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A nursery is never complete without a couple of medical items that you will hopefully never use, one of these products is a thermometer to check on your baby’s temperature when they’re poorly and something that can provide a fever alert.
Modern-day thermometers have come along way from the days of the glass pipe with mercury – they’re very accurate, easy to read and pretty cheap. Nowadays having a digital thermometer in your home allows you to check your child’s temperature before seeking medical advice.
We’ve researched dozens of thermometers on the market to provide you with a shortlist of the best baby thermometers you can buy and where you can buy them from.
Baby Ear Thermometer Reviews
1. Braun ThermoScan 5 Digital Ear Thermometer
The Braun age precision ThermScan 5 is quite simply the only thermometer you will ever need and almost always tops round ups posts like this.
It will instantly tell you if it has been positioned correctly in the ear and has a pre-warm feature for improved speed on temperature reading. The pre-warmed tip also makes it less disruptive for a baby who can get annoyed with a cold metal object in the ear.
The user interface is a doddle to use and it feels lightweight to grip. Doesn’t matter if you’re right-handed or left-handed it is easy. The angle of the flexible tip is perfect to fit perfectly into any baby ear.
This digital ear thermometer is a very expensive product but it is the ultimate baby thermometer that is frighteningly accurate and designed in such a way that it’s not just suitable for babies but every member of the family – with 20 disposable tips there won’t be any contamination.
- Braun ThermoScan with professional accuracy – Trust the thermometer brand recommended by 8 out of 10 doctors
2. SVMUU 4 in 1 Thermometer
Suitable for baby, room, milk and bath.
This is the best baby thermometer to read child’s temperature if you’re on a budget. The thermometer has been well received by hundreds of customers on Amazon thanks to its ergonomic design and 1-second temperature reading with an accuracy of 0.3 degrees.
However, it’s greatest USP is the fact that as well as being a forehead thermometer which can read body temperature, you may also read the temperature of objects and materials such as milk and bath water making it a bit of a utility belt for your nursery.
It’s easy to use and easy to read; the LCD screen is pretty clear with the reading, there’s no complicated set up with this. Lastly, the price of this product is exceptionally reasonable and most of the time can be grabbed for less than £20.
- 【Quick and Accurate Measurement】SVMUU infrared thermometer is equipped with exceptional microchip and a high sensitivity sensor. The range of accuracy is only ± 0.3˚C / ± 0.54˚F. With a single button, you will get an accurate reading in 1 second.
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3. Gro Egg Baby Room Thermometer
Suitable for ambient room temperature readings only.
The GroEgg is a household name for parents and because it does exactly what you want it to do it’s hard to recommend another; it’s the best baby room thermometer. It’s got a nice oval-shaped design which changes colour depending on the ambient temperature so you don’t need to read the number at a distance to see if it’s too hot or cold.
The reading is accurate but it does take some time to acclimatise to get there and the position of the GroEgg plays a big part so do not place it near a radiator or a draft. However, once placed correctly and ‘warmed up’ it is accurate and will help you make sure the room temperature is perfect.
It has a gentle night light, too, which extends its usefulness past the newborn phase
It is mains powered which can be a bit of a pain if you need to have it in a specific position but the cable is long enough to stretch a fair distance.
It costs less than £15, is easy to read and will last you a lifetime and several babies. A safe and sound purchase and a nursery essential for most UK parents.
- Changes colour with the temperatue of the room
4. Geon Frog Bear and Pig Rectal Thermometer
Suitable for baby’s anus
Taking a rectal temperature gives the best and most accurate reading of baby’s temperature. This animal shaped rectal thermometer may be ideal for you if you would like to monitor your child’s temperature this way.
It’ll take 10 seconds for a reading with this baby thermometer but it is very accurate and user-friendly with it having only one button.
Needs 1 AA battery which is free but it will last you potentially years as it doesn’t need much power and let’s face it, you don’t need to use a thermometer that often.
It’s cheap as chips and at the time of writing has the maximum rating of 5/5 on Amazon from verified customers so you know it’s a reliable product.
- High Accuracy Celcius +/_ between 35.5 Degree Centigrade and 42 Degree Centigrade. Fahernheit +/- 0.2F Between 95.9F - 107.6F
5. Metene Baby Thermometer
Suitable for baby’s ears and forehead
The Metene thermometer is what you get if you want a budget option but accuracy is your priority and nothing else. It uses infrared and 100 data points per second to deliver a reading which has an error margin of just 0.5F.
