Customer Reviews
Expensive Junk 
2008-03-28
ZERO stars. I just threw this one away because it's too much of a pain to try and get my money back. The range of readings it gives (on the same person, readings taken one right after the other) is HUGE! On a "healthy" child I just got the following five readings: 99.4, 95.1 96.2 98.8 and 97.1 Utterly useless. Don't waste your money.
N.B. I DID take off the protective cover. I DID follow the instructions. I DID wait for the beep. I used it in the day, under a low-stress situation, on a cooperative child. In the dark, late at night, when you're panicked and the child is sweating and crying, and your expensive, high-tech thermometer turns out to be useless, just getting your money back won't be much consolation. I'm seriously wondering if the people that rated this 5 stars got paid by the manufacturer to do so.
Great item, would definitely purchase again 
2008-02-16
Just got this yesterday and tested it out. After a couple minutes of practice, got the technique down and now get very consistent, accurate readings.
Pros:
* Non-invasive
* Accurate, consistent readings
* Made in USA (can you believe it!?!)
* Free battery
Cons:
* Requires a little practice to get the proper technique. Not recommended for those with an IQ under 60.
Only thermometer you should own! 2008-02-14
Easy to use and a lot better for the baby than putting something in it's ear or bum!!
Not consistent, and so it is useless. 2008-02-09
I bought the Exergen based on the rave reviews here. I'll give the manufacturer the benefit of the doubt here and suggest that maybe I got a bum unit, but I doubt it. It seemed to function OK, but it didn't even begin to live up to my expectations.
I read the instructions carefully, and even looked up other tips as to how to use it properly on the web. The best readings I got were when I placed it on the forehead over one eye, dragged it slowly over to above the other eye, continuing over and down to the temple, then straight down the side of the face, stopping in front of the ear, with the whole process taking maybe 5 seconds. Whatever you do, don't press the button until the unit is in full skin contact, and you should release the button before removing the unit from skin contact.
That was maybe the 10th process I used and it was the most consistent, maybe +/- 1 degree F or so. Even so, every 3rd reading or so I'd get a +/- 2 F outlier, and so couldn't really trust it without some statistical evidence, hence the need for 5 or so readings to get any kind of feel for the real temp. Sorry, that's not good enough for me. Good try though.
Beyond the problems I experience with accuracy, the unit could be improved in other ways. The angle of the head is crazy, and prevents you from ever knowing if it is positioned squarely on the skin. Exergen, please remove the angle from the head! The erratic beeps given off during measurement are confusing, and after using it maybe 300 times I still have no idea what they were trying to tell me - and I'm no technophobe (not by a long shot). Finally, the activation button is too rubbery, and too prone to accidental release, and this combined with the cryptic beeping makes for a very frustrating user experience.
I ended up giving my unit away to a friend who has kids. He's almost got his PhD, so maybe he can figure out how to get accurate results from it. I'd recommend you avoid this and give the Thermofocus a try. I haven't actually tried that unit, but at least it doesn't require skin contact, and it's hard to believe it could be any worse than the Exergen.
Very handy abd accurate. 2008-01-20
I love this product, I can instantly get my son's temp every morning before daycare. The greatest thing was when we go to his Pediatrician, they have the same brand, just the upscaled clinical model, and it gives the same reading as mine! The only problem is you can only drop it about 400x before it goes kerplooey. I never had problems putting the battery in the thing or running it, maybe the reviewer who had this prob didn't realize it only takes one 9v??; pretty much a no brainer to use, etc... I'm looking to replace my 1st one that lasted over 3 years & tons of abuse.
I recommend it. 2008-07-11
I brought one, and it works.
It reads the expected 97.1-97.7 F in less than two seconds most of the time. I scan myself, then baby to compare. It's a simple forehead scan.
Whatever the variation, the point is that I know it's normal enough. My newborn doesn't need to be taken to the doctor. What a relief.
Not having to deal with sticking a thermometer under a squirming child's tongue, armpit, rear, or ear and holding it there for what seems like ages it a huge relief. I recommend it, unless you are of extraordinary low IQ or a creationist.
Finally! A thermometer I can use! 2008-05-31
I tried the Braun ear thermometer, and I just couldn't hold it in my baby's ear for long enough, it always read too low. I noticed my doctor using Exergen (professional version), so looked for the home version. It takes only a few seconds and reads much more accurately than the ear versions.
great product 2008-05-09
the product is very easy to use and when we use it on the baby,the baby does not fuss like a ordinaly themometer
The only thermometer we use now! 2008-04-15
We owned 2 other thermometers before buying this one and never trusted them. Who has time to figure out how many degrees to add for under arm, etc. when your baby is ill and cranky? With just a simple swipe, this thermometer quickly, painlessly and accurately gives you the right temp with no conversions necessary.
Yes, as others have suggested, you must be a little more careful when taking the temp as the entire 'cap' needs to be placed directly on the skin when swiping. Minor lifts will result in minor deviations in temperature. However, unless you really lift it away from the skin, the readings do not vary by much (< .5 degrees Farenheit). I agree that while you have a trashing child, this may not be as simple a task as you might expect, but what's the alternative? Holding down that same trashing child to take an accurate rectal reading? No thanks! :)
I only have 2 complaints about this product. 1) The digital readout is not lit so if you're taking the temp in a dim room (like while your baby is sleeping), you can expect to bring a flashlight to read the results. 2) The cover for the thermometer is very easily lost as it is simply a plastic cap that is detached from the unit itself.
Otherwise, I'm a complete fan of this product, and we've chucked all other thermometers in our household. Even my husband and I use it on ourselves - it's a lot quicker than placing a thermometer under my tongue! :)
Fine, but won't replace a standard thermometer. 
2008-04-05
This seems to be better for quick checks of a baby's temperature rather than a real replacement for a standard digital thermometer. It is difficult to hold it even with the forehead surface, and frequently gives me different, or very low, readings regardless of how I use it, or which instructions I follow. I ended up buying a small digital rectal thermometer for use when I *really* need to know the temperature, which makes this a pretty expensive gimmick.
I decided to keep mine, but I wouldn't buy it again. Maybe the next generation will be better.
Sean P. Logue, 2008
