In every home where a small child lives, there must certainly be a thermometer, since a rise in temperature at an early age requires an immediate response from parents and a doctor. If earlier all thermometers used to determine the temperature in children were mercury, now there are many alternatives to this very unsafe type of thermometers. And one of the most popular options among young parents is an electronic thermometer.
Features:
Temperature measurement in an electronic thermometer is provided by a built-in sensor located at the narrow end of the thermometer. The measurement results are displayed on the display of the device in digital form, therefore such a thermometer is also called digital.
Pros
- The electronic thermometer does not contain mercury, so damage to it does not threaten the health of the child.
- Such a device is universal, as it allows you to determine the temperature in different ways (rectally, orally, under the arm, in the elbow, in the groin).
- It often takes only 30-60 seconds to measure.
- Mom knows that the temperature has been determined by a sound signal.
- It is very easy to evaluate the measurement result - just look at the display of the device.
- Many electronic thermometers "remember" the last measurement, and some can store data up to 25-30 measurements.
- The body of some of these thermometers is waterproof, which allows them to be used to determine the heating of water in the bath.
- The device automatically turns off after waiting a certain period, which saves battery power.
- Many electronic thermometers can be scaled from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
- Some digital thermometer displays have a backlight.
- Tips for some models may vary.
- Bright and cute models in the form of toys and nipple thermometers have been created especially for children.
Minuses
- Inexpensive models cannot be wetted or disinfected, and not all electronic thermometers have a waterproof case.
- If you follow the recommendations in the instructions and hold the thermometer for a while after the beep, this requires separately timing the time, which is not very convenient.
- Dummy thermometers can only be used before teeth appear, and some babies do not recognize the pacifier.
- High-quality digital thermometers are much more expensive than mercury analogs.
Failure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and advice on correct measurement may result in inaccurate results.
How to use an electronic thermometer correctly
- For the measurement to be performed accurately, the sensitive sensor must be in close contact with the baby's body.
- The most informative is the measurement of the temperature in the child's mouth or in the rectum.
- Wait for the beep before evaluating the result on the display.
- When measuring the temperature in the armpit, you should wait a little longer than stated by the manufacturer. On average, the measurement time in this area of the skin is 1.5-3 minutes.
- Do not take your oral temperature after eating or drinking.
- Do not take your underarm temperature after bathing your baby.
- Do not try to determine the temperature with a teat thermometer in a crying baby.
- The batteries in the instrument should be changed regularly. Often they are designed for 2-5 years of using the thermometer, but so that the thermometer does not fail at an important moment, one set of batteries should be kept in reserve.
Popular models
Bright and cute children's electronic thermometers are produced by different companies. Among them, the most often chosen:
- Chicco Digi light - baby thermometer with flexible spout, backlit display, audible signals and protective case.
- B.Well WT-06 - a bright children's thermometer, presented in the form of a "duck" or "rabbit". Measures the temperature in 10 seconds, remembers the last measurement, emits a sound signal in case of fever and automatically turns off. The advantage of the device is also the presence of a moisture-resistant case and flexible tip.
- Gamma T-50 - a thermometer that measures temperature in children and adults in 60 seconds. The device remembers the last measurement and turns off automatically to save the battery.
- Microlife MT 3001 - reliable Swiss thermometer with large power button, electronic display and audible signals. The accuracy of the instrument is 0.1ºC. It measures the temperature in 1 minute and remembers the latest data.
- Thermoval Basic - a moisture-proof thermometer, which emits a signal at the end of the measurement and stores the last temperature measurement. Such a thermometer works very economically, performing up to 3 thousand measurements on one battery.
- AND DT-501 - a shock-resistant thermometer that measures the temperature in 1 minute, signals this and stores the data in memory. The sensor of the device is protected from moisture, and the measurement accuracy is 0.1ºFROM.
- OMRON Eco Temp Basic - an electronic thermometer that allows you to measure temperature rectally, axillary and oral. The measurement time with such a device is 1-1.5 minutes. The device has a sound signal, options for storing the last measurement and automatic shutdown.
Pacifier thermometers are also in great demand among mothers of babies, for example, Little Doctor LD-303 or Microlife MT 1751. The baby sucks on such a thermometer for several minutes, and after the signal, the measurement data appears on the mouthpiece.
How to choose the best one for newborns?
To buy an electronic thermometer for babies, it is best to go to a pharmacy or to a specialized store that sells medical equipment. Ask the seller about the features of the selected model, the rules of use and the warranty for the device. Do not buy a digital thermometer for a baby in a supermarket or home appliance store, as the accuracy of their measurement is questionable.
Other criteria for buying an electronic thermometer for a child will be:
- Company manufacturer.
- Your budget.
- The appearance of the thermometer.
- Additional functions of the device.
In the next video, Dr. Komarovsky will tell you all the details about the baby thermometer (pyrometer).
Reviews
The attitude of moms to electronic thermometers is different. Someone is quite happy with digital thermometers and praises them for the speed of determining the temperature, while someone claims that the measurement results of such devices are inaccurate, advocating more expensive infrared thermometers or more accurate but unsafe mercury thermometers. Most moms who use an electronic thermometer emphasize that when they follow the instructions, they do not have any problems with the measurement.
Mothers of babies speak well of nipple thermometers, emphasizing that such a thing, although not cheap, is convenient to use, does not frighten babies and quickly determines the temperature of the baby. Negative reviews about such electronic thermometers are mainly due to the fact that the baby refused the nipple or the device was difficult to disinfect.
