Fortunately, we don’t have to take temperatures around here too often.  (‘Though it’s never a bad idea to take your kids’ temperatures occasionally when they’re well, so you know what’s normal for them.)  When wedo have to take temperatures, though – especially for toddlers – it can be a real challenge.

For little ones, oral thermometers are pretty much out.  The smallest children just don’t have the understanding or coordination to keep a thermometer under their tongues for long enough.

Rectal temperatures are understood to be pretty accurate, but they’re definitely not fun for the wee one whose temperature you’re taking!   It’s possible to cause damage, as well, if you aren’t careful enough with the thermometer, so this always makes me nervous with a squirming child.

So…thus far, our go-to method for young children has been axillary temperatures – that is, temperatures taken in the armpit.  Considering the ability of the child to cooperate with the process, this seems to give us the most accurate reading.  I’ve still found that toddlers aren’t crazy about it, though, and I have to kind of “fight” them to keep the thermometer in place.

This Braun ThermoScan is great.  Tympanic (eardrum) temperatures are quite accurate.  And even a kiddo who hates having something stuck into his ear can be made to cooperate long enough to get a reading with this, because it only takes a few seconds.  Livia wasn’t too thrilled with it when I needed to take her temperature a few days ago, but it was finished almost before she had a chance to decide she’d had it. 🙂

The design is well thought-through, too.  It takes AA batteries, so finding replacements should be easy.  (I have several thermometers in my first aid cupboard that are dead, because they take weird battery sizes I can’t find.  We usually have AA’s already on hand, and certainly won’t have trouble locating them for purchase.)  And the storage case holds the thermometer neatly, with the tip protected, as well as having space to store the covers.  No more trying to track down the tip covers when you need to check on a child.

Another thing I thought was great was that the instructions tell you how to clean the tip if you accidentally use it without a cover.  We all know that stuff happens and things accidentally get misused on occasion, so knowing how to “fix” it is pretty useful.

There may be a couple types of thermometers that areslightly easier to use – forehead strips/scanners, or pacifier-style ones – but they’re not likely to be particularly accurate.   This is a perfect balance of accuracy and ease of use.  I definitely would recommend it.

(Need a baby gift?  Consider this as an option – and remember to enter the Baby Shower for Jesus giveaway.  You can use the button at the top of the blog page.)

Disclosure: I was provided with a ThermoScan to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.