Best Baby Thermometer 2025: Accurate Temperature Readings | Mumsnet (2025)

We should all have a decent baby thermometer in the medicine cabinet for those times when our child's temperature suddenly shoots up, particularly in winter. Unfortunately, it's often something you only think about it once your child is actually poorly. That's why we've created this guide to the best baby thermometers so you can add one to your baby shopping list and ensure that have one to hand when you need it most.

From no-touch scanners to oral thermometers, it's essential that your baby thermometer can accurately measure your child's temperature, provide quick results, is clear to read and is user-friendly. And it's not just about checking your baby's body temperature. You can also get baby bath thermometers and room thermometers too.

Whether you're looking for an in-ear digital thermometer, an oral or armpit design or a bath thermometer for your baby, we've rounded up the best available according to Mumsnet users - after all, who better to rate the best baby thermometers than the UK's largest online network of parents?

We've spent hours collating recommendations via our forums and consolidating those with expert opinions and authentic consumer reviews. Our triple-check process ensures that all our buyer's guides, from the best baby toysto thebest baby bouncers, has products that are recommended by parents, trusted by experts and rated by previous customers.

Here are the best baby thermometers to buy in the UK for 2025.

Best baby thermometers at a glance

• Best overall baby thermometer:Braun ThermoScan 7 with Age Precision |£38

• Best budget baby thermometer:Nuby Digital Thermometer |£7

• Best underarm baby thermometer:Braun Age Precision Digital Stick Thermometer |£13

• Best oral baby thermometer:Beurer BY11 Digital Oral Stick Thermometer |£6

• Best in-ear baby thermometer:Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer |£25

• Best forehead baby thermometer:Braun Sensian 7 BNT400 Forehead Thermometer |£26

• Best baby bath thermometer:TensCare Digi Duckling Water Thermometer |£7

• Best baby room thermometer:Tommee Tippee Groegg2 Room Thermometer |£25

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Best overall baby thermometer

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Best budget baby thermometer

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Best underarm baby thermometer

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Best oral baby thermometer

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Best in-ear baby thermometer:

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Best forehead baby thermometer

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Best bath thermometer

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Best baby room thermometer

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Why do I need a baby thermometer?

Now more than ever, with COVID-19 still a concern, it’s important to be able to tell exactly how hot your child is. But a baby thermometer is also handy for all those ordinary colds and sniffles your baby will no doubt go through.

It’s also useful for times like teething to be able to tell if they’re just flushed and grumpy or are actually running a temperature.

Babies’ temperatures can rise very quickly and also fall just as fast, and it’s often a good indicator of whether they are on the mend or getting worse. In the unlikely event that your baby is ever seriously ill, you’ll be glad to have a decent baby thermometer on hand if you need to call your doctor to give an idea of symptoms.

What types of baby thermometers are available?

A quality thermometer is an essential tool for any first aid kit and can help you to discover if your child is sick, teething or experiencing a post-vaccination fever.

A digital thermometer is best for babies. The NHS advises that old mercury thermometers are not suitable for babies and that digital versions are more accurate.

They also advise that strip thermometers – the sort you put on a child’s forehead, but not to be confused with the new digital forehead or no-contact thermometers – are not accurate enough for use with children.

Forehead baby thermometer

As the name suggests, these non-contact thermometers allow you to obtain a temperature reading by pointing the device at your child's forehead. A lot of these thermometers can take readings up to 5cm away, so they're ideal if you don't want to disturb your baby – the distance at which to hold the device will vary between models, however, so you must read the instructions before use. Some of these models are multi-tasking too, such as the Tommee Tippee No Touch Digital Thermometer and can measure the temperature of your child's bottle.

As with any baby thermometer, you need them to stay still while the reading is taken, but these are really quick for taking the temperature of a sleeping child as you’re less likely to wake them.

In-ear baby thermometer

Ear thermometers are simply inserted into the ear, after which you click a button and it gives you a digital reading. Our best overall choice, the Braun Healthcare ThermoScan 7, is this type of thermometer, and it is the type most commonly used by healthcare professionals too.

While they are one of the most popular types of baby thermometers to use, they can sometimes be too large for the ears of very small babies, so do check this before you buy, especially if you have a newborn. You also need to make sure you’ve inserted it exactly as instructed or it may not take an accurate reading.

