Monday, September 17, 2007
I Got the Fever
Posted by Missy W. @ 11:02 AM
I’ve mentioned that I am a neurotic mom, right?
My website should be named gearheadsforneuroticmoms.com
I worry about super germs, sleep patterns, lack of sleep patterns, too many play dates, not enough play dates, sleeping through [very expensive to miss] music class, liquid consumption, dying of consumption…ad nauseum.
But the thing is, not only am I a neurotic worrier, I am also quite lazy. It’s a vicious combo. So I worry about germs, but let Sy lick the swings at the park. Germs are good for her, I say. We are actively building her immune system. But what it really means is that I forgot any wipes and I don’t feel like rubbing her paws on her pants until the skin has rid itself of any molecule of the last child’s vomit, popsicle urp or snot drippings. Then I spend the next 24 hours trying to look casual as I search for signs of hand foot and mouth, a snotty nose or a lurking low-grade fever.
I don’t know about you, but taking a kid’s temperature is no walk in the park around here. Under the arm is useless when you have given birth to the world’s most vocal octopus. Rectal thermometers are fine until they start to grab, spin, flop or kick you on the changing table. Oral. Forget it unless you actually want your teether to eat the glass. I started out taking Sy’s rectally and could usually get a good enough guess before she really ratcheted up the howling. At that point I’d quickly remove it and cross my fingers that we did not wake the neighbors. I’d start to sweat just thinking about having to take her temperature, or change her diaper.
Last spring when Sy was about nine months old we were visiting my sister, Gwen, and her family. Sy came down with her first total whopper of a fever. Gwen busted out this Exergen “temporal artery thermometer” (ooooh, fancy!) and I wanted to kiss the ground she walked on. Sy was able to just lay in my arms as I slid the thermometer across her hot forehead. It made a very uncomfortable situation (for her) just a little bit easier.
Roger has a hard time getting an accurate reading and blames the device. Then he hands it to me and it works every time. Am super mother. Just kidding. I think I have just practiced a lot. You have to slide it in just the right way (easy to read directions help). I take the temperature on both sides of her forehead sweeping down, and once down the middle. I have found that she is almost always one degree warmer on her left side of her head. I average the temperatures and find it to usually be within .2 degrees of a rectal thermometer. I have only had to replace the batteries once in 15 months. Sy loves it and tries to take the temperature of all of her stuffed animals. It works on all ages and since I am a complete gagger by pedigree, I find this to be a welcome relief when I am sick.
It’s a good registry item since it’s a great gadget but a little pricey for new parents to purchase. Although I just noticed that the price varies quite a bit online. I recommend this item to all of my friends, even if they don’t have kids.
Snapshot:
• This product makes takes all the stress out of taking a small one’s temperature.
• It’s more expensive than a regular thermometer, but I feel it’s worth the price in the whole cost/benefit analysis.
• One of my favorite products.
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September 17, 2007 @ 03:58 PM
Craig said:
You may want to check with your pediatrician. I got one of those fancy IR “shoot ‘em in the ear” thermometers and then asked him. “Can you take it back?” was the reply. Turns out that only oral and anal were accurate enough. This was, admittedly, almost 9 years ago. But it’d be worth making sure you invest in the right thing.
We ended up using the little electronic one that can go either way - but we only used it orally. Our daughter learned to use it and it was never a hassle nor problem.
And my wife wanted to take her temperature at the drop of a hat…