Best Thermometer?

M.,
Your best bet is a digital thermometer that you can use under the arm. Rectal thermometers are dangerous (too easy to puncture the rectum - we are not even using them in the hospital anymore unless there is a major cause for concern). You are right about the ear thermometer being unreliable. The tip of the probe must be pointed straight at the ear drum in order to read correctly and if there is fluid in the ear (if baby has an ear infection) the read can be incorrect. I don't know much about the temporal artery thermometers, but they might be worth looking into. Either way, a simple digital thermometer is cheap, easy and accurate.
HTH,
M.

the temporal thermometer that the previous post suggested is the best! We went through about 3 different types of digital ear or underarm thermometers but the temporal thermometer is the most reliable. We got ours at Walgreens. It is about 3 times as much money but totally worth it b/c you know it's reliable and you won' t have to struggle or replace it. It was back by the pharmacist station and I think it's called Exergen or something. They should be familiar with the "temporal" word.

M.,

I remember the same concern when my baby was an infant. He's 4 now. I had both a rectal and an ear thermometer. He tended to spike his fevers when he was a baby and i wanted a precise reading because i felt there was a big difference between 104 and 104.8 or so. So, I used the rectal as long as he was young and allowing me and as he got older and sturdier, I changed to the digital ear one. If the ear thermometer showed ANY sign of a temperature above 100, I took it again with the rectal for a precise reading. When the kids have a temperature over 103 (which is where I take a more serious approach), they are usually somewhat lethargic (or less wiggly, at least) so it's not so difficult to use the rectal.
Good luck and I hope it is never an urgent issue!

J.

I had an ear thermometer too. It was worthless. Our pedi said a baby's ear is too small for them. He recommended the temporal thermometer. My girlfriend has one and loves it. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3936.... Lastly, do you have a website for your photography? If so, would you send it to me. ____@____.com. Thanks!

I feel like they are all inacurate. So, just use your best judgement. You are a mommy now and have intuition. Feel his forehead with your cheek and if you worry then take him to the doctor. You aren't paranoid, you are doing great.

my pediatrician recommended a temporal lobe thermometer. You can buy them at Wal-Mart for less than $30 and they are just as accurate and anal thermometer, except all you have to do with this one is run it across the forehead! I love it, and I have found it to be extremely accurate. When my niece was sick and in the hospital there were even some nurses that had bought there own to use on patients b/c they are so convenient. Hope this helps :)

Our baby was in the NICU for 12 days when she was born and the nurses used a regular digital thermometer under the arm. If it is good enough for the hospital, it is good enough for us at home.