Best Baby Thermometer Of 2020

When you have a newborn, you spend a lot of time worrying if they have everything they need, if they’re healthy or not, if they caught some virus or something similar.

In those situations, you need a reliable thermometer. But how to find one? Are there different types? How to choose the right one for your baby? We got you covered.

When your little one has been acting strange all day long. When your baby sleeps, naps are short and not peaceful as usual. On the other hand, when your little one is awake, there’s a lot of fussing.

Maybe it’s just a strange day, or maybe your little angel is getting ill. This is where a good thermometer is your ally. It can help you determine just how serious it is. It will tell you if your baby has a fever, and you will know if it’s time to call a doctor.

Do I need a thermometer for my baby?

We know that our mothers and grandmothers did just fine with us without fancy gadgets. They would just put a hand on our foreheads and figure if we’re running hot or not.

But, those days are gone, and it’s much better to keep a thermometer close at hand. A good thermometer will be precise enough for you to know if you need to give your baby some medicine, a cold bath, or to take him/her to the pediatrician.

Any fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is a serious thing, especially if your baby is less than three months old. That kind of accuracy is impossible with old methods, and it might be necessary when your newborn is sick.

Different types of baby thermometers

Three types of baby thermometers can be used safely and precisely even on newborns.

1. Ear thermometers

This model is rather popular because it is so simple to use. Comfortable, quick and reliable, tympanic thermometers will measure the temperature inside the ear. They are perfectly safe to use on babies that have six months or more.

2. Digital thermometers

These are most versatile, and potentially most reliable thermometers. They take about one minute to record a temperature. These can take the temperature axillary (under the armpit), orally, or rectally.

We’re sorry to break the news, but with newborns, taking a temperature rectally is the most accurate way. When they’re that small, you can’t make them stay still enough to take their temperature orally.

You can make them stay still enough for an axillary reading, but that is the least precise way. So, if your kid is still not six months old, and you want precision, use a rectal thermometer.

3. Forehead thermometers

These are thermometers that will measure the temperature of the temporal vein located in the forehead. It’s easy, really fast, and completely non-invasive. The only flaw with these is the fact that they are not incredibly precise when children are six months old or younger.

How to choose

There are several things you need to pay attention to when you’re buying a thermometer for your baby, but these are the most important:

1. Baby-suitable

Some thermometers work for everyone, but some need to be made especially for a baby’s body. Read carefully before buying, to make sure that the thermometer you want is appropriate for your child’s age.

2. Consistent

Nothing’s more annoying than taking a child’s temperature two or three times because readings differ. Especially when your little one is already sick and fussy. So, choose a temperature that can guarantee consistency.

3. Accurate

The most important factor. When you’re trying to determine whether your child has a fever or not, you have to know that the numbers you got are 100% accurate.

4. Fast

As you probably already know, babies are not the most patient creatures. Especially when someone’s poking them. So, when you’re choosing a thermometer, make sure it’s as fast as possible. You don’t want something that will force you to hold your little one still for more than a minute.

5. Loud

We thought about what we need in a thermometer, and we prefer ones that make a noise when the cycle is complete.

6. Display with backlight

Babies somehow always get sick in the middle of the night. So, a thermometer with a digital readout and a backlight might be handy in those wee hours in the night.

7. Features

This is all up to you. Do you want something simple? Or do you want something that will save a readings history?

Things to avoid

Do you remember those old-fashioned mercury thermometers that you were supposed to hold under your tongue? Or those that go in the armpit? Yeah, though they might be nostalgic, you should avoid them. These are no longer recommended, as they can break easily and leak mercury that is highly toxic.

Oral thermometers are suitable only for kids who are four years or older. The kid needs to be able to hold the device firmly in mouth.

Avoid pacifier devices. They are very inaccurate and take pretty long to measure temperature.

They take 3-5 minutes to take a temperature, and that’s too long for a baby not to move. And, another minus – poorly made pacifier thermometers can be a choking hazard.

Safety tips

Read the instructions. Before you use any thermometer, read the user manual carefully.

Never leave your baby alone while you’re checking his/her temperature.

Keep it clean. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a rectal thermometer, the ear one, or the forehead model, you need to keep it perfectly clean. You don’t want your thermometer to bring germs back to your baby organism as he/she recovers.

5 Best Baby Thermometers On The Market

Baby Forehead Thermometer with Ear Function- iProven DMT489 Gray

This FDA approved model can be used as an ear thermometer, or as a forehead thermometer. However you choose to use it, it will take a reading quickly (1 or 3 seconds).

Readings are fast and accurate, and you don’t even have to bother your little one. Using this device is rather simple, as you only have to press the “head” or the “ear” button, and take the temperature.

After it’s done, this thermometer beeps, and, when it detects a fever, it sounds an alarm. It has a backlight so you can see the display in the dark, and you won’t have a problem reading, as the display is rather large.