Outside of the accurate reading, it can also read foreheads and has a decent ergonomic design. It’s not the most comfortable and the head is a little big which can block your vision a bit but nothing that’s a serious problem.
The LED display is one of the nicest as it’s rather subtle without glaring neon colours in your face. We like this and works very well when taking a reading in the night where your baby may be asleep.
Overall, this is a strong baby thermometer which provides one of the most accurate readings on the market at a reasonable price.
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6. Fairywill Thermometer
Suitable for baby’s ears, forehead, bath and room
This is an infrared thermometer that can read ears, foreheads, objects and the environment. It has only one button to make things easy and can read the temperature in 1 second and will give you a fever warning if it reaches the threshold.
It has an ergonomic design and lightweight in your hands, the end is conveniently shaped and comfortable for the baby – personally, we all thought it looked like a shaver! Built-in is a small memory unit which can store 20 readings which is ideal for parents looking to see if the baby is keeping a constant temperature or if it’s increasing/decreasing.
No disposable lens or cover need to keep costs down on a product that is already generously priced (less than £20). With over 850 positive reviews this is one of the best-rated baby thermometers on the market which tells us that it’s reliable and risk-free.
We get that most thermometers look and work the same but this one has more features than most in its price bracket making it one of the products with the highest return on investment.
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7. CocoBear Baby Thermometers
Suitable for baby’s ears and forehead
The CocoBear body temperature thermometer is a quality 3 in 1 device which will help you measure temperature in the ear, forehead and objects such as milk and food. It looks like a speed camera but has attachments to get the job done. This can help avoid seeking medical advice when there’s nothing to worry about
It’s very reasonably priced and sets itself apart with clear colour coded LED screen which turns green, amber or red to help those who aren’t able to tell if a temperature reading is a problem or not from memory.
Using infrared technology, the CocoBear best baby thermometers are able to give you an accurate reading in just 1 second which is lightning fast. As an added bonus, it has a memory feature which can save 30 readings to tell you easily if their temperature is rising or lowering in case you’ve forgotten what the previous reading was.
Overall, this is a quality device with the only con being that it’s somewhat bulkier than some of the others on the UK market albeit more expensive ones.
8. iProven Rectal Digital Thermometer for Baby
Suitable for anal insertion only
For a lightweight, cheap but basic thermometer take a look at the iProven digital rectal and oral thermometer for babies and adults. The features have been stripped down to be energy efficient (battery lasts a long time) and hard-wearing.
This is a rectal or oral thermometer and not one for the ears which is why it’s shaped the way it is. Some people may prefer this method to get a body temperature reading and if you’re one of these people then this is ideal.
It takes 10 seconds for an accurate temperature reading, which is quite slow, but it is very accurate and will give you a smiley face depending on whether the reading is high or not. It’s encased in a tough shell which can withstand knocks which can be a godsend in a busy house.
It’s easy to clean (thank god) and waterproof which makes it great to use during bath times. Order one and you’ll also get a 100-day money-back guarantee for peace of mind.
Overall, as far as rectal/oral thermometers go this is world-class because of how easy it is to use, how cheap it is to buy and just how tough and energy-efficient you’ll find it. Well worth considering on its own or in conjunction with an ear thermometer.
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9. Hkiytime Ear and Forehead Thermometer
Suitable for baby’s ears, forehead, milk and bath
This little known product has been labelled as a dual-mode body temperature reader but in reality, it’s a quad mode reader – it can measure the temperature from ears and forehead as well as objects such as food, milk and bathwater and lastly, it can read the ambient temperature.
That’s a lot of features for a product costing £20 and less. It’s even more amazing when you consider it has over 50 reviews and has managed to cling on to a perfect 5/5 star rating average.
It’s sleek with a modern design and a flexible tip, it feels light in the hand and reads the temperature quickly with a low error margin. Professional Certification-Conforms to CE, FDA and ROHS certification standards.
We feel that the only reason this one isn’t more well known is because of the funny name they’ve chosen for their brand and that it’s an online exclusive without prominence on the high street. Well, forget all that – this is class and one of the best baby thermometers on the market.
- DUAL MODE THERMOMETER-Forehead thermometer (suitable for all ages) and Ear thermometer function(only for the child above 3 months),Measure not only body temperature (forehead and ear), but also object temperature (baby milk, food, bath water) and ambient temperature. Suitable for all family members (infants, children and adults) with powerful clinical trials by medical experts and pediatricians
10. Carevas Forehead and Ear Digital Thermometer
Suitable for ears and foreheads
As far as best baby thermometers go, this is one of the most professional looking thermometers on the market, it simply looks amazing and it’s no wonder it has garnered a large following with mums and dads online in recent years.