Armpit/underarm baby thermometer

These are digital versions of old-fashioned glass and mercury thermometers, only safer to use and more accurate. For use on older children, you can put it under their tongue, but you can also use it under the armpit. They can sometimes be used rectally too.

Digital stick thermometers tend to be the cheapest type of thermometer on the market and also the most compact. It’s worth having one just to pop in your bag or take away with you even if you’re investing in a larger, fancier ear or non-contact version.

Baby room thermometer

These thermometers take the temperature of the room so you can ensure it is safe for your baby when they sleep – you should aim for 16 - 20°C, according to The Lullaby Trust. It's essential you get the temperature right as an environment that is too hot can increase the risk of SIDs. The Lullaby Trust has more guidance here on sleep safety and room temperature.

Baby bath thermometer

While many parents will swear by the good old elbow check, a bath thermometer is great for extra reassurance when bathing your little one. Some forehead thermometers can be used to check the temperature of bath water, but for a purpose-designed option we love the TensCare Digi Duckling Water Thermometer – it's disguised as a bath toy and is a real bargain too!

Which type of thermometer is most accurate for babies?

According to medical research, the most accurate way to take a baby’s temperature is rectally, using a stick thermometer. This way the thermometer is measuring the core temperature and is not being influenced by any external or environmental factors.

It’s common for no-touch digital forehead thermometers to be affected by sweat or hair getting in the way, for example, and ear thermometers have to be positioned correctly in the ear canal in order to achieve an accurate temperature reading. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions before using your thermometer.

How do you take a baby’s temperature?

The NHS advises using a digital thermometer, and recommends an under-armpit reading as the simplest method.

First, for a clear reading, ensure there’s no other reason your child is hot. So check they haven’t been wrapped up in too many blankets and that their room isn’t too hot. You may want to take them into another room first for a few minutes if that’s the case.

Always follow manufacturer instructions down to the letter. If you haven’t inserted an ear thermometer correctly or held a no-touch model close enough, it won’t be accurate. Some of the higher-end models will have features to stop you taking a temperature unless the machine is being used properly.

Once you have a reading, make a note of it. Some models have the ability to store a few readings, which is handy. If you aren’t sure, wait a couple of minutes and take another reading to compare it.

When should you take a baby’s temperature?

If your baby’s forehead or tummy feels hot to the touch, or they are clammy, sweaty or look flushed, you should take their temperature.

What is a normal temperature for a baby?

Around 36.4°C is regarded as a ‘normal’ body temperature for a baby, but it can vary by a few points either side of that.

What temperature is dangerous for a baby?

A high temperature is officially 38°C but, even if it’s lower than that and you have concerns, it’s always worth seeking medical advice.

Doctors would always rather see a baby that turns out to be absolutely fine than not see a baby until things get serious. NHS advice is that you should call your GP or 111 if your baby is:

• 0-3 months with a temperature of 38°C or above

• 3-6 months with a temperature of 39°C or above

When should you worry about a baby’s fever?

A fever is a temperature of over 38°C. It’s usually not something to worry about and is a sign that your child’s body is fighting an infection. Usually a temperature comes down in three to four days.

You can help by ensuring your child gets plenty of fluids and checking for signs of dehydration, administering paracetamol suitable for your child’s age (over two months), offering food if they want it and checking on them regularly.

If the temperature persists or there are other symptoms present, call 111 or your GP. If your child has any symptoms of more serious illness (with or without a temperature), such as febrile convulsions, a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure, a blue or grey tinge to their skin or a weak, high-pitched cry, always dial 999 or go straight to A&E.

What other symptoms should I look out for with a fever?

Call 111 if you see:

• A bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on your baby’s head) as this is a sign of dehydration

• Fewer wet nappies

• Diarrhoea and/or vomiting

Call 999 if you see:

• Seizures

• An unusual rash (particularly one that doesn’t fade under pressure)

• Extreme irritability and disliking light

• Unresponsiveness or being very hard to rouse

• Blueish tinge to their skin

• Weak, high pitched crying that sounds unusual to you

How to bring down a baby’s temperature

You can help by ensuring your child gets plenty of fluids and checking for signs of dehydration, administering paracetamol suitable for your child’s age (over two months), offering food if they want it and checking on them regularly.

