Reddit mentions: The best baby thermometers

Mold is a really complicated issue, and usually it's both an issue with the building (responsibility of the landlord) and the tenant's use of the building (responsibility of the tenant). Yes, the landlord has to help you - but they will argue as much as possible that it's entirely your fault (through incorrect use of the building) in order not to have to do anything. Since the mold is primarily damaging to your health, however, it would be in your best interests to better understand the causes - that way, you can either change your behaviour, or have solid evidence that the landlord needs to do something to the building.

Yes, sadly, this often means a fair amount of work for you.

The TL;DR for mold is that mold grows whenever the relative humidity at the surface of the wall (or just below the surface) is at or near saturation (i.e. around 80-100%). You first need to determine where the humidity is coming from.

• Is it coming from the air in the room? Bathrooms are prime candidates for mold, as showering increases the humidity content of the air to near saturation. Buy a hygrometer (example - there are plenty of models on the market) and watch the relative humidity of the air. Whenever it exceeds 60%, open the window (assuming that the air outside isn't even more humid than the air inside - an inside-outside thermometer/hygrometer is useful here) until it drops below 60%. Those hygrometers in general are super useful for telling you when and how much to open your windows to ventilate - I've got one in every room in my house.
  
• Is it coming through the wall? Even if you keep the room nice and dry, perhaps the wall (is it an exterior wall?) isn't watertight, and water is seeping in from the outside. You can't determine this directly, but if the air in the room is always below 60% humidity and the mold keeps growing, this is a strong indication of an issue with the building itself (a leaky wall).
  
  You then need to determine why that particular spot on the wall is a problem.
  
  
• Why is the wall cold? You'll notice that mold needs 80-100% relative humidity, while I was aiming for 60% in the ambient air. The reason is that, if the wall is colder than the air temperature, then the relative humidity increases as you get closer to the wall (cold air can hold less water vapour than warm air). You'll want to measure the temperature of the wall - an infrared thermometer (example - again, there are plenty of models available) is good for this. Record the wall temperature throughout the year - see if there is a spot that's much colder than the rest, and how it varies with the outside temperature.
  
  The wall could be cold due to:
  
  
• An external reason, e.g. a lack of insulation in the wall (a so-called Kältebrücke)), or
  
• An internal reason: You leaving the window half-open (auf Kipp) for too long, and so the cold outside air is cooling the wall just above the window (which is why you should never leave your windows half-open for prolonged periods of time in winter).
  
  Once you've collected enough data to fend off the immediate "you just need to ventilate more" reaction, go to your landlord and demand that he send a Gutachter (surveyor / expert) to determine the cause. This will take a while - the Gutachter will probably need to take many measurements throughout the year to determine the cause of the mold.
  
  If your landlord refuses to send a Gutachter, then you should consult with a lawyer (or join the local Mieterbund) to see whether you can unilaterally reduce the rent you pay until the mold problem is fixed. Here is an introduction - reducing the rent is a way to pressure your landlord into doing something about the problem.
  
  > I think the windos are letting water seep in from outside for example. When it's humid outside the windows have water drops running down them in the inside.
  
  This is interesting. It could be that your window doesn't seal (so it's letting humidity in from the outside), or that your window doesn't insulate very well (so the glass pane is simply cold, causing the humidity present in the room to condense on the pane). Observe and record this when it happens - temperature and humidity inside and outside. You're trying to see if there is a pattern, and whether it depends on outside temperature or rainfall. Honestly, most of the time it's just a lack of insulation in the pane (combined with a high internal humidity) - which is not a problem with the building.
  
  > No extractor fans or vents in the kitchen or bathroom.
  
  You don't need it if you have an exterior window.
  
  > The windows seem to be constantly steamed up and when we turn the heat up the water drips off them.
  
  This isn't causing mold per se, but it's probably an indication that the humidity inside the apartment is far too high. Use the hygrometers (see above) to meausure it, and strategically open your windows to lower it:
  
  
• Open them for a brief period (5-10 minutes) at least twice a day in the winter, preferably when the outside air is cold and dry.
  
• Don't open them if it's raining outside.
  
• Never leave them half-open for a prolonged period of time (exception: at night in summer, unless it's raining - you neither want cold winter air, nor humid summer air from constantly entering your apartment).
  
• In the summer, only open them (for a little longer - 15-20 minutes) if the outside air is dry and cooler - e.g. in the morning and evening, unless it's been raining.
  
• If possible, open windows on both sides of your apartment at the same time - this drastically cuts down on the time necessary to replace the humid air inside the apartment.
  
  Worst case, buy a dehumidifier - although note that they use a ton of electricity to run, but they're a good last-ditch brute-force solution for getting your humidity levels down.
  
