The best baby bath thermometers to ensure your baby is safe

Shortlisted for a 2022 Mother&Baby award, the Schnuggle Pebbly Baby Bath Thermometer takes the stress out of the baby's bathtime. You simply place it in the water and the accurate display will show a heart when the water reaches the pre-set temperature. Our mum tester, Lily, appreciated this ease, pointing out that “This product is so easy to use, and anything to make baby bath time easier is a winner!”.

The Shnuggle Pebbly also boasts an easy-to-read screen that self-rights in water and can even be seen through bubbles, which Lily thought set it apart from others she’d used, saying “The heart light-up ensures that the bath is at the right temperature and is easy to see. Other bath thermostats I have used have been tricky to read and used beeps instead of lighting up, which isn't as user-friendly”. 

While safety is at the forefront of our testing when it comes to baby bath thermometers, all our testers praised the modern design and elegant shape of the Shnuggle Pebbly Bath Thermometer with our tester mum, Charlotte noting that it's "aesthetically pleasing and when sat on the side of my bath at home blends in well without being garish and bright which I like".

Read our review of the Shnuggle Pebbly Baby Bath Thermometer

We cannot get enough of this bath and room thermometer by Phillips. As we all know, parenting is a costly business, so when we learned that this device could be used in both the bath and around the home, it piqued our interest. Our reviewer agreed, saying it’s a “fabulous product. Great for checking what temperature a room or bath water is at”.

The gender-neutral green design would look chic on the bedroom side and in the tub with your little one. It's safe and fun for babies of all ages to play with, and the digital display is easy to use. While it’s more expensive than others on our list, we love a 2-in-1 gadget, and this thermometer ticks all the boxes, with the ability to be wiped down and used as a room thermometer as well so it offers better value for money. Testers also thought it “feels durable” so should last well.

Who doesn't love a rubber duck in the tub? This classic-looking digital duckling will not disappoint. The friendly-looking water thermometer allows you to see the temperature of the bath water at a glance, with a red warning light that illuminates when the water temperature is too hot. Reviewers felt that this provided peace of mind, especially as a new parent and said “when you're a new parent, this is invaluable. It has a flashing light and the word hot in bold if it's too hot, and then the word cold with no light if it's too cold”. When it shows the temperature, you’ll know the water’s at the right point.

It's easy to work, just tap it on the palm of your hand and it will come on and start to read the temperature. The duck automatically turns off after an hour and seamlessly blends in with your baby's other bath-time toys.

If you are looking for a cheap yet effective bath thermometer, we’d recommend the Munchkin Hot Safety Bath Duck. 

It’s worth considering that, unlike other bath thermometers in this list, the Munchkin Hot Safety Bath Duck doesn’t tell you the exact temperature of the water. Instead, it displays whether the water is too hot with a disc on the bottom that changes colour, revealing the word 'HOT' when the bath water is too hot. It's a fun toy for your little one to play with and is water-tight to prevent mildew with reviewers appreciated, saying “I bought this rubber duck after getting a batch of smaller ones with holes in the bottom for a squeaker. I realised soon enough that this creates a great space for mould to grow, and bath time then turns into sitting in dirty water. This does the job and is a good size”.

Whilst not knowing the exact temperature may be a drawback for some parents, the affordable price tag and playful element make this thermometer worth considering if you are on a budget.

If your bathroom is already full of bath toys, or you're looking for a bath thermometer that can easily be transported on holiday, a bath thermometer card is a good investment. 

Unlike others on this list, you can't leave it floating in the bath with your baby, but its large Liquid Crystal display tells you at a glance whether or not the bath water is safe. A moving line has a changing colour display from 32 – 40+ C, so once the bar has reached 36C to 37C, you know the bath water is at the right temperature.

The unique display screen does not require batteries and reviewers appreciated the simplicity, with one mum noting that it is “quick, easy, simple, trustworthy and effective, good for travelling”. With no moving or breakable parts and no need for batteries, it's a good thermometer to pack in your suitcase, send to your co-parents' home or leave at the grandparents.

A great option for crocodile-obsessed tots, this cute room and bath thermometer looks so friendly your little one definitely won't mind seeing it in the bath with them. This clever device re-checks the temperature every ten seconds to ensure the water does not become unsafe and automatically turns off after thirty minutes to save battery life. With a red and green indicator telling you at a glance whether the water is too hot or too cold, this easy-to-use croc is a must-have and reviewers agreed, saying “I've had the croc for 18 months now, and my son loves it, and it's very reliable. Also, the green and red flashing light is very helpful!”. 

Similar to the Philips Avent Bath and Baby Room Thermometer, the Dreambaby Room and Bath Baby Thermometer can also be used in the baby’s room as a room thermometer, so offers good value for money as a 2-in-1.

This penguin design is one of the cutest thermometers we have seen. Like some of the other thermometers on this list, it can be used in both the bath and baby's room so it’s good value for money. Suitable from birth, it is 100 per cent BPA-free so you can be confident leaving it in the bath with the baby and has a red light that flashes when the water is too hot so you can easily see if you need to make it cooler.

Customers have found this device is very reliable, and the batteries last a long time, with one reviewer saying "it's super reliable with the temperature reading, and we’ve tested it in variable temperatures. It's long-lasting; we’ve had this for six months now, and it’s still going strong. We haven’t needed to change the battery on it yet.”

Testers also loved that it could double up as a toy and a thermometer, and that it was suitable for both the bath and to tell the temperature in the bedroom, adding value for money – “Great to use out of water also for a room temp reading to ensure a comfortable environment, great quality and great price".

Okay, we know what you are thinking, 'How much?' And we understand your concern about the price. You might think it's a hefty investment for a bath thermometer. However, this device is much more than simply a baby bath thermometer. It also serves as a baby scale, a bath, and remains useful until your child reaches two years old, making it a valuable long-term investment. Reviewers favoured this multifunctional use, saying “we brought this bath for our new baby and love it. Our favourite features are the built in scales so we can keep a close eye on our daughter's weight, and also the built-in thermometer so we can see the temperature and make sure the baby is warm and comfortable”.

The innovative technology of this 3-in-1 digital baby bath allows you to precisely weigh your baby in the tub, whether there’s water in or not. As a bath, it's equally well thought out, with a non-slip insert at one end, making it suitable for newborn babies, and space at the other end for infants who can sit up by themselves. Online, parents have hailed this as a must-have product, and many can't stop raving about it to family and friends with tester saying "we have recommended this bath to our friends, and they love it! I would rate the bath 10/10 for quality/value for money”.