“All you need is a straightforward digital thermometer,” says Hoffman. “That’s what we use at home. You want one you can use orally and rectally. Just if you use it rectally, use a different one orally. They work exactly the same way.” Rectal thermometers should be used for babies from birth until age 3; for kids 4 and older, an oral one can be used. What about all those dope-looking infrared thermometers, or the ones designed to be used in the ear or on the forehead, or the wearable devices that track temps via Bluetooth? Spend your money elsewhere. You need to be something of a pro to use those thermometers correctly, and if you’re not — and in the stress of an infant fever, you’re even less likely to be — then you won’t get accurate readings. “Ear thermometers are not worth the expense,” says Hoffman. “They require clear access to the eardrum, and if there is ear wax present, you don’t get that. And forehead thermometers measure skin temperature, which is not what we’re looking for. You want to measure core body temperature.” In other words, keep it simple. As for that old trick of touching a child’s forehead to determine if they’re spiking a fever? Surprise: It doesn’t actually work, even if it’s what our parents did. “We all think we’re good at telling it that way. We’re really not,” says Hoffman. Every product on Fatherly is independently selected by our editors, writers, and experts. If you click a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
