Who doesn't remember mom gently kissing your
forehead or putting her hand on your cheek to
check if you felt feverish? While you often can
tell if your child is warmer than usual by feeling
his or her forehead, only a thermometer can
tell you what the temperature actually is.
Thermometer Options
Today, parents can choose from a number of different types of thermometers, including digital, glass, ear,
temporal artery or temperature strips. It's important to remember that mercury thermometers should not be
used. In fact, leading experts encourage parents to remove mercury thermometers from their homes to
prevent accidental exposure to this toxin.
There are newer glass thermometers that contain alternative mercury-free liquids such as alcohol or galinstan.
However, they tend to be harder to find in stores than digital thermometers and still have a risk of breaking.
Experts tend to favor the use of digital thermometers over glass models.
Choosing the Right Option for You and Your Child
| Digital |
- Quick, accurate and easy to
read
- Can be used in the rectum,
mouth or under the armpit
|
- Concern about causing discomfort
if used rectally
- Must wait at least 15 minutes if your
child has been eating or drinking
when using orally
- Need separate thermometers
for rectal and oral use
- Taking a child's temperature under
the arm is generally not as accurate
as taking it rectally or orally
|
| Glass |
- Accurate, do not rely on
batteries, inexpensive
- Newer mercury-free alcohol
or galinstan options now
available
- Can be used in the rectum,
mouth or under the armpit
|
Newer glass thermometers are
associated with the same cons
as digital thermometers. In addition,
glass thermometers:
- Need to be held in place for three
or more minutes in order to get a
correct reading
- Are often harder to find in
stores
- Still have a risk of breaking,
especially with infants/children
who may move suddenly
|
| Ear |
- Quick, accurate when used
appropriately
- Appropriate for children ages
three months and older
|
- Not recommended for newborns
- Earwax or a small, curved ear
canal can interfere with accuracy
|
|
Temporal Artery
|
- Can record a temperature in
about six seconds
- Appropriate for children ages
three months and older
|
- Not recommended for newborns
- Experts continue to assess their
accuracy compared with other
options
- May be more expensive than
other types of thermometers
|
| Temperature Strips |
- Appropriate for children ages
three months and older
- Provides a level of convenience
|
- Not recommended for newborns
- Are not always precise
- Can be affected by a person's
surroundings
|