It also memorizes readings so that you can recall the last 20 without a hassle. You can use it on children of all ages, newborns included. It’s ok for both parents and kids. It can be switched between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

We like the fact that it is fast, and that it comes with a 100-day money-back guarantee. What we don’t like though, is that the beeping sound can’t be turned off.

PROS

• checkLarge backlit display
• checkFever indicator
• check1 or three seconds to take the temperature

CONS

• exclamation-triangleCan’t turn the beep off
• exclamation-triangleForehead thermometer can have a 0.3-0.5 Fahrenheit variation

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Kinsa Smart Stick Digital Thermometer

This little smart stick can be used orally, under the arm, or rectally. It’s rather fast, it has no batteries, and it has a smartphone app that we like. It’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Unfortunately, you will have to look your phone up on their compatibility list, to check if you should get this thermometer. The app is there to provide the temperature info, but a few additional things as well.

It offers guidance on when and how to relieve symptoms, take medication, or call the physician. It keeps health details of each family member so that you can give that to the doctor.

How does it work? You install the app, connect the thermometer and the phone with a cable that comes in the package, and take your kid’s temperature. The results are available after 10 seconds.

We like that it is pretty fast, and techie, but it has downsides too. It’s not simple for everyone to use it, and the cable might be annoying when you are trying to take a baby’s temperature.

PROS

• checkSmart app
• checkNo batteries
• check10 seconds to take the temperature

CONS

• exclamation-triangleNot simple to use
• exclamation-triangleCable might be troublesome if you are trying to use this on a newborn
• exclamation-triangleDoesn’t work with every phone

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Braun Forehead Thermometer

It seems like Braun thought of everything when they made this thermometer. It’s for forehead only, it is suitable for any age – infants, children, and adults can use it without a hitch.

It has a large screen that is very simply color coded. When there’s no fever, the backlight is green; a yellow backlight means that there are a slight temperature increase and red means that there’s a fever.

Completely non-invasive, this thermometer takes the temperature of the skin surface over the temporal artery. How does it work? You simply swipe across the forehead gently, and you will get a reading within several seconds.

You will need two AAA batteries for it, but the first two come with the thermometer. The product guide is simple and written on the device itself. It can’t be switched to Celsius; it offers only Fahrenheit readings. Before each use, you can clean it with alcohol.

PROS

• checkColor coded backlit display
• checkRather fast
• checkEasy to use

CONS

• exclamation-triangleOccasionally inaccurate as much as one degree. 
• exclamation-triangleNo Celsius option
• exclamation-triangleNon-rechargeable batteries

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QQCute Digital Infrared Forehead Thermometer

Another forehead thermometer that is convertible and can also be used as an ear thermometer. For newborns, you can use it as a forehead thermometer, but if you want to use it as an ear thermometer, your child needs to be over the age of one.

Neither way needs a disposable cover for the probe, and you will get the readings within one second. Rather simple to use – simple buttons activate it, and you can read the temperature from a large display that has a backlight.

It will sound off an alarm when it detects a fever with 10 soft beeps, and the display will change its color. We don’t like that the beeps might awaken or irritate an already sick child.

You can choose between Celsius and Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, this device comes without batteries, and you need two AAA batteries to make it work.

PROS

• checkOne second to read the temperature
• checkNo need for a disposable cover
• checkConvertible

CONS

• exclamation-triangleNot perfectly accurate
• exclamation-triangleThe fever alarm might irritate your baby
• exclamation-triangleDoesn’t come with batteries

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Gear District Clinical Digital Thermometer

This digital thermometer is FDA approved, and it is super-versatile. Anyone in your family can use it – from your newborn to the oldest family member. 

It can take the temperature orally, rectally, or axillary (armpit). It’s flexible, so you won’t have to worry that your fidgeting little one will break it. It takes the temperature after 10 seconds.

Anyone can operate it, as it’s really simple to use. You just click the power button, and you’re ready. You can choose between Celsius and Fahrenheit readings.

This thermometer will warn you with a beep if your little one has a fever, or if the device has a low battery. You get 10 disposable probes with the thermometer. We like that it is waterproof so that you can wash it between uses.

PROS

• checkVersatile
• checkSimple to use
• checkFlexible probe

CONS

• exclamation-triangleThe button can be problematic
• exclamation-triangleNo backlight
• exclamation-triangleNo additional features

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Conclusion

It’s always hard to tell a parent what’s best for their child. There’s no clear winner here, but, we can tell you what we liked most.

If you want something that is versatile, the Gear District digital thermometer is something you’ll want to check out. 

On the other hand, if you want a forehead thermometer, Baby Forehead Thermometer with Ear Function from iProven might be the thing you are looking for.

If you want a smart device that will track your entire family, recommend courses of action, then Kinsa Smart Stick Digital Thermometer might be your cup of tea.

Consider their speeds, your child’s age, and which features are important to you, and the choice will be easy. Hope we helped!