It may be hard to believe, but some of the things you learned about fever and children’s health simply aren’t true. Some never were. Others have given way to improved thinking on running a temperature and its relationship to the health of a child.

The best way to know your child’s temperature so you can make an informed decision about whether they’re sick or not is to check it quickly and accurately with an ear and forehead thermometer. These are better than old-fashioned mercury thermometers that take too long to give readings and can break in a child’s mouth.

The right kids thermometer is the one that your child will let you use on them. Having their temperature taken is something that many children consider a real annoyance. But when cold and flu symptoms or other illnesses seem to be taking hold, monitoring temperature closely can help you decide when to give medicine and when to take your child to the hospital.

The right kids thermometer is the one that your child will let you use on them. Having their temperature taken is something that many children consider a real annoyance. But when cold and flu symptoms or other illnesses seem to be taking hold, monitoring temperature closely can help you decide when to give medicine and when to take your child to the hospital. Not that long ago, there was no such thing as a kid-friendly thermometer. An oral or rectal mercury tube thermometer was all that was available to check for a fever in any member of the family. Now, you have device and method choices.