Every family medicine cabinet should have a baby thermometer as it's necessary when you think your baby or toddler might have a fever. You may have a thermometer for their bath water, or baby room thermometer to ensure your baby's surroundings are just right, but you'll need a specific thermometer for when they're poorly. However, it's often a device you may not think about buying until your child is actually unwell.
Some of the options available can seem like an expensive piece of kit compared with the simple, old thermometers of our own childhoods, but they should last and are worth the investment for piece of mind. Your little one is likely to bring back numerous colds and flus from time spent at playgroups, nurseries and school through the years. Modern devices are easy to use and will allow you to check all family members' temperatures, so you can keep track of everyone's wellbeing.
Although colds and flu are a common aspect of childhood and are usually nothing to worry about, the advice from the NHS is to check your child's temperature if you think they are hot or are showing signs of being unwell. You should Ring the NHS Helpline on 111 if you have a baby under three months old with a temperature of 38°C or a baby between three and six months old and with a temperature of 39°C.
What to look for when choosing a thermometer
Every parent knows trying to hold a baby or toddler still for six minutes to get an accurate reading with an old-style thermometer is near impossible, so one that gives you a fast, accurate, digital reading is essential.
Look for one with a screen that is backlit light for nighttime use and a clear display. The ease of taking a temperature – at times without waking a sleeping child - is important, so perhaps consider contactless varieties. Not all baby thermometers are designed the same, so choose a type that will be the easiest for you to use. Finally, reliability is key so look for reputable and trusted brands and make sure you always have spare batteries to hand.
Best baby thermometers at a glance:
• Best for multi-purpose: Boots Non-Contact Baby Thermometer
• Best for clear display: Tommee Tippee No Touch Forehead Thermometer
• Best for quick results: LPOW Thermometer
• Best for being compact: Braun Digital Stick Thermometer
To help you take your baby's temperature, whether that's by forehead or ear, we've rounded up some of the best baby thermometers on the market. We have taken price, features, and design into consideration when selecting our favourites.
The best baby thermometers 2024
Best for multi-purpose
www.boots.com
Description
This clever Non-Contact Baby Thermometer from Boots has clinically proven accuracy and is multi-purpose, allowing you to measure your baby's bottle, food, bath water and room temperature as well. With easy-to-read symbols alerting you if things are out of the ordinary, we love the built-in memory, recording the last 60 readings for you. It's won frequently in our awards, and we highly recommend this reliable little gadget.
Mum Laura says: "This product looks good and comes with a perfectly handy storage case, and it's so easy to use anyone could do it! It's light and easy to pop into your handbag and very hygienic as there is no direct contact, which I'm hoping will help prevent the spread of germs."
Read our full Boots Non-contact Thermometer review
Pros
- Lightweight and travel friendly
- Comes with a storage case
- Built-in memory
Cons
- Some found it to be inconsistent
Best for easy use
www.boots.com
Description
Another non-contact thermometer that our testers really like is the Braun No Touch + forehead thermometer, which makes checking a wriggling baby's temperature a quick and easy task. Its dual technology means you get fast, precise temperature readings in two ways: In the Touch mode by placing the thermometer on the forehead and in No-Touch mode by holding the thermometer in front of your child's forehead.
Mum Lisa says: "Usually when we need to take the child's temperature, they are irritable and ill, making it difficult to get the child to sit still for any length of time. This is an amazing, precise, handy piece of kit which makes monitoring a child's temperature easier than before.
"Sound can be switched on and off at ease, which enables the temperature to be taken without disturbing a sleeping baby. The LED backlight means that the display can be read with ease in any light within a few seconds."
