As a parent you are probably all too familiar with the worry and concern that comes when your little one is poorly. One of the most worrying, yet common, symptoms can be a fever because it can very quickly go from 'everything's ok' to 'we need a doctor'. When Poppy was only a few weeks old her temperature spiked at 39'C, so I rang the doctors for an emergency appointment and they were luckily able to see her straight away. It transpired that she had an ear infection and sore throat, but that initial panic and fear over Poppy having a temperature induced fit was real. Nurofen for Children has recently released a revolutionary product to help you monitor your child's fever, even when they're sleeping.
Introducing the Nurofen for Children FeverSmart Temperature Monitor (£84.99), a stick-on device which allows you to continuously monitor your child's temperature via a Bluetooth-connected app, alerting you when it reaches a high level. It uses a gentle silicone adhesive patch with a sensor to accurately measure your child's armpit temperature. The silicone adhesive patches are attached on each occasion you need to use the FeverSmart and are available to purchase separately (there arnure four patches included in the FeverSmart box to begin with). At £5.99 for a pack of 4 these are more on the expensive side, especially if you were needing to monitor your child regularly over a period of time, so it is something to consider before purchasing. Also, depending on how sweaty your child gets when they have a fever can impact on how effective the patches are at keeping the FeverSmart in place. Poppy hasn't been very sweaty when she's had a fever, so it isn't an issue we've experienced but typically water (or sweat) affects how well something sticks.
The FeverSmart has a very impressive level of accuracy, within 0.2 degrees Celsius with correct usage, however environmental factors and a child's position can create a greater variance. To get the most accurate reading the monitor has to be stuck onto your child's armpit and then their arm kept down. Luckily, Poppy sleeps with her arms tucked under her tummy, which is the perfect sleeping position for using this. However, if your little one likes to have their arms over their head while sleeping then an accurate reading wouldn't be able to be taken. Again, something to consider before purchasing as to how suitable it would be for your family.
I didn't find placing the FeverSmart under Poppy's armpit a challenge, but did watch the guidance video on how to apply it on their app quite a few times! I can imagine if Poppy was irritable and/or upset then it could be harder, but so is keeping a baby still to take their temperature using an ear thermometer. At least with the FeverSmart once it is in the right position you don't have to worry about it again until you want to remove it. Real-time temperature readings (updated every 60 seconds) are sent to a Bluetooth-connected smart device (with a range of 40m), allowing you to keep a constant eye on your child's temperature without aggravating them, having to keep them still or risk waking them while sleeping.
The free app is downloadable from the Apple App Store and Google Play, making it accessible on almost all phones/tablets. As well as monitoring your child's temperature you can use the app to record additional symptoms along a timeline and when medication has been given. I really like that you can easily add in when you've given your child medicine because life as a parent is hectic and when it comes to medication timings can't be wrong.
When you log in to the app you are able to create different accounts for each of your children, which then allows you to record their medication/temperature information. As you have different profiles for each of your children it means you can look back at when they last had a temperature, which can be reassuring if they seem to be coming down with a fever regularly. Also within the app there are really helpful guidance videos on how to use the FeverSmart and troubleshooting questions if you need further help.
While monitoring your child's temperature the screen will be lit either green, amber or red depending on what their temperature is doing. This is ideal if you have other children to look after, as you can quickly glance at your screen to see if their temperature is rising worryingly high. The app will also give you a warning if it creeps dangerously high, allowing you to act straight away.
When Poppy was ill recently I did find it reassuring to be able to keep a constant eye on her temperature while she was sleeping because she was spending most of the day sleeping. I really like that you can record their temperature, when medication is given and check their temperature without disturbing them. The things to consider are the expense of buying replacement patches, your child's sleeping position and whether the 40m range it works in would suit your house lay out.
The device can be used from birth onwards (unless your baby is premature or of a low birth weight) and is available from Amazon and will soon be available to purchase on the nurofenforchildren.co.uk website.
Feel free to leave a comment - I love reading every single one :)
Helen x
*This post contains PR samples. As always all opinions are my own and 100% honest.
This sounds so good! Fever is one of my biggest concerns, esp when they're tiny & I'm constantly trying to take temperatures with the ear thermometer - this sounds so much better x
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. I have an ear thermometer and I always worry I’m not doing it right, plus it beeps loudly once in the ear which is such a pain when trying to get her temperature whilst she’s asleep!
ReplyDeleteThis is genius!!! I love how more and more of these things work on your smartphone!
ReplyDeleteThis is so clever, it must be so scary when your kid gets ill x
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! It's definitely worrying when children get a temperature and I can see this being great at easing parents concerns.
ReplyDeleteWow this looks really good. I am desperate for a new thermometer so may try this.
ReplyDeleteWow, this sounds so good. I love that it keeps track of their temperature and you don’t have to keep trying to take it yourself, both my kids hate keeping still when I try to take their temperature. Both my boys sleep with their arms all over the place so I doubt I’d be able to get a very accurate reading which is a shame because it does sound fab xx
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing idea, thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. Nila was poorly a few weeks ago and I would of loved having this to monitor her . Kira
ReplyDeleteThis looks SUCH a good idea! I am such a worrier when Florence is poorly and this would give me such peace of mind. x
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a really great idea. Temperatures and fevers can be so scary in little ones and it is horrible when you have to wake them to check what it is
ReplyDeleteMy kids suffer very badly with temperatures when they are poorly so this would have been perfect as babies as I love the idea of having something on them all the time to check.
ReplyDeleteI saw these on the TV and thought they were a fantastic idea.
ReplyDeleteKatie xoxo
My boy was ill a lot in his early years, suffering from bronchitis and fever for months at a time. This would have been great for monitoring him.
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant. It can be such a worry for parents when children become ill, having an accurate and easy way to monitor temperature is an invaluable resource.
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