Baby thermometers will help monitor the severity of your baby’s illness.

Finding the most accurate baby thermometer is a common chore for most parents.  When a baby breaks out in a fever it can be serious, especially for infants, making it important to have a baby thermometer readily available. There are many baby thermometer choices, we’ve outlined them here. An infant’s immune system is immature and has a harder time fighting off infections.  When your baby reaches 3 or 4 months, their immune system is a lot stronger and therefore can handle fevers a lot better.  Fevers in older babies are common, especially for those who are teething.  To keep your child healthy, finding the right baby thermometer to monitor your child’s fever is essential. There are several different baby thermometers on today’s market.  Below you will find popular baby thermometers and their reviews on accuracy: 1.  Rectal baby thermometer:  Rectal thermometers are still the most accurate baby thermometer on the market.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, rectal readings are the most precise way to take a temperature in children younger than the age of 3.  For children 4 and older, an oral thermometer reads the most accurate temperature.  In fact, according to Consumer Reports, a digital oral thermometer is the best choice for children over the age of 3. 2.  Ear baby thermometer:  Paul Horowitz, M.D., the medical director of Pediatric Clinics Legacy Health Systems, said ear thermometers are not recommended for young children since the pose a higher risk of error in the reading.   Consumer Reports backs this finding since their studies show you have to align them perfectly in the ear canal to produce an accurate reading.

Rosalind L. Smyth, MD and Englands University of Liverpool evaluated 31 studies comparing rectal thermometers and ear thermometers in approximately 4,500 children and infants. The results showed that a temperature of 100.4(F (38(C) measured rectally could range anywhere from 98.6(F (37(C) to 102.6(F (39.2(C) when using an ear thermometer. This is a big deal since just 1 degree could be the determining factor if a child should be medically treaded or not.

3.  Pacifier baby thermometer:  The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine  conducted a survey using 100 children, ages 7 days to 24 months, who used pacifiers.  The researchers found that in order to get the most accurate reading, you have to add one-half of 1 degree Fahrenheit to the readings.

Other baby thermometers including forehead strips and forehead scanners showed the same results; they are not as accurate as the old rectal baby thermometer.  You can always consult with your pediatrician for another opinion.  But as research has proved, rectal baby thermometers are best for children 3 and under.

To find a thermometer for your baby, click on the images below:

Safety 1st Accu-RATE Forehead/Underarm Thermometer	American Red Cross: All Ages Thermometer Kit
Pacifier Thermometer	Forehead Thermometer Strips

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