A baby thermometer is one bit of a baby gear that no household should ever be without – being able to quickly and accurately check your baby’s temperature is vital for ensuring that they don’t overheat, and for getting medical attention if they become unwell.
Baby thermometers come in several different types. But you can forget the old fashioned thermometers that might have been popped in your mouth or under your armpit when you were a child – nowadays baby thermometers can get an accurate body temperature reading within seconds, and some don’t even have to make contact with your baby’s skin.
To choose the right baby thermometer for your household, think about how comfortable you are taking your baby’s temperature. A non-contact thermometer, which takes your baby’s temperature without having to physically touch your baby, is very handy if you worry about holding your baby still for long enough to get an accurate reading of their temperature. An in-ear thermometer, on the other hand, ensures an accurate reading but requires that you hold your baby still enough to place the thermometer in her ear. Armpit thermometers can be useful for younger babies whose temperature can fluctuate, but factor in that the NHS recommends avoiding forehead strip thermometers as they may give inaccurate readings. Finally, a room thermometer is useful for ensuring that your baby’s room remains at an appropriate temperature all year round, and a bath thermometer will ensure your baby’s bath water is neither too hot nor too cold.
There are times when you might want to check your baby’s temperature but don’t have your baby thermometer with you. Pop this pacifier thermometer in your changing bag for use in emergencies, and you’ll always be able to get a quick and accurate reading of your baby’s temperature wherever you go. It comes with a protective cover to keep it clean in your changing bag and the comfortable orthodontic nipple makes it easy to get a temperature reading – especially if your baby is a fan of a soother. This baby thermometer has a glow feature to indicate if your baby has a fever, and it beeps when the reading is complete so it’s particularly easy to use.
This app-enabled smart thermometer gives an accurate temperature reading in just 10 seconds and can track fever and symptoms for your baby and the rest of the family too, so it’s excellent value for money. The interactive screen is easy and intuitive to use and makes it easy to take your child's temperature – you can even share the data with your doctor. This thermometer can be used to take your child's temperature orally, rectally, or under the armpit. The app is free to download and available on iOS and Android, and new functionality is added weekly. It also has a handy games mode to help distract and occupy your baby while you take her temperature.
This thermometer has a patented pre-warmed tip so you don’t need to worry about the cooling effect of the probe in the ear affecting your temperature reading. It’s designed to gauge your baby’s temperature with professional accuracy, and the brand say it’s recommended for use by 8 out of 10 doctors. This thermometer has a clever age-adjustable fever guidance feature with a colour-coded display and it also has a built-in night light – so useful for checking on a fever in the middle of the night! It comes with a hard storage case and a packet of disposable probe covers.
This infrared thermometer has a built-in ambient temperature compensation sensor so it offers a highly accurate and reliable reading of your baby’s temperature. You can use it on either your baby’s forehead – simply aim it at the centre of her forehead – or in her ear and it’s easy to switch between detection modes. It offers both Fahrenheit or Celsius readings. It’s user-friendly and intuitive to use, thanks to the large LED display and backlight which makes it easy to read, even in the dark. It comes with its own storage bag and user manual and is guaranteed for a year after purchase.
This infrared thermometer measures the temperature of your baby’s ear and forehead – and you can even use it to measure the temperature of her milk or the ambient temperature of her bedroom to help prevent overheating. It records lots of data so you can track your child’s temperature – it’ll keep the last 32 recordings. It’s quick and efficient to use, and the backlight goes red when your child’s temperature indicates a fever. It’s easy to switch between forehead and ear modes, and it comes in its own storage pouch.
