How to choose the right thermometer for your family

There is nothing worse than trying to gauge just how unwell your child is but thankfully some trusty science – and a quality thermometer – can take the guesswork out of caring for your little one.

That said, there are lots of different thermometers on the market, so how do you choose the right one for your family? And how do you know if you’ve got an accurate temperature reading? And how on earth do you check a very wriggly toddler for a fever?

By choosing your thermometer wisely, that’s how!

Buy once, buy well

Get it right the first time by investing in a premium thermometer that will see your family through those busy years of growing little humans.

Investing in a high quality product means that it comes with cutting-edge technology on board. For instance the clever ear thermometer, Braun ThermoScan 7 features AgeSmart™ technology, with fever definition adjusted for a child’s age, and a pre-warmed tip for comfort.

Find the right fit for your family

Take care to choose the right kind of thermometer, because their effectiveness varies depending on how you are using it. Ear thermometers are brilliant for super-accurate fever measurements in children, especially during times of worrying illness, while forehead thermometers are the perfect solution for squirmy kids who are struggling to keep still.

Look for quality, accuracy and ease of use

When your baby is feeling unwell, the last thing you want is to cause them further stress. Choose a thermometer that is quick and easy to use, and again invest in a quality unit to ensure that the reading you are getting is accurate.

Thermometers such as the Braun ThermoScan 7 come with features that help parents easily gauge their child’s temperature at a glance. A green screen on these Braun thermometers suggests no fever, a yellow screen suggests moderate fever, and a red screen signals high fever.

Look for features that are designed to keep your baby comfortable and make taking their temperature stress-free.

Thermometers 101

Let’s look at the various thermometers that are on the market, and what circumstances they work best under:

Ear thermometers

These are the sort of thermometer you might find your GP using. They are popped into the ear and measure temperature by reading the infrared heat inside of the ear.

Forehead thermometers

This kind of thermometer is placed on the forehead and reads the infrared heat emitted from the head. Forehead thermometers are a great non-invasive option.

Digital probe thermometers

This type of thermometer is placed in the mouth, under the arm or in the rectum. They rely on the patient being still so may not be suitable for very small children.

Glass and mercury thermometers

These old fashioned devices – which you might find in your granny’s medicine cabinet – contain dangerous mercury and break easily. They are not recommended to use on children and are generally no longer available to buy.

Temperature strips

These are popped on a child’s forehead and will change colour when they heat up. They are not super-accurate because they only measure the skin’s temperature.

A thermometer tucked into every new parent’s baby essentials kit means peace of mind for families and much happier and healthier babies.

This is a sponsored post for Braun.