TIPS tesing the Kamillosan thermometer soother

I am delighted to bring you the final results in the Kamillosan thermometer soother trial. As a passionate advocate of breastfeeding and keen supporter of open cups (you can read my article on cup feeding here) you may wonder why I have chosen to test a soother. This product was brought to my attention by the supplier of Kamillosan nipple cream, previously tested by TIPS (you can read all about this trial here). This soother is a common baby item used in an innovative way and I thought it worthy of its own trial.

The thermometer soother appears to offer a simple and very effective way of taking your baby’s temperature. This can be a difficult task, especially if your baby is fractious and will not stay still long enough for conventional thermometers to work.

I am pleased to say that our independent testers agreed this was indeed worthy of recognition which is why we have decided to present it with a TIPS Innovation award.

• Review
• Overview of the testing process
• Testing methodology
• Questionnaire

Developed by Kamillosan, this product comes in a simple but practical box, complete with the clear and concise information you would expect from this established brand.

The thermometer soother is compact, easy to use. It is ideal for travelling, as smaller than other digital thermometers. The protective cover keeps the thermometer clean and dust free. However, Testers suggested a small handle would have been a useful addition.
This device was especially effective at keeping babies who use soothers calm while their temperature was being taken. Other infants may benefit from a choice of teats, for example ergonomic teats (for breastfed babies), small teats for babies and bigger ones for toddlers.
LCD readings were accurate and the audible beep worked well. Some additional features may be useful - for example, a system of lights to indicate a ‘normal’ or ‘high’ reading or an illuminated display for night time use. However, such features may significantly increase the cost of the soother. Overall, testers were suitably impressed by this clever use of an everyday product.

Here are some of the Testers’ comments:
• It combines something that most babies are comforted by with a means of taking their temperature
• Displaying the final reading means you can deal with a wriggling child and not miss an important reading
• It’s the most accurate thermometer I have used
• So simple she could put the soother in and out herself
• It was lovely to be able to sooth her while her temperature was taken [back to top]

I would like to thank the supplier for providing the thermometer soothers in this trial. Without their co-operation and confidence in the TIPS testing programme, this in-depth trial would not have been possible. We sent 24 soothers and asked 19 questions on the feedback form. We expect the information we have collated as a result of our detailed and independent market research to prove invaluable. The strengths and weaknesses of this product have been highlighted through the TIPS testing process. Companies will be able to use this information to improve their products in the future.
I would also like to thank the team of dedicated TIPS parent Testers whose comments and detailed feedback allow the TIPS testing programme to achieve a level of independence and impartiality that is second to none. I hope visitors to the TIPS website find our comprehensive review of this product useful.
Please note that products tested by TIPS are not free or promotional products, but samples for the sole purpose of independent testing. All Testers must agree and sign a copy of the TIPS Award Scheme terms and conditions before taking part in a TIPS trial.
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Testers received samples with: detailed guidelines explaining exactly what to look for in each product when carrying out the tests and detailed questionnaires with information about price, brand, distributor and any additional instructions.

The following text was included in the testers’ guidelines:

How to test
Please follow the instructions included with each soother. Use it a few times until you are happy that you have tested it to your satisfaction before filling in your questionnaire.
Please take time to read the following information before you start testing the soother.

Safety first
• Do not bend or drop the thermometer
• This is not a toy, do not allow your baby to play with it
• Do not immerse in water or chemical sterilisers
• Keep out of direct sunlight

Things to remember when testing the thermometer soother:
• Before using your thermometer soother read the instruction leaflets in the product box
• Using a Milton antibacterial wipe (supplied with your soother) carefully wipe the silicon soother remembering not to get the LCD or battery cover wet.
• Let the soother dry completely before use
• Press the on /off button, a beep sound will be heard and the display will show ‘188.8’
• The last temperature reading will be displayed for 2 seconds before displaying L°C
• Put the soother in your baby’s mouth making sure you achieve a good seal (this should be possible as your baby starts to suck on the soother)
• The measurement of the baby’s temperature usually takes around 2 minutes when the ‘°C’ will stop flashing and an audible beep sounds for 5 seconds
• Read off the temperature that will be shown on the LCD screen. (range is 35.5°C’ – 42.0°C)
• If it seems particularly low (below 35°C) this may mean you did not get a good sea. You should switch the soother off, then back on and try again
• After use, turn off the soother using the switch. If you forget to turn it off it will automatically shut off after 10 minutes. [back to top]