Should I use a specific thermometer for temping?

[tiptoetulips]

As long as it's bbt (has decimal to the 100th place) you're good

[EllenGriswold]

I go against the grain -- I know most women use an official bbt thermometer (two decimal places) but I use a regular one and have never had any trouble seeing a temp shift. I picked mine because its fast - usually less than 10 seconds to get a reading, and has a really big screen for reading (much easier when my eyes don't want to open all the way in the morning).
This is the one I use: www.amazon.com/Vicks-Comfort-Flex-Digital-Thermometer/dp/B00005RL5E

I've used the pink target bbt in the past but I hated it, took forever to get a reading and I felt like mine would constantly pick the same decimal places every day, making me question the accuracy.

[Blackout81]

Here's my take/understanding - you only need to track to the tenth of a degree (so 98.X is enough). A regular thermometer looks like it does that but some of them only actually give accurate readings within t2/10 of a degree. sometimesit says it in tiny print on the package but not always. It does have to tell you on the insert but that doesn't help when buying.

I just picked up the Target brand BBT it was around $10 I believe. I used t the first time around but can't find the old one from 4 years ago. It does track to the 100th degree but I remember thinking it might be BS a bit since I would get the same readings pretty often (like 97.33). It got the job done though!

Edited for clarification

[Blackout81]

So I just did a few quick searches since I'm finally about to temp - here's what I found:

The Target BBT does have preset temps (97.18 to 97.33, 97.45, 97.58, 97.6, 97.73, 97.90, 98.04, 98.17, 98.34, 98.48, and 98.5, and so on) however, they ARE *supposedly* accurate to the tenth of a degree, which is all you need.

A few sites state that using a thermometer accurate to 2/10 of a degree is not considered accurate enough for charting (though I'm sure that's debatable). It seems, though I'm not 100% certain, that for a thermometer to call itself BBT, it must be accurate to 1/10th degree.

I have the Vicks thermometer for regular fever temping that EllenGriswold referenced above - I just did a quick search because my target one isn't open yet and I could return it - and it is only considered accurate to 2/10 a degree. That might not really make a big difference, but just something to consider since we're discussing.

[EllenGriswold]

Jan 24, 2015 15:43:50 GMT -5 Blackout81 said:

So I just did a few quick searches since I'm finally about to temp - here's what I found:

The Target BBT does have preset temps (97.18 to 97.33, 97.45, 97.58, 97.6, 97.73, 97.90, 98.04, 98.17, 98.34, 98.48, and 98.5, and so on) however, they ARE *supposedly* accurate to the tenth of a degree, which is all you need.

A few sites state that using a thermometer accurate to 2/10 of a degree is not considered accurate enough for charting (though I'm sure that's debatable). It seems, though I'm not 100% certain, that for a thermometer to call itself BBT, it must be accurate to 1/10th degree.

I have the Vicks thermometer for regular fever temping that EllenGriswold referenced above - I just did a quick search because my target one isn't open yet and I could return it - and it is only considered accurate to 2/10 a degree. That might not really make a big difference, but just something to consider since we're discussing.

Obviously I did not read all the inserts included in the thermometer packaging, and this may be an issue, but personally I have never had a problem seeing a sustained temp shift.  And for me, convenience (i.e. being able to see the screen clearly, and working faster) was pretty important since I'm actually using this thing every day.  

[daisy]

I use this one from Amazon.
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006F5BCLA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1422139723&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=41awRKNd44L&ref=plSrch

[Mushe]

I have the Mabis from Amazon and like it, after my Target one crapped out. But I barely temp, so there's that!

[awick14]

I have the same one as EllenGriswold and it works just fine.

Some ladies temps rise so little so going to the hundredth is better.

It really all depends on the person.

[july]

I bought this: www.walmart.com/ip/Reli-On-60-Second-Basal-Thermometer/10161099

You will want one that has a memory. I never felt I needed that fine of a reading of a temperature though.