We bought this when our baby was barely 1-2 months old — our pediatrician said it's essential after vaccines and this was the best option after research. We've had it since mid-2024 and still use it. Luckily we haven't needed it much for high fevers, but when accuracy matters, this is what we reach for.
Pediatrician said at one of the early visits: you need a reliable thermometer, especially for after vaccines. We bought this when baby was around 1-2 months old. Got it before we needed it — which is exactly when you should get it.
"We got it for two reasons — the obvious one being fever monitoring, but also because our pediatrician mentioned it could help with constipation relief in newborns if needed. We thankfully never had to use it for that second purpose, but it was good to know we had a reliable thermometer on hand. When it comes to checking whether a fever is actually high, this gives you the accurate reading you need — not just an estimate."
"Our doctor said get one after vaccines, so we got one. Simple as that. We've been lucky — baby hasn't run many fevers, so we haven't had to use it constantly. But on the occasions we needed an accurate reading, this delivered. What I like is that it'll keep being useful — even when she's 3 or 4 years old we'll still have a reliable thermometer. We also started using a digital forehead thermometer for quick routine checks, but for when you actually need to know if the fever is getting too high, we come back to this one."
We actually use two. A digital forehead one for quick routine checks — just want to know if baby feels warm, fast and easy. This rectal one for when the number actually matters — after a vaccine, baby seems genuinely sick, deciding whether to call the pediatrician. Our doctor specifically trusts the rectal reading when we call in. Having both isn't overkill, they just serve different situations.
Post-vaccine monitoring is mainly what we use this for. Doctor said watch temperature for 24-48 hours after each round. Having a reliable thermometer made those nights less anxious. "Feels warm" doesn't tell you whether to call the doctor at 2am. A number does.
Buy it before you need it. Don't wait until baby has a post-vaccine fever at 11pm to realize you have nothing reliable to check with. We bought this at 1-2 months old, it's still with us 20+ months later. Does its job when it counts.
Ask us anything! We've tested this extensively and are happy to share our experience.