Thermometers

I’m looking to pick up an infrared thermometer... mainly to use on a larger group of kids.
Has anyone here actually used one? Are they reliable enough—and durable enough—for frequent use?

neonnomad7 said:I am considering purchasing an infrared thermometer... specifically to use on a larger number of children.
Does anyone here have firsthand experience with them? Are they truly reliable and durable enough for constant use?

I own one of those devices at my house (Braun). It performs flawlessly, though I find the disposable probe covers to be quite expensive. You're looking at roughly $5 for a pack of 20. Furthermore, is it even remotely hygienic to be pressing a thermometer into a child's ear using a used cover? 😛

Ugh... I’d need enough for about 40 kids—and since flu season is right around the corner, that's going to end up being way too expensive...
Thanks for getting back to me.

If you're looking at ear thermometers (not sure if they're infrared ones), just a heads-up that those little sensor covers can get pretty pricey. You really need them for accuracy, though, and I guess it's best to swap them out every single time. Plus, you might want to calibrate them once in a while just to be safe with the electronics, and maybe swap the batteries occasionally too.
The cool thing is they give you a reading in just a few seconds, and you don't even have to wake someone up. Just keep in mind that an ear reading is usually about half a degree higher than a forehead temp... so if it shows a high fever, I usually don't trust it right away and check with a regular one first.
My suggestion? Maybe just grab a few basic digital ones and maybe one fancy digital thermometer that takes a couple of minutes to finish... then you can just wipe them down with some rubbing alcohol.
Also, you can't use that ear thermometer for rectal readings, which sometimes you actually need to do. If there's more than a one-degree difference between a forehead temp and a rectal temp, doctors might start worrying about things like appendicitis.

Yeah, those ear thermometers use infrared. I actually need them for taking temperatures at night with the kids—and while I know the battery life holds up for about 5,000 readings, this whole calibration process is throwing me off... thanks, Eric Newman65.

Beyond just those standard dedicated thermometers, you also have industrial or technical-grade models available. You can find both contact and non-contact versions with all sorts of different specs—honestly, I’d suggest looking into this category too, since it might actually be a better, more budget-friendly option for what you're trying to do...

Eric Newman65 said:But you have to account for the fact that the temperature inside the ear is half a degree higher than what you'd measure under your hand..

That temperature variance is already factored in, ensuring the reading actually reflects your true body temperature.

I will concede that a traditional mercury thermometer offers greater precision, but is it truly practical to use one on small children? Especially when they are being particularly fussy or uncooperative...

Furthermore, if my own temperature hits 99.5°F, does it really matter whether the device reads 99.1 or 99.9? It is negligible to me. This is precisely why I find myself favoring infrared thermometers... 👍

neonnomad7 said:Yes, the ear ones use infrared. I actually need them for checking my kids' temperatures at night, and while I know the battery lasts for about 5,000 readings, this whole concept of calibration is throwing me off... thanks, Eric Newman65.

Calibration?! 😲 Are you seriously suggesting one would measure fuel temperatures on a NASA space shuttle using an infrared thermometer? Certainly not one designed for checking a toddler's fever. Calibration is a process reserved for industrial settings where extreme precision is mandatory for a specific technological process—say, staying within a 0.5% margin of error.

Justin Anderson4 said:Look, if I’ve got a temperature around 99.5°F, I honestly don't care if the thermometer reads 99.1 or 99.9. That's why I'm all for those infrared ones... 👍

Well, obviously it doesn't matter to you, and it doesn't matter much to me either. But when you're dealing with a little kid, there is a huge difference between a fever being 101°F or 102°F.

I haven't really looked into how often you need to calibrate them, but you definitely should probably check the accuracy of an infrared thermometer every once in a while...

Justin Anderson4 said:Personally, if I have like a 99.5°F fever, I don't really care if the thermometer says 99.1 or 99.9. That's why I'm a fan of those IR thermometers... 👍

Honestly, you shouldn't even try to bring a fever down unless it hits 100.4°F, since it’s actually better for your body to fight off the infection on its own. Of course, with a little kid, you have to be more careful about the exact number, and maybe that half-degree difference matters, especially if you're comparing a rectal reading to an armpit or ear reading.
Also, when I first bought my ear thermometer, the manual mentioned that ear temps are usually higher than underarm temps, and it even gave a list of service centers where I could take it for maintenance. Since I've had this thing for about three years now, maybe the instructions or the device itself are just outdated. I haven't taken it out of the house, obviously, and I'm always super careful with it, though I still kind of doubt the accuracy sometimes. Every time I use it, I make sure to double-check it with a mercury one. And the weirdest part? It drives me crazy because it shows different temperatures in each ear—one side is always about a degree higher than the other... I have no idea why. So, I have this expensive thermometer, but it feels like I don't really have it, even though it's pretty handy for checking things at night. $167
I haven't bought replacement tips in ages, and I guess I use it less and less.

How accurate are they really? I don't get how they work without mercury. My readings seem to jump all over the place from one hour to the next... I just don't get it.

Hey man, is that you?🤣

Susan Roberts said:How unreliable are these things? I don't get how they work without any live power. My temperature readings seem to jump all over the place from one hour to the next... I just don't get it.

Wait, your temp is actually fluctuating that much?? 😉

rustypanther80 said:Hey man, is that actually you?🤣

I didn't! 🙂 🙂 🙂

It operates using infrared light. I don't know the exact physics behind it, but essentially, different temperatures show up differently on the infrared spectrum. It’s the same principle scientists used to map out object temperatures across the universe.

The temperature fluctuates by about 0.5 degrees throughout the day.

As for actually using the devices themselves, I don't have any hands-on experience.

A few months back, I picked up a mercury thermometer. After using it just a handful of times, I went to check the temperature the other day only to find that a small portion of the mercury had separated from the rest. I tried heating it up to get the liquid to settle, but while the larger mass merged back together, that tiny droplet stayed isolated. I don't have the receipt for a replacement. Does anyone know a reliable way to fix this?

Should I go ahead and pick up a new one?

Melissa James70 said:Should I just grab a new one?

Don't go buying a new one—just give it a good shake in the opposite direction while you're turning the temp down on the thermometer, keep going until they click into place... 😉

Good grief, is that thermometer seriously that overpriced? 🙂 Just grab a new one—get an electric one if you can and call it a day, haha.

If the filament snaps, just try running it under some hot water. If that doesn't do the trick, honestly, just go grab a new one—they’re basically phased out anyway.