Thermometer Kids Views
Pacifier thermometers may seem convenient, but again, their readings are less reliable than rectal temperatures and shouldn't be used in infants younger than 3 months. They also require kids to keep the pacifier in their mouth for several minutes without moving, which is a nearly impossible task for most babies and toddlers.
For kids 4 years or older, you can usually use a digital thermometer to take an oral temperature if your child will cooperate. However, kids who have frequent coughs or are breathing through their mouths because of stuffy noses might not be able to keep their mouths closed long enough for an accurate oral reading. In these cases, you can use the tympanic method (with an electronic ear thermometer) or axillary method (with a digital thermometer).
All kids get fevers, and in the majority of cases, most are completely back to normal within a few days. For older infants and kids (but not necessarily for infants younger than 3 months), the way they act is far more important than the reading on your thermometer. Everyone gets cranky when they have a fever. This is normal and should be expected.
I am concerned, though, about the story regarding testing the medallion to see if it is pure gold. I believe it is unwise to give kids the idea that breaking a mercury thermometer is an acceptable thing to do. Mercury is highly poisonous and it would be dangerous for kids to touch the mercury in any way. Also, many thermometers today do not use mercury and therefore the kids may break a thermometer and not even get the proposed results.
Thermometer Kids Images
