DH and I were wondering if you're supposed to use a rectal thermometer for newborns? If not, what type do you use and why?

Trying to put together a list of things like this that we'll need for a relative and we have a thermometer that came in ... I think it's in an American Red Cross kit we got for DS? I'm guessing it can be used either orally or rectally. If it will do, then we don't really "need" another one, but if you can use other types and there are others that are better, I wanted to add it to my list.

Thanks!!

From the time Rebekah was born until just recently, we always took her temperature rectally. Starting last week, though, we began using an ear thermometer since she's so squirmy now. Hope this helps!

I don't even OWN a thermometer.
LOL

Ok, yes, I do. I saw one just last week in a bucket we've had for years. I think it came in one of those kit deals we received for our first.
Then I have a digital we had on hand for *me* moreso than the baby as part of my birth kit. Then I have my basal for charting.

But, honestly, I don't use them. I can count on one hand the number of times I have taken my children's temperatures. Need I remind I have 6 children? I just don't use thermometers. I don't worry about temps or fevers.

Sorry, I don't guess I really answered your question did I? But, perhaps gave you another view ;)

I don't worry about temps or fevers.

Sorry, I don't guess I really answered your question did I? But, perhaps gave you another view ;)

For sure, Tara, another view! Are you saying your children have never really had high fevers?

I mean, I don't see myself as an overly-panicky type mom and DS has rarely had a temp and when he has it has been short lived and not high. Except for when we were in Vietnam waiting to be able to leave to come back home... and it spiked a few times over there. He was in such bad shape healthwise, very weak and malnourished, that it really did worry me and I couldn't wait to get him home in more familiar territory!

With a baby that is generally healthy, I don't think I would "worry" so much, but just feel it isn't a bad idea to monitor it, KWIM?

Please enlighten me a little more on your view, though!! I so enjoy learning from each other and definitely from more experienced moms. My mom was definitely on the other end of that spectrum, constantly worried about every little thing, but then again, she lost a baby at birth and never dealt with that emotionally, or spiritually for a long time, so understandable.

we use thermometers and I could never dream of using *one* for oral and rectal. EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GONNA WASH IT OR USE A PROTECTIVE SLEEVE...*shudder*

:-D

I just don't fret over fevers in an otherwise healthy child. In the case of your son, I can understand the 'hyper' sensitivity to it. I'd be keeping a closer watch in that situation as well. But as for the upcoming babe and in normal situations..I don't don't fret fevers.

If the kid is otherwise looking and acting fine, just 'warm', I just let the fever run its course. A fever, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. It's simply a sign the body is doing what it's supposed to do, in order to fight off infection. I don't give anything to 'fight' the fever either.

I've never had one be real sick or have an exceptionally high fever. Maybe we're just 'lucky' or maybe it's because I've not given meds and tried to 'get rid of' every little thing they acquired. I've just let their immune systems work and fight things off on their own.

I just monitor with my eyes and my 'gut' I guess you could say ;)

But I'm an all around 'hands off' 'the less medical intervention the better' kind of gal. I birth at home, I don't see a dr for prenatals, my kids don't go to well visits, don't get shots...

;)

I've got 4 kiddos and have never used a rectal one! Just to gross to even think about! We have used the ear and forehead ones when they were little. Now we just use a regular oral one.

I have one that does forehead and ear scan. One for under arm and oral and one for rectal. I use the under arm one more than any others. Only if it I get a high temp do I double check with the rectal thermometer. I will say that a rectal is the most accurate.

we have an oral that we have always used under the arm. In our birthing hospital, thats what they use for the newborns, so thats what I always did at home.

Like Tara, we don't fret fevers much either. We do take precautions (up their fluid intake, cut out sugar, ect)if one of the kids are feverish but we don't give them tylenol or anything. Our doctor actually backs us up on this. She doesn't recommend giving a child fever reducer for a viral infection because the fever is the bodies way of fighting illness naturally. The number on the thermometer isn't as important as the way a child is acting anyways. One kid may beable to handle a fever of 105 for several days, one may not. So the accuracy of the reading just doesn't matter enough to me to take it rectally. That said.. I do own a thermometer.. I do use it, but its more for just confirming what I already knew.. ok, yes, child has a fever. HTH

Our doctor said DO NOT do rectal anymore because of the chance of perforating the bowel. Babies are squiggly little things and the length of time it takes for a rectal therm to read accuratly opens the door to injury. They don't even do rectal in the NICU anymore. There is no real need to take rectal anymore anyway.
If you want to take a temp you can do axillary and add a degree or get an ear or forehead therm. The technology that we have nowadays makes taking a temp much easier!!

We also do not medicate for fevers unless our child is miserable and needs some sleep, but that is rare. The fever usually comes back worse after the meds wear off anyways. Our Em has had a fever of 106 before and was running around like nothing, and she has also had a fever of 101 and was down for the count. The temp of the fever isn't as important as how the child is acting, so we just watch our babies and make decisions from there. I do take the temp because I want to know how it is running, but that is just for me and if needed the doctors, but we rarely have gone to the doc for fever....if ever!

I hope you find what you need!

blessings,
Amber

I use the Braun ear thermometer... accurate enough for me since I usually can tell by feel if my child has a fever and I just use it to confirm.

I use the Braun ear thermometer... accurate enough for me since I usually can tell by feel if my child has a fever and I just use it to confirm.

Just saw this one on the Walmart site and it has some really great reviews also!! One from a nurse said she's been through many and found this one to be most accurate...

Thanks, Margi.

Our doctor said DO NOT do rectal anymore because of the chance of perforating the bowel. Babies are squiggly little things and the length of time it takes for a rectal therm to read accuratly opens the door to injury. They don't even do rectal in the NICU anymore. There is no real need to take rectal anymore anyway.
If you want to take a temp you can do axillary and add a degree or get an ear or forehead therm. The technology that we have nowadays makes taking a temp much easier!!

We also do not medicate for fevers unless our child is miserable and needs some sleep, but that is rare. The fever usually comes back worse after the meds wear off anyways. Our Em has had a fever of 106 before and was running around like nothing, and she has also had a fever of 101 and was down for the count. The temp of the fever isn't as important as how the child is acting, so we just watch our babies and make decisions from there. I do take the temp because I want to know how it is running, but that is just for me and if needed the doctors, but we rarely have gone to the doc for fever....if ever!

I hope you find what you need!

blessings,
Amber

Thanks, Amber!

I back NOT using rectal for safety too!! We use a forehead scan thermometer, Exergen brand from Walgreens or Walmart. VERY fast and accurate at any age.

I'm a mom who never used one! I got them from my shower as gifts digital ones.
My cousin just got this one fat her shower, it's a pacifier thermometer

I use an underarm thermometer from vicks. Rhiana doesn't get many fevers but when we do use it is very easy to use and doesn't bother Rhiana too much.

I always used an underarm thermometer for both my kids. It is not such an acurate measure as rectal (you have to take into account that underarm gives a slightly lower reading than the actual temperature) - but I have always found it good enough for what I want to know. You can tell if a child has a dangerously high fever without the use of a thermometer - but it is handy for when the doctor needs to know how high the fevers have been or when you are monitoring a child to make sure the fevers don't get too high.