Best thermometer for newborn/infant

[lilo]

Luckily my 5 week old DS isn't sick right now but I would like to be prepared whenever the first 'cold' does happen (hopefully not anytime soon!). I already have 2 thermometers (Braun and another one) but neither are rectal--is this necessary? and they are honestly both super complicated to use.

Could some recommend a simple, good thermometer that they use for their baby?

Do I need to get a rectal one? If not, is the underarm or ear the best?

TIA! :)

[Jenyfer9]

while my doc's office uses the ear ones, we have an all purpose digital thermometer for home use. I think that ours is the "Safety First" brand. I have no complaints and it's very easy to use.

[wildcat]

We have an ear one and IMHO, it sucks! Also, I *think* you aren't supposed to take temps in ears until your DC is older, maybe like 2?

The one we use is actually one that I used when I was charting, just a plain old digital thermometer. Our dr's office wants us to take it either rectally (never have done that) or under the arm (the way we do it).

[Ericka_Jarett]

we do armpit like they were doing in the special care nursery. The dr said it's fine and in time we can move to the temporal artery type, just not to do the ear one,

[PinkMartini]

We have 2 - a plain digital one and a pacifier one. My DS has already had his first cold :( and we used both to take his temp and they were both acurate. I haven't done it rectally yet - just under the arm like they did at the hospital and his dr's appts.

[cari2]

We use the plain digital one we received in the hospital after dd's were born. We do it rectally as that's what our doctors office requires. Apparently, there can be a variation in temp based on method used so they want everyone to be using the same measure.

[ShelbyMay]

Ours is a plain digital one from Target (not from the baby section). I think the packaging said something about it being really fast. We use it on her rectally, so we also have a pack of the plastic probe covers. I was so scared to take a rectal temp, but have now done it several times and it really has been no big deal. DD doesn't even seem to notice I'm doing anything.