  Good luck! :)

I also have a bunch of stuff on my registry that is inexpensive ($10-$25) for friends and if my coworkers decide to do a shower here which they have done for other new moms in the past. Here are some of the things I have on mine
Sleeping gowns so you don't have to unsnap the onesie for midnight changes

A baby tub

Tub Thermometer

Baby thermometer

Nose Frieda which others have mentioned

preferred bath/care products

Cloth diaps which make fantastic burp cloths/cleanup

Nursing pillow also good for tummy time


Plus some other odds and ends. People will also buy stuff that they like, so you'll probably get stuff that was not on your list and that is ok. You can also request to have a "diapers n wipes" shower which a friend did since she was on her 4th child, and she probably got 2 months worth of diapers and wipes out of it if not more. Also, make sure you get multiple covers for your changing pad, it'll be nice to have more than 1 when it needs washing! Congratulations!

Random thoughts:

• If you’re nursing, are you avoiding caffeine?
  
• When you put him down, have you tried both “scooped” (like a snug-a-puppy) and flat (like a bassinet) surfaces?
  
• Have you tried Happiest Baby on the Block soundtrack? (Hair dryer one sometimes works for our second. Always worked for our first.)
  
• Pacifiers? (If you’re not opposed to them and his latch is pretty established)
  
• Have you tried rockers with vibrating motors built in?
  
• Do you have a mobile? (We have a cheap one. The really tinny sound works sometimes, even when top-quality versions of the same songs fail to help when played over our high-end speakers)
  
• Have you checked his temperature? (I’d recommend using a skin thermometer, such as: Braun Forehead Thermometer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EP1ZLO0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ElgRBbEK6DAY1)
  
• If he has a low fever, check with his pediatrician to see whether you should give him baby Tylenol.
  
• Does he sleep when you take him for a drive?
  
• When you swaddle, do you make it tight enough that he can’t wriggle at all? (I recommend SwaddleMe, the straight jacket of swaddles)
  
  Hopefully something in here helps? Good luck!
  
  (Edit: my eyes! Formatting.)

Ok! More suggestions!

1. Don’t listen to defeatist assholes. You can be a great parent!
   
2. Warm baths. 100°F or below. I got this to measure the tub water and now I use it for my little one.
   https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bath-Thermometer-Room-FDTH-V0-22/dp/B07GC7H86T/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=tub+thermometer+baby&qid=1562893019&s=gateway&sprefix=tib+ther&sr=8-5
   
3. Good athletic shoes! I love the shoe brand Hoka. Best extravagance! Take care of your feet!
   
4. Take the childbirth, childcare and breastfeeding classes. The long version. It gives you time to get to know other new parents. That support is great.
   
5. Don’t expect to entirely breastfeed. I made it two weeks with my first and three weeks with my second. I had to go back on my meds. My supply was low. I had guilt. I did have appointments with lactation consultants and they put my mind at ease. If even the LC is saying it’s not worth it and you did great getting them the colostrum! It’s ok to quit. Fed is best. I give you the gift of not feeling guilty about this.
   
6. See if there is a parent/moms group in your area. Sometimes they are even led by a professional to start. This was awesome for me.
   
7. I second, fourth and fifth the suggestion of pillows. I used a regular body pillow myself, but I started to have a lot of neck and jaw pain, and this pillow helped a lot with that
   https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/therapedic-reg-trucool-reg-memory-foam-contour-pillow/1045349089?keyword=pillow
   
8. You can take unisom when pregnant. Just stop about ten days prior to possible birth. Otherwise it dries up your milk. You can take Trazodone when breastfeeding though! Yay!

Hi! We ran off of advice given to us and some lists online. (Lucie's list is really good.) What is unique to where you live? When are you due?

For example, I'm due Nov 7 and in Colorado. So we registered for warmer baby beanies as well as cold weather clothes like long sleeve footies and such. I also made sure to register for car window shades because the sun in Colorado is no joke. I added in a set of wetbags because I've heard they're insanely useful. There's also a rocking chair because my mom had one with me and my sister and swears by it.

We didn't register for any of the health kit things because they have a lot of stuff we've been told not to use (nail clippers) and other stuff we know we won't use (the bulb nose clearers are great I'm sure but the nurse at the infant class told us to just get the Nose Frida. We just put in a baby thermometer you can use under the baby's arm, nail files, comb and brush kit, and Boudreaux's Butt Paste because my mom was adamant we don't need to bother with anything else. I know we'll need to get baby Tylenol but I didn't bother to register for it. (Maybe I'll go ahead and add that now...) OH! Also teething stuff but you already got that. If I mentioned something you already have sorry, I got a bit carried away.

Anyway. It might help to go to Buy Buy Baby or Target or some place to register in person, just put everything cute on the list. You can shorten the list later but this will give you a broad scope if you're worried you're forgetting something.

