Caregivers need an accurate baby thermometer to monitor baby's status, as it serves as a good indication of the baby's health. A baby does not have a fever until his or her body temperature reaches over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit when taken orally or rectally and 101.4 degrees when taken under the arm.
A thermometer has two important elements: the temperature sensor in which some physical change occurs with temperature, plus some means of converting this physical change into a numerical value.
For your baby's first thermometer, go with an inexpensive digital model. Look for an LCD display that's easy to read and a start button that's easy to press. But don't be swayed by digital thermometers that claim to take a reading in an instant. A reading in 20 to 60 seconds is quick enough.
Whether the caregiver has decided that a rectal, oral, behind the ear, or pacifier thermometer best meets their needs, they find many options in the market.
Check features
As simple as digital thermometers are, some have bells and whistles that you might find convenient, such as soft or curved tips, or beeps that tell you when they're in the right spot or when they've finished measuring the temperature.
What's the response time?
A readout from a digital stick thermometer may take 10 seconds to more than 80 seconds, depending on the model. Infrared thermometer readouts take just 1 to 3 seconds, but may not be any more accurate than an inexpensive digital stick thermometer. So the infrareds may not be worth their cost--unless you have a child who simply won't stand for using the others.
Consider safety
Be aware that probe covers and protective case covers may pose a choking hazard, so thermometers and their accessories should be kept out of the hands of unsupervised children.
