Baby Ear Thermometer - A Great Device for All New Parents

All parents will realize that babies are more prone to illness and infection than adults. This is mainly due to the fact that their immune systems are still developing and they haven't built up a resistance to common pathogens.

During illness it is quite normal for body temperature to increase. This is considered one of the body's many natural defense mechanisms as the rate of reproduction of many micro-organisms slows as body temperature increases. This has two important implications. Firstly, by monitoring your baby's temperature it is possible to track the status of the illness - if temperature is getting higher it indicates that the illness is developing, if temperature is getting lower then it indicates that the illness is passing. However, perhaps more importantly, the body has a tendency to overreact. Although very rare body temperature can rise far too high potentially resulting in fitting, coma, brain damage or even death. It is therefore very important for all homes with a young baby to have access to a reliable thermometer.

Conventional thermometers have numerous disadvantages, the main one being that they require a degree of cooperation for use. Babies of course don't understand the importance of this process and hence don't cooperate. For these reasons some parents resort to use of the rectal route. However, this causes significant discomfort and some babies will resist and show signs of distress. The process is also very slow and cumbersome taking a couple of minutes sometimes for a stable reading to be achieved due to the fact that the thermometer bulb has to rise to core body temperature. The analogue scale on traditional thermometers is difficult to read and is not as accurate as modern digital thermometers.

The baby ear thermometer is a fantastic solution. The device consists of a handle with a sensor on the end which is inserted into the ear canal to take a reading. These products cause very little discomfort and some will even warm the sensor up to body temperature before use. As a result many babies will barely even notice when these devices are used and will sleep through the whole process. The digital reading obtained is very easy to read and the result is displayed very quickly. This speed is due to the fact that these devices use a different technology to conventional thermometers and do not rely on the slow process of conduction. In fact they quantify levels of an invisible energy (called infrared) which is released from all warm objects (including babies). Through complex electronics and algorithms this reading is converted into a highly accurate digital temperature reading.

The ear canal is also considered as one of the optimal sites within the body to obtain a reliable temperature measurement. Firstly, the ear drum shares a blood supply with the section of the brain that controls overall body temperature meaning that the result obtained is almost real time. In direct contrast, the rectal route for instance lags significantly behind core body temperature so the temperature readings obtained are not always up to date. The environment within the ear is also not influenced by environmental variables - the oral route can be affected by recent cold or warm drinks for example.

Baby ear thermometers are very easy to use. Most just involve inserting the sensor into the ear and pushing a button. The top devices will provide visual and audible feedback to confirm that the sensor is in the correct location within the ear and that an accurate reading has been taken. These devices will normally store the last few readings obtained to enable you top monitor for trends. Some devices come with plastic caps (or lenses) which are placed over the sensor prior to use for hygiene reasons.

In contrast to popular belief baby ear thermometers can be used on older children and adults too. They are also suitable for self-use - i.e. you can operate the device yourself when monitoring your own core body temperature.

Baby ear thermometers were previously only available for professional use due to the high costs. However, due to developments in technology the price has come down quite significantly and they are now affordable to most households. They are a responsible and valuable investment for all homes with a baby or young children and will be used again and again.