Recommendations are no longer to give cold baths for a fever, but anything you can do to make your child feel more comfortable will help, so if a cold flannel wiped on her face and hands helps then go for it. Make sure they’re in a room that’s a comfortable temperature too.

How to choose the best baby thermometer for your child

There are a number of things that you should consider before buying a baby thermometer:

• Age of your child: Consider whether the thermometer is suitable for your baby’s age. If you have a newborn, check that the thermometer is suitable for them. Some ear thermometerscome with tiny ear probes which are suitable for newborns. If you have a slightly older baby who is a bit of a wriggler, you may struggle to keep them still long enough to hold a stick thermometer in their armpit.

• Ease of use: When you’re taking a child’s temperature, you want a thermometer that’s easy to use and comes with clear instructions. Hi-tech thermometers that can store dozens of previous readings and flash different colours according to the temperature may prove useful, but if you find them difficult to use, for example you may find it tricky to get the correct angle when using an ear thermometer, then you may prefer a more straightforward stick thermometer.

• Display: You need to be able to read and interpret the results of the temperature reading quickly and accurately. A thermometer that has a fever alert, or one that changes colour to indicate that your baby is too hot, are useful features to have. Backlit screens are handy for taking a temperature reading in the dark, without having to turn the light on and risk waking baby up.

• Portability: Some forehead thermometers can be a bit bulky, but slimline stick thermometers are lightweight enough to be slipped into changing bags and handbags.

• Features: Do you want a thermometer that changes colour, sounds a fever alert and stores dozens of previous readings? Or do you just want a straightforward thermometer to pop under your baby’s armpit and present you with a reading, with no fancy gimmicks attached?

• Price: Always set yourself a budget. The thermometers on our list range in price from around £5 all the way up to the £50 mark. There are plenty of good-quality, accurate thermometers at the lower end of this range if you’re looking to save some pennies.

• Batteries included? While many thermometers come with batteries included, some don’t. If this is the case, make sure you have the correct ones in the house and save yourself a midnight dash to the nearest 24-hour Tesco.

How to clean a baby thermometer

You can use an alcohol wipe but make sure you let it dry completely and then rinse in water before using it again. The NHS recommends simply cleaning a baby thermometer with soap and water.

Some thermometers may have small plastic parts that you can pop in a baby bottle steriliser, but check yours is suitable for that first. Others have disposable ear covers that you throw away and can buy more of when you need them.

It’s always a good idea to run the thermometer under clean water first. A non-contact thermometer will require less cleaning. Just ensure it’s had a good wipe down between uses, particularly if the whole family is ill.

What is the best baby thermometer in the UK?

The Braun ThermoScan 7 with Age Precision comes highly recommended by UK parents who’ve tried and tested a number of different baby thermometers in their everyday lives. It comes with a range of features to make sure you take the temperature correctly, its traffic light system means it is easy to interpret the results, plus it can be calibrated according to the age of your child.

How we chose the best baby thermometer

Recommendations from real parents

Our expert writers and journalists spend hours researching the very best quality products for our Swears By articles. To unearth the best baby thermometers on the UK market, we consulted expert advice from the NHS and trawled the Mumsnet forums for recommendations from parents on which models they found worked best and why.

Expert guidance

We’ve also consulted trusted medical websites, including the NHS and BMJ, to provide an authoritative voice on thermometers and the best way to take a baby’s temperature, so you can rest assured our article contains safe and reliable medical information.

Authentic customer reviews

Finally, we collated all that information and then looked at other online reviews, like on Which?, to see which thermometers have received the best recommendations and studied parent reviews as well as online best buys.

We looked for thermometers that showed accuracy over repeat readings, were simple to use and had additional features that made parents’ lives easier.

This article is not intended as a countdown of the ‘top nine’ best products, but rather a list of tried-and-tested recommendations so you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re getting honest and reliable advice on choosing an appropriate baby thermometer.

About the authors

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a one-year-old, she is fully invested in discovering the best and most affordable baby products on the market, and sharing her knowledge and findings with other parents.

With over seven years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing pushchair product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier.

In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of baby product videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving—a parenting title focused on children's health and development.

She has also contributed to various lifestyle publications (including magazines, journals, and newspapers) and edited books for fitness influencers and health professionals. As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children's development, wellbeing, and safety. Over the years, she has reviewed countless toys and developmental aids for children.