasn't kicking this bug, and I mentioned that he's had a fever off and on since Sunday. After reading this thread I was expecting to hear her ask how high and to sheepishly explain that I don't take his temp.

Nope, she never asked. She took his temp there 100.8, but never asked what it had been.