| Product: |
Braun Thermoscan |
| Date: |
04.11.07 (183 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Quick, easy and fuss free
Disadvantages: Replacement tips mean an ongoing spend
One of the biggest challenges facing parents of babies and toddlers is working out when the little one is just making a fuss and when there’s actually something wrong. The inability of small children to communicate effectively makes it very difficult at times to tell what the problem is. Often your intuition will tell you but sometimes it lets you down.
If you do decide that your child is ill you need to remember that when a young child is ill they can deteriorate very quickly and a situation that just requires cuddles could soon develop into something a lot more serious requiring proper medical help.
When you do seek that medical help one of the first questions that is often asked is ‘does the child have a temperature?’. “How do I know?”, used to be my response, but no more, thanks to the Braun Thermoscan.
Babies naturally tend to feel quite warm. Where, as adults, we may be able to feel our foreheads and, combined with the knowledge that we don’t feel well, be able to deduce that we have a temperature. With a baby it’s not that easy. Talking a child’s temperature with a thermometer is not the easiest thing to do. You will struggle to use an oral thermometer with a baby which tends to leave you with two choices, a forehead thermometer or an in-ear thermometer.
I’ve tried a forehead thermometer in the past but found it particularly awkward to keep it still on baby’s forehead for the required length of time as the child’s natural reaction seems to be to struggle and twist the head from side to side.
Thus, when I was faced with what appeared to be a very sick baby and with no easy way of telling just how serious it might be I vowed that I’d go and buy an in-ear thermometer if for no other reason than to give me peace of mind.
There are a number of models available on the market and seemingly little, other than price, to differentiate them. Of the choice available in Boots, the Braun Thermoscan appealed the most if for no other reason than the packaging stated that it was the brand used by more doctor’s offices than any other brand; not a claim that would usually sway me but without trying all the models how was I to know which was the best? I am, however, very pleased with my purchase.
In-ear thermometers are probably the easiest and most accurate way of taking a baby’s temperature. The Braun Thermoscan is a digital thermometer and uses infra-red to measure the child’s temperature. A small probe is placed just inside baby’s ear and, with the press of a button within a couple of seconds an accurate temperature measurement can be obtained. It’s that simple.
The accuracy of the temperature reading is enhanced by the use of a pre-warmed tip to the probe. The pre-warming literally takes a couple of seconds, the wait goes unnoticed, but does mean that the probe doesn’t cool the ear on insertion leading to a more accurate reading.
The probe is exceptionally easy to insert just inside the baby’s ear. It’s fairly soft and ideally sized even for small ears. Disposable tips can also be used for improved hygiene and accuracy. The thermometer cannot be used without one of these tips in place. Replacement tips seem to be widely available and work out at about 20p each; a small price to pay for peace of mind.
To help with the accuracy of the temperature reading the thermometer has a guidance system in place to ensure that the probe is placed correctly. A series of beeps is used to show when the thermometer is ready and when the temperature has been taken. This is accompanied by a visual indication in the form of a light that flashes when the temperature is being taken and stays steady when the process is complete. I have found it incredibly easy to use.
If you want to take multiple readings or review earlier temperature readings the thermometer will store the last 8 recorded temperatures. I have found this useful when baby is ill as it means you have a record over time of the changes in the fever.
The temperature is displayed on a small screen on the thermometer and is very easy to read. You can chose to view the temperature in either centigrade (celcius) or farenheit. The display screen will also tell you if the temperature recorded is too low, generally an indication that you’ve moved the thermometer before it’s finished. The measurable temperature range is 34-42.2 degrees C.
The thermometer comes with a case cum stand that’s proved to be really useful for storing the thermometer.
The thermometer is powered by “life-long” lithium batteries. How long they will last I don’t know but we haven’t had any issues in over a year. The unit auto-powers off after 60 seconds inactivity, preserving that battery life.
I have found this an essential piece of “baby” equipment (although it’s useful for the whole family). It’s easy to use and gives great peace of mind. It also means that when it is necessary to seek medical advice you are able to give an accurate and complete medical history which must aid the doctor in his assessment. Knowing when my son has a fever means that I can treat him more quickly and it’s such a fuss free process that it doesn’t bother him at all. In fact, sometimes he seems to enjoy the process!
Recommended.
Summary: A brilliant buy for all parents - knowing what you're dealing with helps so much!
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Last comment:
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dididave - 05.11.07 It is definitely a good idea and as you say babies wriggle like buggery with the forehead thermometer. I do think the forehead thermometers are more useful, less invasive and not as finicky once kids get past toddlerhood ( a word?). |
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