Science does not stand still, more and more products are offered for our convenience. One relatively recent invention for children is the digital pacifier thermometer. Is it worth taking a closer look at this invention, what factors to consider when buying, and what pros and cons consumers highlight - all this you will find in our article.
Pacifier thermometer: what is it?
This is a normal nipple with a built-in temperature sensor. To start the measurement, as well as to turn it off, just press the button near the display.
When might such a device be needed?
Digital thermometer-pacifier is, first of all, an ordinary thermometer, only with a children's orientation. And there are many cases when it is necessary to measure the temperature of a child:
- Measurements during the period of illness to determine the type, dose and appropriateness of the antipyretic.
- Measurements during teething, also to determine the need to lower the temperature by external means (drugs, compresses, rubdowns, etc.).
- Checking body temperature before vaccination.
- Monitoring the child's condition after vaccinations, droppers, and other injections.
Rationalityshopping
Most often, a nipple-thermometer becomes an unexpected gift for young parents, and they don’t have a choice “to buy or not to buy”, because happy friends or relatives have already made it for them.
However, if you yourself are thinking about buying, you need to remember two factors:
- Not all babies generally like nipples, thermometers in this form will also not please the child. Therefore, it will not work to measure the temperature with such a device, respectively.
- Even if your baby favors the nipples, the purchase will not serve you for a long time, a maximum of a year and a half. Of which you can freely use the device for only six months. After this age, the baby sleeps less often, and during wakefulness may be reluctant to open his mouth.
Some parents believe that a nipple thermometer (electronic) is an absolutely useless device, while others thank the creators for this invention. In any case, the choice is up to the parents and the baby.
Pros of pacifier thermometers
The most important plus is ease of use for the little ones! Of course, this only applies to those kids who favor this device.
Measurement accuracy is the second significant plus. The error of the instruments is no more than one tenth of a degree, which is quite enough for an accurate answer to the question - does the child have a fever or not.
Speed of measurement - an average of one to two minutes, and the temperaturemeasured. With mercury thermometers in this regard, nipples-thermometers, of course, are incomparable.
Most devices have a soft backlight, thanks to which you can read the measurement results even at night.
Most devices also store the result of the last measurement. This is a very handy feature when the last one was done at night, and by the morning the value is completely forgotten. Also, this function can be useful if you accidentally pressed the shutdown button, forgetting to look at the result.
The thermometer in the form of a pacifier does not contain any substances harmful or dangerous to the child, guarantees absolute safety of use. This compares favorably with the old mercury thermometers. And although modern thermometers no longer contain mercury, they are still made of glass and have a sharp tip, which is unacceptable for use in young children.
Cons of pacifier thermometers
The main disadvantage is that the pacifier will have to be taken away soon after the measurement, it is unacceptable to use it as a dummy. Otherwise, the measuring sensor will quickly fail. This disadvantage also causes a lot of inconvenience to parents, it is especially difficult to remove the pacifier from a child who already has front teeth.
Do not use the nipple thermometer for half an hour after eating. This is because chewing or sucking raises the temperature in the mouth.
During the temperature measurement, the child's mouth should be tightly closed, because when air enters the mouth "from the outside", the temperature in the mouth decreases. This minus is verysignificant, because it excludes the possibility of using nipples-thermometers with a blocked nose, when the baby simply cannot help breathing through his mouth.
Another disadvantage is that such a thermometer requires special storage conditions, and after use it is necessary to rinse the device.
Compared to regular nipples, thermometer nipples are noticeably heavier. The cheapest models have plastic "wings" rather than silicone, which makes it inconvenient to use the device - the spout can interfere.
On some models, a beep sounds after measurement. Quiet squeaking is quite capable of waking a child at night.
And the last disadvantage, understandable to everyone, is the short period of use of such a thermometer. In the best case - three years, on average no more than a year. Plus, there is a high chance that the child will not want to use the device at all.
Nipple thermometers: consumer reviews
If you decide that you, or rather your baby, need a thermometer nipple, customer reviews will help you decide on a specific model and the need to buy in general.
Some users are delighted with the pacifier and believe that the speed of temperature measurement is a big plus. Also note the long battery life, about 2 years. Another positive thing young mothers are happy with is the backlight, which is especially convenient at night. Also, at temperatures over 38 degrees, the display glows red.
But, like any product, these nipples also have negative reviews. Somebuyers claim that the temperature measurement time does not correspond to that stated in the product description. They say that you need to hold the pacifier for about 5 minutes, not one. There are also problems with measurement accuracy, since the baby sometimes opens his mouth, and the error can be about 1.5 degrees, which is very inconvenient. This device is also not suitable for measuring temperature during a runny nose, many mothers complain that during teething (when the nose is blocked) it will not be possible to determine the condition of the baby with such a device.
Pacifier-thermometer: is it harmful?
Pacifier-shaped thermometers are absolutely safe, because they do not contain mercury, glass and other harmful substances, their body is waterproof. Naturally, you should make a purchase in medical equipment stores, or in pharmacies. In no case should you order such a device through Chinese sites, where no one can guarantee the environmental friendliness of latex and the safety of plastic.
In conclusion, I would like to say: if your baby is still very small and recognizes the nipples, thermometers in this form can be a real salvation if you need to frequently measure temperature. He alth to you and your children!