Let’s talk about performance. This can read the temperature in 1 second flat with an accuracy of 0.2 degrees which is a godsend for parents who want quick answers to their fever worries. It has the functionality to measure the temperature in the ear, forehead and the environment.
The charging dock makes it look classy and gets rid of the annoyance of batteries. The weight of the thermometer is perfect as is the size of the nozzle which goes in the ear. The UI of the LED panel is intuitive and easy to use and very little instructions are needed.
This is one of our favourites here at Best For Mums, not only do we appreciate the effort they’ve made into the way it looks but the performance is as good as any other in the price range.
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11. NIERBO Ear Baby Thermometers
Suitable for baby’s ears and foreheads
The Nierbo thermometer uses infrared to detect the temperature of your baby’s ear or forehead to help detect a fever or not. If your baby is older than 3 months it will give you the result in 1 second which is rapid.
It has a modern design with a nice blue end which sets it apart from most plain white models out. It feels really light and easy to work in your hand and the angle of the tip is perfect to get into any ear without disrupting the baby.
The large LED display has a soft light which is not intrusive and clear in the dark making it ideal for night time checks. The device only has three buttons making it a doddle to operate even when you’re rushing around in a panic worrying about a potential fever.
The price point is extremely reasonable and can often be found for less than £15. The performance is very good and despite it being a relatively new entry in the market it has already garnered over a dozen positive reviews from verified purchased. A very good choice.
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Baby Thermometer Buyer’s Guide
As is tradition with every product guide we produce for our readers we write a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you understand the product you’re about to purchase.
What is a baby thermometer and how do they work
A baby thermometer is a manual or digital device which takes a temperature reading from different parts of their body, usually the ear, forehead, mouth or anus.
An old school mercury-based thermometer gets a reading because the volume of mercury changes depending on the temperature and it can be used inside a glass tube to give a reading. More details can be found at How Stuff Works. This is a slow and arduous process that just isn’t suitable for babies but can still be rudimentary used to gauge the temperature of a room.
Metal tipped digital thermometers work by looking at how electronic molecules in the metal flow. Higher temperatures create more resistance for the electricity which is then used to calculate the temperature of the metal. These are used primarily with oral and anal based thermometers. Read more about these here.
The best way to explain how modern infrared thermometers work is by quoting Sciencing – “Infrared light works like visible light–it can be focused, reflected or absorbed. Infrared thermometers usually use a lens to focus infrared light from one object onto a detector called a thermopile. The thermopile absorbs the infrared radiation and turns it into heat. The more infrared energy, the hotter the thermopile gets.” Infrared thermometers are now the most common way to measure temperature without being invasive in ears, armpits and foreheads.
Do you need a thermometer for newborn?
Yes and no. There are two major reasons for a parent of a newborn baby to use a thermometer – to make sure the temperature of a room is fine and to check if a baby has a fever. To get an accurate reading you will need some kind of thermometer even if it is a non-contact thermometer.
You could get by just fine without a thermometer but it does have to be said that life is much more convenient with one.
A room thermometer can be easily replaced with a modern central heating system with a thermostat and a fever can be detected without a thermostat. However, considering how cheap you can grab a thermometer for, even ones with memory, you would be making life a little harder for yourself by not getting one.
Types of baby thermometers
Bath thermometers
Baby bath thermometers are designed to test the temperature of bathwater before you put a baby in. Babies can’t regulate their temperatures yet and their temperatures increase quicker than adults so a hot bath can cause serious distress.
We don’t advertise products which are just baby bath thermometers but we do recommend plenty of multi purpose ones that can also read the temperature of liquids such as water.
Ear thermometers
Ear thermometers typically use infrared to get a temperature reading and are one of the least intrusive ways to get a temperature. Ear thermometers also tend to be forehead thermometers, too.
Room thermometer
Room thermometers also use infrared to detect the temperature in the environment around them. These need to constantly adjust rather than by a press of a button so they are usually mains powered.
Rectal thermometer
Rectal thermometers are exactly what you think they are – they are a thin stick that needs to be put up the bum of the baby for 10 seconds before they can get a reading. It’s exactly the same as how a vet would get the temperature of a dog.
Unpleasant for everyone involved but they are very accurate.
Which type of thermometer is most accurate for babies?
All modern best baby thermometers are pretty accurate but in our opinion, the rectal thermometers are probably the most accurate as they do come into direct contact with the insides of the baby and that is exactly what we want the reading of.
