You’ve likely noticed that thermometers have come a long way since you were a child. Thankfully technology has advanced likely for the better, giving you fewer freakout moments while you are impatiently waiting for a temperature reading. The days of wondering if you are about to likely have a dangerous glass mercury thermometer stuck in your rear or your armpit, if you are a child, are generally gone. The best thermometer will probably be dependable, have great accuracy, and be quick or simple to use. Below are some helpful tips for finding the best thermometer for you and your family, no matter how young or old they might be.
Invasive Versus Non-Invasive
While there are different types of thermometers available, you will likely be thinking of a certain family member when it comes to invasive or non-invasive ones. You may have an elderly relative who is sensitive to touch or possibly has ear issues in which they likely don’t want to cooperate with you trying to stick something in their ear. On the other side of that, you may have a colicky baby who may not sit still long enough for you to hold something in their ear for you to get any kind of proper reading. If either of those situations is true for you, then looking for a non-invasive thermometer might be best to try.
Top notch thermometers may have several ways to read your loved one’s temperature like in the ear, on the forehead, or non-contact. Temporal thermometers, also known generally as forehead thermometers, may interest you because they are non-invasive, quick, and you likely have seen your doctor using this type at your doctor office. The non-contact thermometers may seem the best for children because you probably won’t wake them up at all if they are sleeping. You may also want to consider a thermometer without auditory readings or with optional auditory readings to try to avoid disturbing your loved one, especially since headaches tend to commonly partner with fevers.
Ease of Use
There may be several things for you to consider when trying to find a thermometer that is easy to use. You will probably want to consider a screen that is easy to read and possibly one that you can read in the dark if needed. This could also assist any family member that may have poor eyesight. You may want one with a good grip that anyone in the family can easily use. A non-contact thermometer may be easier to keep hygienic with fewer parts touching a sick loved one.
Thermometers that store previous temperature readings may make life easier for you if your child’s temperature spikes quickly. You will likely want a thermometer with easy to use buttons. You will likely want to find one with buttons that are easy to use when trying to take another loved one’s temperature over a thermometer with buttons that are only helpful when taking your own temperature. Regardless of the thermometer you choose, you will most likely want to read the instruction manual carefully to get the best results possible.
Pricing
While pricing is commonly a concern, a bigger concern will be dependability. You may want to consider what each thermometer has to offer over grabbing the cheapest one. A durable thermometer could be priceless to you. Try to find a thermometer that meets all of your family’s needs instead of sacrificing quality for a cheap one that could break on you when you might need it the most.
Accuracy
Finding an accurate thermometer could be the difference in an emergency room bill or your peace of mind. Think about taking your child’s temperature a few times when they aren’t sick as to potentially help familiarize yourself with their unique body temperature. This could provide better accuracy when using any thermometer as well as possibly letting you know how accurate your new thermometer readings might be. You may also want to read multiple reviews on several thermometers before choosing one to avoid buying one that commonly has issues.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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