Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer Review & Giveaway

I had the opportunity to try the Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer with my family recently. I jumped at the chance! Mostly because with four young children and it being the late winter cold season we are taking temperatures quite often around here. A product that claimed to accurately take your child's temperature so easily it can be done while they sleep certainly peaked my interest.

We usually use a standard digital thermometer or and ear thermometer. Both have their drawbacks. With our ear thermometer you need to gently pull down on the outer part of the ear, not ideal with ear infections and the such. It also seems to be a little temperamental. Often I get a wide range of readings not only from ear to ear, but on the same side it can vary by degrees in just a few moments. Which leads me to using the traditional digital thermometer. I want to be sure that I have an accurate reading prior to calling my pediatrician with a problem.

Therefore, I have high expectations of my thermometer. I want to be able to easily take my child's temperature with the minimal amount of disruption, but to do so accurately and consistently.

I received my Exergen Temporal Scanner and was skeptical. I don't have much experience with a forehead thermometer, but after the promises of the ear thermometer and our differing personal experiences I was unsure how this was going to work out. I took item out of the package and read the instructions.

Right off the bat I made two common mistakes. I left the transparent cover on the tip which gave me crazy different readings. I also would place it on the middle of my forehead and press the button, then move it across to my temple. The problem being that I was treating it like my other thermometers with a quick press. Upon rereading the directions I discovered my faux pas and tried again.

To say that we love this is an understatement. Daddy D, who is often not that interested in the gadgets and such that I receive, is absolutely enamoured with this thermometer! He tested it over and over and over. He did comparisons to our other thermometers. He literally did just as the literature suggested and took one of our kid's temperatures while sleeping. Not only did my son not wake up, even though he felt warm to the touch we knew his fever was not significant enough to warrant intervention with medication. In our family this has very quickly become indispensable!



The thermometer has been tested and found to be accurate to within +0.2 Fahrenheit. This is more accurate a reading than oral, ear or even rectally. The Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer reads your temperature by scanning the skin over the temporal artery that runs across your forehead. This is accurate because this artery is connected directly to the heart via the cartiod artery.

The feature I love about this thermometer is that there is a power indicator light on both the back and front of the unit. It is powered by one 9 volt battery. As I have a habit of taking a temperature and putting the thermometer down on the table while I tend to the child, usually leaving the front with the display face down. On other thermometers I have no idea whether or not it is turned off and I forget about it, draining the battery. The power indicator light being placed also on the reverse of the thermometer reminds me within seconds with it's little red light that I have left it on. It's a little thing, but one that I love.


How can you get one of these? They are available at Walmart, Costco, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Target, Walgreens and Sam's Club. The cost varies between $30 and $50 depending on your point of purchase. You can also save $5 by downloading a rebate form here.

Or you can win it! One Momma D and Da Boyz reader will win and Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer in a giveaway hosted here.

For your first entry please leave a comment with what is the most common ailment you use a thermometer for in your family. Please be sure that your profile has your email right on it, or be sure to leave your email address in your comment. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only.

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This giveaway will end at midnight on 3/25/10

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided without charge by the Exergen Corporation for this review. Although I received the product for free all of the views expressed here are my opinion and experiences.