A Must Have For Flu Season. Braun ThermoScan Review!

As promised I have a great review for cold and flu season. I believe every home needs a thermometer in their medicine cabinet. You need to be able to monitor your children's (as well as your own and spouse's) temperature should you get sick. You need to know if a fever is in the safe zone or if it is rising too high and needs medical attention.

We received the Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer with ExacTemp™ Technology for review. As a Registered Nurse and mother I know the importance of being able to easily take a temperature. The ThermoScan worked great on my daughter as well as myself and my husband. I loved that it was easy to use for my whole family. I was impressed that Danika didn't mind me using it on her either.

So what is so different about the Braun ThermoScan? It has a unique pre-warmed tip. Unlike other ear thermometers, Braun ThermoScan ExacTemp features a patented pre-warmed tip. It minimizes the cooling effect that could result from the insertion of a cool probe tip. The pre-warmed tip helps ensure accuracy time after time.

A conventional tip at room temperature has a cooling effect on the ear canal. This cool-down effect can result in an inaccurate temperature reading shown on the display. A cooler temperature in the ear canal could also affect the accuracy of repeated measurements.

You also don't need to worry about whether or not you are properly taking the temperature. The Guidance System checks the position of the thermometer in the ear and confirms the accuracy of the measurement. I also liked that there is a light on it as well as a beep to confirm the temperature has been read. The light was great when taking Danika's temperature so I could see it was done.

I also liked that the memory stores eight temperature readings. It also offers disposable lens covers so you can use a fresh lens cover on each person you use the thermometer on ensuring you don't pass germs to one another.

You can buy the Braun ThermoScan at WalMart, Walgreens, Amazon.com and other major drug stores throughout the country. It sells for around $49.99 and in my opinion is a great investment.

Here are some tips on how to make this year’s cold and flu season a little more endurable for both children and parents from Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg, a New York pediatrician.

• Don’t get Mouthy with Me! Replace your child's toothbrush frequently and keep it separate from other family members' brushes when sick. If penny pinching, try soaking it in mouthwash after each use.
• Mommy’s Dearest-Fever is often one of the first signs of the flu. When temperature-taking, reach for what’s trusted. The Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer, which is used most by pediatricians and moms, features a pre-warmed tip and guidance system to ensure consistent readings. Vicks digital thermometers, which are pocket-sized and great for on-the-go, have a large display that changes color to help parents identify a fever.
• Find a Little Teapot, Short & Stout-Try using a neti pot to loosen and rid mucus, thereby clearing nasal passages. Neti pots have been used in India for centuries as one of the disciplines of yoga. For nasal congestion in babies, consider using 2-3 drops of nasal saline drops in each nostril, which are gentler, to help loosen and clear mucus.
• Better than a Spoonful of Sugar-Soothe sore throats and help the medicine go down by gargling with salt water. This is the safest, least expensive way to reduce scratchiness and swelling in the tissues. Mix one teaspoon of salt per pint of warm water to create the gargle.
• Black & White and Read All Over-Before tossing out an old phone book or using it to prop a door, try propping something else. Lying down can worsen congestion and increase sinus pressure and pain. Place a phone book or two under your mattress at night to elevate the head and lessen over-night congestion. If you have an infant, you can also prop a crib mattress to create elevation.
• Bedside Manner-Humidifiers keep the mucus membranes of the throat and nasal passages hydrated, allowing the tiny hairs in the airway to work at expelling germs. Throughout the night, try using a cool mist humidifier to soothe cold and cough symptoms, like the new Vicks GermFree Humidifier that kills up to 99.9% of mold and bacteria in the water.

Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, FAAP, is chief pediatric officer for RealAge.com and a mom of three active young children. The nationally renowned parenting expert and board-certified pediatrician has practiced pediatric and adolescent medicine for more than 14 years and maintains a successful private practice in New York City. She is also an assistant clinical professor in pediatrics at The Mount Sinai Medical Center and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

*This was not a paid post and products reviewed were provided to me free of charge. My opinion is my own and is not affected by the product being provided to me.