Infrared thermometer for children: which one is better to choose?

Planning to buy things for the birth of the baby, every expectant mother chooses a thermometer, because he must be present in every house where a small child lives. Among the variety of modern thermometers the attention of many parents attracts an infrared thermometer. What is its feature, how to measure the temperature with such a device and what infrared thermometer should be purchased for a child?

There are such options for infrared thermometers:

1. Ear. It measures the temperature in the ear canal of a child. Many of these thermometers are also capable of measuring the temperature at the temple in the place where the temporal artery passes.
2. Frontal. This type of thermometer measures the radiation on the skin of the baby’s forehead.
3. Contactless. Such a device determines the temperature at some distance from the skin.

The work of all infrared thermometers consists in measuring the infrared radiation emanating from a specific surface, be it a child’s body, water or the surface of an object. The sensor element of the thermometer detects radiation and shows the result on the display of the device.

• Ease of use. After reading the instructions for the device, any mother will quickly understand how the measurement is performed.
• Contactless. Many infrared thermometers are able to measure body temperature without touching it. This is very convenient if it is important to find out the temperature of the sleeping baby, without disturbing his sleep.
• The speed of obtaining a result. It takes only a few seconds to measure.
• The ability to measure the temperature on any part of the skin. This advantage is important for parents of very tiny karapuz, protesting against the standard places for determining body temperature.
• Safety for children. In the infrared thermometer there is no glass or mercury, so the baby can not hurt him or poison his contents.
• Compact size. The device is convenient to take with you on a trip and stored at home.
• The ability to determine the temperature of air, water, a mixture and any surfaces that are sources of heat. To do this, just need to select the appropriate mode.
• The device often contains additional functions, such as storing the last temperature detection, battery charge indication, automatic shutdown, beep, screen backlight and others.
• The device is often packaged in a convenient case and runs on batteries.

• Frontal and aural types of infrared thermometers should be used only in the places for which they are intended.
• The results determined by an infrared thermometer have errors of 0.1-1 degrees. For a more accurate measurement, the instrument should be adjusted using a normal mercury thermometer. In addition, it is recommended to perform measurements in the same place.
• Wait a little before re-measuring the temperature. If you recheck the result before turning off the thermometer, the data will be incorrect.
• During the measurement, the child should not move, as any movement will affect the results. This also causes inaccurate measurements if the baby is crying.
• The measurement results will be incorrect when the temperature drops, for example, if the child is only bathed or stripped after the walk. Wait 30 minutes before using the thermometer.
• Some ear thermometers are not suitable for determining the temperature in babies younger than one year because of a large tip that does not fit in a tiny ear of a baby.
• Ear thermometer with otitis will show the wrong temperature.
• When using the ear thermometer there is a risk of ear injury in a child.
• By ear thermometer required to buy disposable pads.
• The cost of this type of thermometers is quite high.

Measurement data of the child’s body temperature from an infrared thermometer is obtained in 1-5 seconds. In some models, determining the temperature takes a little longer - up to 30 seconds.

It is important that the thermometer is located in the room where the temperature is measured, at least 15-30 minutes before the time of measurement. If the baby’s body temperature is measured, the child should stay indoors for at least 10 minutes.

The product is used as follows:

1. Turn on the device by pressing a button.
2. Select the desired mode of operation.
3. To measure the temperature in the ear, remove the cap from the device, insert the thermometer sensor into the ear canal, press the measurement button once and wait for a sound signal. After removing the sensor from the ear, look at the screen where the temperature is displayed.
4. To measure the temperature on the temple, apply a thermometer sensor to the child’s temple, press the measurement button once, then move the thermometer in the temporal region smoothly around the circle or slowly move it towards the forehead. After the signal, evaluate the result displayed on the screen.
5. To measure the temperature in a contactless way, bring the thermometer to the body at a distance of 4-6 cm from its surface (most often to the child’s forehead) or at another distance according to the instructions to the device. By pressing the measurement button, they expect a beep and evaluate the result on the display.
6. Turn off the thermometer.
7. If you wish to re-measure, wait 1 minute.
8. After use, wipe the device sensor.

The most popular models of infrared thermometers are:

• IN WELL WF-1000 - a device that measures the temperature in the ear canal, as well as at the temples. The measurement result appears after 2-3 seconds. To change the mode you need to remove or put on the cap. The device remembers the last measurement. In addition to body temperature, such a thermometer can measure the temperature of a liquid without immersion in it and air temperature.

• Sensitec NF 3101 - a device that, without contact with the skin, measures the temperature in the region of the temples or on the forehead at a distance of 5-15 cm from their surface. The device can also determine the temperature of liquids, air and various surfaces. The device remembers 32 measurements and automatically saves data. The thermometer together with two batteries weighs only 200 grams, and the temperature measurement by this device occurs in one second.

• MEDISANA FTN - a popular infrared thermometer that measures the temperature in 2 seconds at 5 cm from the child’s forehead. Attracts attention with comfortable ergonomic shape.The device can memorize 30 measurements, emits a warning signal when a fever is detected, and can also measure the temperature of liquids, objects and air.

• Testo 830-T2 - thermometer equipped with a two-point laser pointer. The device is able to measure the temperature in the range from -50 ºС to + 50 ºС with an accuracy of no more than 0.5 ºС and weighs only 200 grams. The measurement result appears on the display in one second.

• LAICA SA5900 - contactless thermometer with a large w / w display, measuring the temperature from a distance of 3-5 cm from the temple. At the end of the measurement, the device beeps and automatically turns off. 32 last measurements are stored in the device memory.

• Omron Gentle Temp 510 - an ear thermometer that can instantly measure the temperature in 1 second or take a measurement for 10 seconds in infants to eliminate the wrong location in the baby’s ear. The thermometer is easy to operate with one button. In the configuration of the device there are 10 removable caps and a case for storage.

• Garin IT-1 - infrared thermometer to determine the temperature of the body or the air in the room in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. This contactless thermometer with a convenient handle remembers the last measurement, gives the result after 2 seconds, notifies about the end of measurement with sound, and also signals at elevated body temperature.

• Thermoval Duo Scan - high-precision thermometer with ergonomic design, which allows to measure the temperature on the forehead in 3 seconds and in the ear canal in 1 second. The device emits a long signal at the end of the measurement, remembers the last result, automatically turns off after a minute and is controlled with just two buttons.

The range of infrared thermometers is quite extensive, so when choosing a suitable device should be considered:

• The age of the child. For newborns, a non-contact thermometer is considered the best choice, and children over the age of one year can get both an ear and a frontal thermometer.
• Manufacturer. It is better to prefer firms that have been producing such devices for a long time. By purchasing a poor-quality device from a little-known company, you can get incorrect data when using it (the error will exceed 1 degree).
• Purchase budget. In the price range of infrared thermometers is to choose a model that does not hit the family budget. At the same time, it should be understood that cheap thermometers can turn out to be low-quality devices that incorrectly indicate body temperature and quickly fail.
• Availability of warranty. It is best to buy a thermometer in a specialty store or pharmacy, specifying whether there is a warranty service. You should also definitely check with the purchase whether the device is working.

In most cases, parents who purchased and used infrared thermometers were satisfied with such devices. Among the advantages of infrared thermometers, mothers basically call ease of use and quick temperature measurement, which is very important when the baby is sick.

Learn more about some of the features of infrared thermometers and how to choose the right device, you can watch the next video.