I have been using the FeverFrida for the past several years and have been petty happy with it, but upon looking for the Amazon link I see it has pretty poor reviews. Most are related to the Bluetooth range and not the accuracy though.

The FeverFrida is a flat disc that you stick under the arm using an adhesive patch, and it measures the axillary temp constantly and sends to the app. Our pediatrician scoffed at first and said the only accurate temp in a baby was a rectal one, but we did a test right there in the office and it was spot on. I like that I can set a fever threshold to get alerted at and can mark when medication is given. The graph is fantastic and you can literally watch the medicine work.

So, good for little ones and worried mommies that want constant data, probably overkill if you just want a quick temp.

We have one you swipe across the forehead and really like it! Got it at Costco too (link is for Amazon though), so it was a pretty good deal :)

We've had a lot of luck with bath time... here's our routine:

Heat up the bathroom for about 5 minutes before prepping the bath. We have a little floating thermometer and can get the water to just about 101. We go grab the baby to get her ready, and the water drops to 100, which is perfect. We put a wet wash rag on her stomach and pour water over it throughout the bath. Once complete, we dry and take her into her room for lotion, a new diaper, and pajamas.

I'm telling you, the baby absolutely loves it. It's a little warm for us but we have a little fan pointed on us to keep us cool.

Here's the thermometer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KDJWZ3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zKbTBbZ0AT0FZ

Oh wow! Congrats! My cousin just has a baby and she had dozens and dozens of diapers on hand. Never enough. Also some first aid supplies, for a thermometer I'd suggest one of the forehead ones because it can be hard for the baby to hold it in their mouth long enough to get a good reading. Here's one I found on amazon, but you can always get it at a drug store :)

You should get a bathtub thermometer. I have this one MotherMed Baby Bath Thermometer and Floating Bath Toy BathTub and Swimming Pool Thermometer , Green Fish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4I19UX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xmN1AbA0JFXQT and I love it! It flashes a small red light if your water is hot enough to be harmful to a child/unborn baby, so I bet if you used this his sperm would be fine. I also enjoyed hot baths so hot it hurts to get in, I found those were around 106-108. Definitely not a safe temp. Now I try to stay at 102, it's not as hot but still plenty comfortable.

Temporal artery thermos work just as well. Best $30 spent.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/Exergen-Temporal-Forehead-Thermometer-Tat-2000c/dp/B004T6G550&ved=2ahUKEwi42LvykeDaAhXkyVQKHdLDAOIQFjAAegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw3u2__LpiNQzUvM9D8XYR91

Only some cheaper models this one always works and it's made by the same folks who make most of the temporal thermos in hospitals.

We just bought this one based on the recommendation of a few of my Facebook friends. They only had good things to say about it!

This is on my list even though a rectal thermometer is more accurate, getting a ballpark temp without diaper diving every time will be nice:

Kinsa Sesame Street Elmo Smart Ear Thermometer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H5QL8L6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_GP.Kzb4VQN9D2

Go ahead and buy stock in this stuff:

Boudreaux's Butt Paste Diaper Rash Ointment - Maximum Strength - Contains 40% Zinc Oxide - Pediatrican Recommended - Paraben and Preservative-Free - 4 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00569GU18/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.Q.KzbG1R3BVA

I really want one of these to live in postpartum:

Kindred Bravely The Angelina Ultra Soft Maternity & Nursing Nightgown Dress (Cabernet, XL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GDCG1DS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lS.KzbX4XQ9V7

Tiny infant leather moccasins! Not because they're walking, but because they'll need more foot insulation than just socks in the winter months.

Fuller Mini Maid is a small corded powerhouse, it's seriously awesome.

https://www.amazon.com/Fuller-Brush-Handheld-Vacuum-Tools/dp/B00A7BXEUK

Do you mean in the case of a bolometer like this? The laser does not measure the temperature, it is just used to align the IR sensor visually.

Don't buy anything battery operated. You'll be mad when it doesn't work in 6 months. Take a look at this https://www.amazon.com/Fuller-Brush-Handheld-Vacuum-Tools/dp/B00A7BXEUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469195170&sr=8-1&keywords=fuller+hand+vac. If you don't need a spinning brush than this is a great option. It's very powerful and comes with a small hose and attachments.

