You have to understand that thermometers are holy. A part of the religion of medicine. They are a necessary tool for intake into the temple of medicine (office or ER). I love it when I get a report from the ER saying infant brought in for tactile temperature (in other words, mom touched kid, and kid was hot!) I use my magic grandmother hands to tell if kid has temp or a kiss on the forehead works well, however neither are scientific, just very accurate :-) But I have to have a NUMBER in the record. You wouldn't believe how many nursing research papers have been written on how, why and where to take temps :-) Sincerely, Pat in SNJ