Moms know that taking your child’s temperature the old school way with the thermometer under the tongue can be a nightmare. Do they really have it under their tongue? Did they lose their grip so that the reading is now inaccurate? Ugh. So much to worry about when you just want to know if your child has a fever. This is especially true in the age of COVID-19 when all moms are being extra cautious and are especially concerned about their child getting sick.

Even the thermometers that you stick in their ears can be a nuisance. It can be hard to tell if you’re sticking it in too far or not far enough. In the end, you just want an accurate reading so that you can know if you’re dealing with a feverish child.

Enter Dr. Talbot’s Infrared Thermometer.

This thermometer is non-contact. That means you’re not sticking it in their mouth, ear, or anywhere else for that matter! It’s not only hygienic but also extremely easy to use. All you have to do is hold the thermometer 1.5 cm-5cm away from the forehead for one second to get a reading.

How to Use Dr. Talbot’s Infrared Thermometer

Turn the thermometer on by pressing the Scan/Power button. You’ll hear a beep then see the screen flashing that it’s ready to use. You’ll see a degree sign followed by the letter “F” or “C” for Fahrenheit or celsius.

Then, point the thermometer 1.5cm-5cm away from the forehead to take your child’s temperature. Release after just one second. You’ll hear a beep and then see the temperature reading on the screen. That’s it! 

When you’re done, just hold the Scan/Power button down for 5 seconds to shut it off.

It sounds hard to believe but it really is that simple! 

Putting it to the Test

After receiving Dr. Talbot’s thermometer in the mail, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Knowing that everyone in my house was healthy and fever-free, we gave it a whirl to see how accurate it was. For years I’ve been using the thermometer that goes into the ear. As I mentioned above, this can be a nuisance because you never know if you’re doing it right. So, I was more than excited to just be able to aim this at my child’s forehead and get immediate results.

That’s just what I did! I took both my children’s temperature as well as my husband’s. The readings came back immediately and all showed no fever. There was no fuss when taking my children’s temperatures because it was quick and painless. It doesn’t get much better than that!

If there was a temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, I would have heard six consecutive beeps to alert me of a fever. If the temperature was over 108 degrees Fahrenheit I would have seen a “Hi” icon followed by two consecutive beeps. 

On the flip side, if a low reading was detected (below 89.6 degrees), two consecutive beeps would have followed as well as a “Lo” icon.

Since I didn’t see or hear any of these things, I knew we were in the clear. The thermometer advertises that it is accurate to within .5 degrees, so I felt confident with the results.

Another great feature is that it can recall the last 32 readings. So, if you took your child’s temperature a few hours ago and can’t remember what it was, you’ll still be able to find out with the thermometer. This is an extremely helpful tool for parents who are monitoring their child’s fever when they’re sick. There’s also a low battery indicator so you’ll know when to change the batteries and maintain an accurate reading.

Besides the accuracy, as I was using the thermometer, I noticed how lightweight it is and compact. When we finally get to travel again, I’ll surely be packing this in my bag because it takes up hardly any room and weighs practically nothing!

When it comes to an easy-to-use thermometer that is good for infants, children, and adults, this one from Dr. Talbot’s is it.