Read our full Braun Healthcare No Touch + forehead thermometer review
Pros
- No touch mode
- Fast reading
- Backlit display
Cons
- Resetting the device takes a while
Best for colour-coded display
Description
This ear thermometer measures a baby's temperature through the ear with professional accuracy. It has a night light and colour coded display, instantly glowing red if your child has a fever. To ensure accuracy according to age, the settings can easily be adjusted. This makes it a worthwhile investment for the whole family. Finally, a patented pre-warmed tip ensures comfort but also professional accuracy - a cool tip can sometimes inadvertently affect the reading. Buyer review: "A top-notch quality ear thermometer. Many hospitals and GPs use them (I had to bring my 10 week baby many times to both places and saw them using it on their patients), so somehow is a way to show its good quality and recommended by professionals. It's easier to use it when baby is lying down or asleep, but overall very easy to use."
Pros
- Age-adjustable fever guidance
- Pre-warmed tip
- Hygenic
- Braun is the brand often trusted for use in hospitals
Cons
- Difficult to use at night because readings are taken in-ear
Best for a clear display
Tommee TippeeDescription
This clever Tommee Tippee No Touch Forehead thermometer is perfect for reading the temperature of a sleeping child. We like how this thermometer is quick, accurate and really easy to use on young babies. Just hold the scanner up to 1-3cm away from the centre of the forehead, press the start button, and the temperature will show on the LCD display panel within one second.
Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert: "This thermometer is so easy to use which is a real relief when you have a poorly baby! I really like that you don't have to disturb baby either to use this. The display is nice and clear and the green and red light which indicates a fever is really helpful."
Read our full Tommee Tippee No Touch Forehead Thermometer review
Pros
- Non-intrusive
- Fever Indicator
- Stores last 20 readings in memory
Cons
- Doesn't come with a case
Best for simplicity
Description
This thermometer uses infrared technology to ascertain temperature without contact and gives accurate readings from within 2cm of the centre of the forehead. Light and efficient with a quiet vibrating action once the temperature has been taken, this thermometer is useful for those occasions when you desperately don't want to wake a sleeping baby.
Reviewers loved that it's simple in design and function, stating that it's easy to use and looks great. There isn't a manual on/off switch, which adds to the design appeal but it does mean it can inadvertently be switched on in a drawer or bag.
Pros
- sleek design
- clear, large reading
- quiet for unobtrusive nighttime use
- LED backlit display
Cons
- There isn't an on/off switch, so when in your bag it could inadvertently activate and drain battery
- It doesn't boast a whole range of features compared with some other thermometers, but it is simple to use
Best for being quiet
www.vivomed.com
Description
Silent and easy to use with the option to use zero contact, the Brother Max Infrared Digital 2-in-1 Head/Ear Thermometer is a great option for parents who may struggle to get near their little ones. Suitable to be used from birth, it can be used to measure your child's temperature from the head and ear in one second, accurate to 0.2°C. We love that it doesn't require any probe covers, so just needs a simple wipe after each use, ready for the next measurement.
Buyer review: "I love this product. Easy and quick to use with accurate results, which is what I need as a mama! Great design and easy to hold and store with minimal fiddling around with. I found this very useful as a parent for constant monitoring when babies are ill. Handy cover and clear instructions (although make sure you read to familiarise yourself) come with it looks good to boot."
Pros
- No need for probe covers
- One-touch readings
- Silent
Cons
- No backlight
Best for quick results
Description
Straight forward to use, this Femometer thermometer is reliable and accurate. To use you can hold it 2-3cm away from the forehead and press the start button. The measurement will be taken in just 1 second and a red screen instantly alerts the user to a fever. There are two modes to choose from, "Body" mode and "Surface" mode, so it can not only measure body temperature in babies or adults through the forehead mode but, cleverly, the temperature of water, bottles and food
too.
Review: "This device gives reliable (as compared to other thermometers) readings which are easy to read on its display. It feels well made and is a light, compact device."
