Many worried parents try to measure the accuracy of thermometers by taking their child’s temperature over and over again. I know how frustrating it can be when your child is sick and you’re feeling overwhelmed with all of the thermometer choices out there. You want to test them out somehow to feel secure in their accuracy, but it is important to be aware that you can’t get accurate readings from any thermometer when you take readings back to back.
It is a common cause of confusion for parents, but it is important to wait at least two minutes between consecutive temperature measurements on most thermometers. Whether you are using the Mother’sTouch, a traditional stick thermometer or anything in-between, the devices must all readjust to the room’s temperature before the reading can be accurate.
This two-minute window is a step often missed when taking temperatures, and it leads to false or misleading temperatures.
If, after allowing the device to rest between readings, a large variance in the temperatures still exists there are a number of things to consider. It is important to analyze what your child has done between measurements that could affect the reading. For example: bathing, applying a washcloth to the forehead, drinking something cold, eating something warm, removing layers of clothing, moving around or even something as simple as talking. All of these can change a child’s temperature very quickly.
Changing these few habits should help ensure accuracy in temperature readings, and always remember that a slight variance (+/- .5 degrees) between readings is normal.
