Best Baby Thermometers of 2021
January 7, 2021
Best Baby
Thermometers of 2021
These thermometers can help
you figure out if your li!le one
has a fever.
Editor’s Note: Due to current concern
over Covid-19, you may be more
worried than usual about your child’s
health. Here’s what you need to know:
Are Children at a Higher
Risk for Covid-19?
Fortunately, children aren’t at any
higher risk than adults and seem to
experience only mild symptoms when
affected, according to the Centers
Centers
Centersfor
for
for
Disease
Disease
DiseaseControl
Control
Controland
and
andPrevention
Prevention
Prevention.
Prevention
These cold-like symptoms include
fever, cough and runny nose.
However, if your child has underlying
medical conditions, talk to your
pediatrician about what you should
watch for and when to seek medical
care.
What can Parents do to
Protect Children?
Figuring out whether children are
showing signs of Covid-19Centers
or a cold,
for
the flu orControl
Disease just plain
andteething symptoms
Prevention
is incredibly challenging, says Rebekah
Wheeler, certified nurse midwife, RN,
MPH, with CleoCleo
Cleo (an online health and
wellness service).
Even if your child is feeling fine right
now, this could be a good time to
reach out to your child’s doctor, says
Wheeler. You can proactively find out:
How to reach them after hours for
something urgent
Recommendations for treatment
of fever, cough and other
symptoms based on your child’s
age and medical history
Cleo
When you should bring your child
in for an exam or take your child
directly to the hospital
Since kids catch up to 10 colds within
the first two years of life, it’s good to
keep infant Tylenol or acetaminophen
and a thermometer on hand and know
how
how
howto to
totake
take
takeaaababy’s
baby’s
baby’stemperature
temperature
temperature too.
If you’re having trouble finding either
of these in stores or online, know that
baby products are considered essential
items and retailers are working to
restock them. For example, Babylist is
prioritizing essential items such as
thermometers in order to get them
back in stock as soon as possible, and
Tylenol issued a statement saying they
are “taking all possible measures to
maximize product availability.”
Some retailers are only selling infant
how to take
Tylenol a baby’s temperature
or acetaminophen in stores
(like CVS), so call ahead before you go
out to avoid unnecessary travel. And
note that the generic or store brands
will work just fine.
Here are some retailers where you may
be find infant acetaminophen:
Rite-Aid
Rite-Aid
Rite-Aid
Walgreen’s
Walgreen’s
Walgreen’s
Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
For more information on how to
protect your family from Covid-19,
visit the American
American
AmericanAcademy
Academy
Academyof
of
of
Pediatrics
Pediatrics.
Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Your baby has been out of sorts all day.
When they’re awake, they’re fussing,
and when they’re napping, it’s not for
Rite-Aid
long. Are they teething? Having an off
day?Walgreen’s
Or coming down with
AmazonA thermometer can help
something?
you gauge what’s up by telling you if
your little one has a fever and if a call
to your pediatrician might be in order.
American Academy of
Pediatrics
Do You Need a Baby
Thermometer?
Keep a thermometer handy to to
totake
take
take
baby’s
baby’s
baby’stemperature
temperature
temperature,
temperature and you’ll be able
to truly determine if your child needs a
dose of medication, to see the
pediatrician or just watchful waiting.
What Types of Baby
Thermometers Are There?
Baby thermometers basically fall into
these three basic types:
Digital thermometers: Digital
thermometers take a minute or
to take
less to record a temperature. They
baby’s
cantemperature
be held under the tongue or in
the armpit or inserted into the
anus. And speaking of… We hate
to break it to you, but it’s
important to know that rectal
temperature is the the
the
thegold
gold
gold
standard
standard
standard for newborns and even
older babies and toddlers. That’s
because having a baby or small
child hold the thermometer still in
their mouth is near impossible,
and an armpit reading is the least
accurate measurement. Before
your child is six months old, a
rectal thermometer is the only
reliable measurement.
Ear thermometers: Quick and
generally comfortable, ear
thermometers (a.k.a. tympanic
the gold
thermometers) measure the
standard
temperature inside the ear and are
safe to use on babies six months
and older.
Forehead thermometers: More
accurately known as temporal
artery thermometers, these
thermometers are swiped across
the forehead to read the
temperature of the major vein
located there. It’s an easy, fast and
non-invasive way to get a
temperature on any child older
than six months. You’ll typically
pay more for the convenience
factor of this kind of thermometer,
though.