Pros
- Non-contact thermometer
- Result in one second
- Flashes red and beeps to alert of a fever
Cons
- Not as solidly built as some other thermometers
Best for being compact
Description
Small enough to fit into your child's changing bag or your handbag, this Braun Digital StickThermometer comes at an affordable price. It's got Braun's built-in age precision technology, which can identify that temperatures are higher and lower for babies, older children and adults, making it suitable for the whole family. All you have to do is simply select your child's age before taking their temperature. Just pop it under your little one's armpit, and you'll have a temperature reading within eight seconds.
One buyer said: "This is the second one I've bought, bought one for us last year when our daughter was born, and then recently bought another one for a friend whose baby is due in a few months. Highly recommend for anyone with small children."
Pros
- Simple to use
- Age-adjustable fever guidance
Cons
- Takes longer to give a reading than other thermometers
FAQs ...
What is a high temperature for babies and what should I do?
"Your child's body is working all the time to maintain the optimum core temperature. Which all their organs need to function," explains consultant paediatrician and neonatologist Dr Elia Maalouf.
"When we take a baby or child's temperature, or an adult's for that matter, we're really measuring the core temperature of their body rather than that of the surface of their skin," explains Elia. "In order for the body to function efficiently, that temperature must fluctuate within a normal range of 36.5 to 37.2 degrees.
"Infections are the most common reason your child will get a temperature," says Elia.
"When an infection invades his body, it mounts what's called an 'inflammatory response' against it. Blood circulation increases around the infected area, carrying the antibodies needed to fight it. This causes his temperature to rise, which also happily kills off some bacteria and viruses that can't take the heat."
So a higher-than-normal reading on the thermometer can actually be a positive sign. "It's an indication that your child's body is mounting an effective response to kill off the infection," explains Elia.
"However, if your child has a temperature of 39.5 or above, you should always take action to try to lower it," he says.
The NHS urges parents to seek urgent medical advice if their baby under three months old has a temperature of 38°C or is between three and six months old and has a temperature of 39°C.
What Type of Baby Thermometers Are There?
There are so many different types of baby thermometers on the market that cost anywhere from £10 upwards; here's a run-down of the different options available:
In-ear thermometers: You'll notice most doctors use a digital in-ear thermometer to take babies' temperatures —this is because it is quick and painless while giving an accurate body temperature reading.
Non-contact thermometers (forehead): These work by taking an infrared reading from your baby's forehead, meaning you can check on their temperature with no physical contact. Don't confuse these with the cheaper strip forehead thermometers, which are very different and much less accurate. The NHS recommends avoiding using forehead strip-type thermometers.
Armpit thermometers: The NHS still recommends these when taking your baby's temperature —especially when they are a newborn.
Rectal thermometers: Although this is considered the most invasive way of checking temperature, it is thought to give the most accurate result.
Room thermometers: These can help you make sure that your baby's room is at the safest temperature for a baby. Experts suggest 16–20°C with a light blanket. Take a look at our pick of the best room thermometers here.
Bath thermometers: A baby's bath should be 37-38°C, and the only way to make sure you've got it right is with a baby bath thermometer.
When should I check a baby's temperature?
If your little one is appearing unwell or showing symptoms of a fever, it's always best to check their temperature. You may also want to measure their temperature if they're more fussy than usual or seem uncomfortable. They could be acting this way for a plethora reasons but it's best to check temperature for the process of elimination.
If your baby is under 2 months old, we'd recommend checking their temperature every two to four hours when they have a fever. Babies older than that won't have to be checked as regularly but it's still a good idea to keep track a few times throughout the day. Note the readings down for their doctor too.
How do I clean a baby thermometer?
Wipe the tip of your thermometer with alcohol-based wipes or some disinfectant. Alternatively, you could dip some cotton wool in some rubbing alcohol and wipe over it. You can do the same with an ear thermometer, or you can change the earpiece. Make sure the thermometer has fully dried before using again.
About the expert
Dr Elia Maalouf is a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children, the UK's largest private children's hospital. Dr Elia Maalouf specialises in the treatment of fevers.
Hannah James is a Parenting and Lifestyle Writer working across Mother&Baby, Yours and Grazia.