Baby Thermometers

Your baby can't tell you when they are feeling unwell or running a fever and they have less control over their body temperature compared to adults. So it is very important to be able to be able to accurately check your baby's temperature. For this you need a good digital baby thermometer which is easy to use and will give you a precise reading in as short a time as possible.

There are so many different types of baby thermometers finding the one best suited for your baby can be a daunting task. This is due to the fact that there are many different ways of taking a baby's temperature, the most common methods being from the ear, forehead, armpit or orally - thankfully rectal baby thermometers are a thing of the past.

Baby Thermometers Compared

Here at baby-thermometer.co.uk we aim to make the choice of baby thermometer easier for you by first listing the different types of thermometers you can buy together with their pros and cons. Secondly we have compared the best selling thermometers for each type - we even tell you where to buy them online to get the best deal.

 

ear thermometer

Ear Thermometers

Becoming more common as prices fall, ear thermometers are fast and accurate but they can be tricky and uncomfortable to use giving an inaccurate reading if not positioned in the ear correctly.

Pros:

  • The most accurate (used almost exclusively in hospitals)
  • Fast (giving a reading in under 2 seconds)

Cons:

  • Not easy to use correctly at first giving inaccurate results.
  • Can be uncomfortable for the patient.
  • Can be expensive although prices have fallen recently
oral thermometer

Oral Thermometers

Possibly the most common type of thermometer, oral baby thermometers offer great value for money. They can give you an accurate reading but it can take up to a minute to get it.

Pros:

  • Inexpensive and small (great for traveling).
  • Accurate when used correctly

Cons:

  • Not ideal for babies, more suited for children over 3 years
  • Slow (usually takes over 30 second to get a reading)
oral thermometer

Strip Forehead Thermometers

Held against you baby's forehead for a few second plastic strip thermometers are cheap and very easy to use. accuracy can be an issue if their is perspiration on your baby's forehead.

Pros:

  • Very inexpensive
  • Easy to use

Cons:

  • Possibly the least accurate type of baby thermometer.
  • Perspiration is an issue (not uncommon when your baby has a high temperature)

 

oral thermometer

Digital Forehead Thermometers

If your baby doesn't like being disturbed forehead baby thermometers are ideal. They are fast but not quite as accurate as oral or ear thermometers and like the strip type perspiration can alter the reading.

Pros:

  • Fast (you get a reading in less than 2 seconds)
  • Easy to use (can even be used while you baby sleeps)

Cons:

  • Can give a slightly low reading especially if you baby is perspiring
  • Currently quite expensive.

 

 

Which type of baby thermometer is best for you?

Well this really depends on many things: how much you are willing to spend, the age of your child/baby, how tolerant you baby or child is to being poked and prodded etc. Generally it is recommended to avoid mercury thermometers due to the danger of leakage and oral digital thermometers are now cheap, fast and accurate.