Customer Rating: Summary: Easy and Fast. Comment: The best thing I liked about this item was the ease of use and the time it takes to read the temperature. It may not be 100% accurate like any non-clinical scales, but we can set a reference easily, to find out the offset.:)
This is very handy when dealing with cranky kids (and adults too) :). Customer Rating: Summary: Wildly varying results make this worthless Comment: I really wanted this to work well, as the super quick readings make it convenient to check the temperature on a squirming infant. Neither my wife or I could get consistent readings at all though. We both tried several times on each other (and in desperation on ourselves).
Not only were the readings inaccurate (I do not have a 103 degree fever), but they also varied dramatically, as much as 4 degrees in either direction.
We also tried on our daughter and got excited when our first reading was a direct hit at 98.6. Subsequent readings were as low as 96 though, and were generally all over the board.
With much regret, we returned the product. I guess back to more traditional thermometers we go. Customer Rating: Summary: Using for infant Comment: After purchasing this item I learned that it is difficult to get an accurate reading on infants (under 12 months) using these thermometers. It's definitely true with this one. I've never had a reading above 96 for my 5 month old son. Customer Rating: Summary: Easier than the other option... Comment: I chose this thermometer for my 10-month old son. I never liked using a rectal thermometer for a number of reasons, and I figured if they use the ear therm in doctors' offices it has to be a good option.
The name of the game seems to be getting the probe all the way in the ear canal, which for babies means pulling the outer ear back so that the middle ear (ear canal) is accessible. This can be a little tricky with one parent holding a squirmy baby, pulling on the ear, getting the therm in and then pressing the button to take the temp.
I also generally take the temp twice to be sure I have an accurate reading. If it's way too low (in the 96-98 range) I know it's probably not positioned correctly, esp if I think he has a fever.
The therm reads fast and I love that it doesn't need a probe cover, you can just wipe it with alcohol to clean it.
Overall, a good option and so much nicer than the other option! Customer Rating: Summary: Not Accurate (Too High) Comment: Got this last week. Tested it out on my family and also for myself only compared with the oral thermometer we have been using. I don't mind the variability, which seems to be roughly plus/minus 0.5 degree F. What I don't like is that it seems to average about 1.5 degrees F too high. Specifically, the oral has me at 98.7 but the first 5 repeats with Safety 1st ranged from 99.9 to 101. My wife's readings also came in over 100. Maybe we just got a bad one.