If you wanted a spinning brush than this should work for you https://www.amazon.com/Fuller-Brush-Power-Maid-Vacuum/dp/B00A7BXDZG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469195239&sr=8-2&keywords=fuller+hand+vac

HaloVa Diaper Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RLWKGQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_p2BlDb7ZQACD8

b&h Baby Bath Floating Duck Thermometer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073GGVN3Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_r-BlDb2WFQSE8

SoundBub, White Noise Machine and Bluetooth Speaker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HP06EFW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=froourhidpl00-20&linkId=34bb9c1662cbe0b851d4aa01447e155a&language=en_US

Sarah Wells Claire Breast Pump Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714M16GL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WMClDbTYY2SW1

Ergobaby Carrier, 360 All Carry Positions Baby Carrier, Pure Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFVLH4P/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MNClDbT74AG9X

Thermometer accuracy from most to least accurate: rectal, temporal(forehead), oral, tympanic(ear). I’m a paramedic, at work we use tympanic thermometers because of the convenience factor but we’re mainly looking for the presence of a fever and not the exact number. It’s consistently 1-2 degrees off. I get a lot of 96 degrees. In the hospital, they use a $300 Exergen temporal thermometer and with kids with high fevers they get a rectal. At home for my son, I use a $26 [Exergen temporal thermometer](Exergen Temporal Scan Forehead Artery Baby Thermometer Tat-2000c Scanner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004T6G550/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Lvg.zbTPVSA0V) I bought on Amazon.

It’s a Braun thermometer. There’s a thread on it somewhere. I have a similar one and really like it, but a lot of ppl said they are inaccurate.

Braun Thermometer 2 in 1 No-Touch + Front https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M35Y2J0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_nj0YCbD5SS4SA

ETA I did not even realize this was a no touch thermometer until just now. Mine is the kind where you swipe the forehead, so I guess they’re not all that similar.

Apparently you can buy them on amazon. I think I've seen strips that you can put on the forehead. Seems like a good idea for daycares and such as a baseline for calling a parent, but doesn't seem like a good idea for determining if you actually need to take them to a doctor.

For lupus? My most used gadgets are the notes 📝 app on my phone, and a thermometer that logs results to an app on my phone.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0795ZW85G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bluetooth rectal thermometer.

Edit: Found it!

Braun forehead thermometer.

http://www.amazon.com/Braun-FHT1000-Forehead-Thermometer/dp/B00EP1ZLO0/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1405554599&sr=1-1&keywords=braun+forehead+thermometer

We have veratemp infrared thermometers meaning I don't wake up babies or children by taking a temperature in their armpit or touching their forehead

https://www.amazon.com/Brooklands-11900-VeraTemp-Non-Contact-Thermometer/dp/B003YUFG8Y

I think it's a temperature strip:

http://www.amazon.com/Apex-Temp-Quik-Forehead-Strip-Thermometer/dp/B000EGPLXQ

If you don't mind spending ~$400, this is what we use at the hospital. If you don't want to spend that much, the same company makes this for ~$30.

I have been using these http://www.amazon.com/Flents-Fever-Reader-Thermometer/dp/B000P4YC0A/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1453470328&sr=1-1&keywords=strip+thermometer
They seem to be accurate enough to tell if the kid is really sick and needs a doctor visit

Where do I start? I'm 19, a premedical student at SUNY, University at Buffalo.

Over the summer my brother was diagnosed and passed away from an extremely rare form of stomach cancer at the age of 37. The doctors told us that in their 30+ years they haven't seen this kind of cancer in someone under the age of 70.

During that time I developed similar symptoms, nausea, extreme weight loss, GERD, etc. My doctor ran the whole shabang, CT w/ contrast, Barium Swallow, Blood Tests, Upper GI Endoscope. I just had some stomach inflammation, probably from the stress, and IBS from the stress. That since has gone away. But those tests came over the course of weeks. I was fantasizing about the worst everyday.

Fast forward into the semester, I'm doing fine, until I hear about this ebola thing on the news. For the first couple weeks I joke about it and how the media exaggerates it like its in the water system. Until I get a bit sick (probably a cold, around a 99.5ish temp) two weeks ago. I obsessed about symptoms and checked my temperature every ten minutes, all in the 99.0 - 99.3 range for the last 12ish days. I don't even know how accurate my thermometer is, since its a forehead one.(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EP1ZLO0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I finally started getting over the ebola panic until I stumbled upon this article,(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/03/rare-infection-prompts-neti-pot-warning/?_r=0), then I realized that I used one of the squinter bottle variations to clean my sinuses Nov. 5 - 7. I didn't use tap water, but I may have used filtered water from my own water filter thing that my dad installed. I think I boiled that water too, but I don't remember, but I'm 90% sure I did. I spent around 5 hours last night researching my water filter and the bacteria the causes the infection. I finally calmed down when I realized I probably would have been dead by now and that I don't even think this bacteria lives in upstate NY, since it's too cold...but I'm still counting the days...


Jeeez, I could go on forever, but ya, it sucks. I used to have a little hypochondriacal attitude, but never this bad. My stomach problems are coming back, probably the irritable bowel syndrome. But damn, ever since I read about that bacteria it kicked in my hypochondria hardcore mode.

I take 0.5 mg of Clonazepam as needed. Normally every couple of days before bed.