Note about pacifier thermometers: In
theory, these sound awesome if your
baby uses a binky. But don’t even
consider these. Why? Because your
baby would have to hold the pacifier
still for three to five minutes in order
to get a reading. And, unless sleeping,
most babies wouldn’t do that. Plus, this
type of thermometer is not
recommended for newborns.
When to Call the Doctor if
Your Baby Has a Fever
It’s always good to keep in mind when
you need to call the doctor for your
child’s fever and when it’s OK to let it
run its course. Per the experts, you
should reach out to your pediatrician
if:
Your child is younger than 3
months and has a rectal
temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or
higher.
Your child is between the ages of 3
and 6 months and has a rectal
temperature up to 102 F (38.9 C)
and seems unusually irritable or
lethargic, or has a temperature
higher than 102 F (38.9 C).
Your child is between the ages of 6
and 24 months and has a rectal
temperature higher than 102 F
(38.9 C) that lasts longer than one
day but shows no other symptoms.
If your child is exhibiting other
signs and symptoms like a cough,
cold, or diarrhea, you may want to
call your child’s doctor sooner
based on severity. And when in
doubt, call.
Below are some thermometers you
may want to consider adding to your
medicine cabinet.
Affordable & Accurate
Safety
Safety
Safety 1st
1st
1st Rapid
Rapid
Rapid Read
Read
Read 3-in-1
3-in-1
3-in-1
Thermometer
Thermometer
Thermometer
$9.99
Add to Babylist
Buy Now
Target $9.99
Amazon $12.99
Safety 1st Rapid Read 3-in-1
Why We Love It
Thermometer
This 3-in-1 thermometer lets you take
your baby’s temperature orally, under
the arm or rectally—which is
recommended for children under 3 to
get the most accurate reading—so you
have options. It takes temperatures in
eight seconds, and beeps when it’s
finished.
Keep in Mind
As with all probe thermometers, be
sure to clean the probe tip before and
after each use with an alcohol swab.
Smart Phone Temp Taker
Kinsa
Kinsa
Kinsa QuickCare
QuickCare
QuickCare Digital
Digital
Digital
Thermometer
Thermometer
Thermometer
$24.99
Add to Babylist
Buy Now
Babylist $24.99
Buy Buy Baby $24.99
Kinsa QuickCare Digital
Why We Love It
Thermometer
Thermometers got techie, but this one
is anything but intimidating. Simply
take your child’s temperature—rectally,
orally or under the arm—and get a fast
readout on the thermometer or on the
Kinsa smartphone app. (You can even
hand the phone over to your toddler to
play a bubble-popping game on the
phone while they wait.) You’ll get the
results in eight seconds or less, and the
free app will let you record other
symptoms and notes to share with
your pediatrician later. The app also
provides advice based on the fever
reading and your child’s age. Even
better? It’s powered by your phone so
batteries aren’t needed.
Keep in Mind
This thermometer can be used with or
without the app, but the app is
required for initial set up and use of
smart features (symptom logging,
advice, etc.).
No-Fear Rectal
FridaBaby
FridaBaby
FridaBaby Quick
Quick
Quick Read
Read
Read Rectal
Rectal
Rectal
Thermometer
Thermometer
Thermometer
$14.99
Add to Babylist
Buy Now
Babylist $14.99
Amazon $14.99
Target $14.99
FridaBaby
Walmart Quick Read Rectal
$15.99
Thermometer
Why We Love It
“I love taking rectal temperatures,” said
no one, ever. But it is the best way to
get an exact temperature reading on
your little one, and this model is
shaped so you can’t over-insert it (the
number one fear!) and only takes 10
seconds to give a temperature reading.
The backlight helps with nighttime
temp taking, and the large digital
screen makets it easy to read.
Keep in Mind
We’ll admit it: those 10 seconds can
seem like an eternity when you’re
trying to hold a squirming baby or deal
with a bout of crying. But we promise
after a few tries, the whole experience
won’t be nearly as daunting as you
might think.
Age-Based Readings
Braun
Braun
Braun ThermoScan7
ThermoScan7
ThermoScan7 Ear
Ear
Ear
Thermometer
Thermometer
Thermometer
$59.99
Add to Babylist
Buy Now
Babylist $59.99
Amazon $43.84
Walmart $43.84
Braun
Buy ThermoScan7
Buy Baby Ear
$59.99
Thermometer
Why We Love It
What’s considered a fever can be
different depending on the person’s
age (a 3 month old vs. toddler, for
instance). You can enter your child’s
age range on this thermometer, and
save the last nine temperature
readings. And unlike other ear
thermometers where the cold tip can
cool the area leading to inaccurate
results, the Braun Thermoscan has a
pre-warmed tip so it’s a non-issue.
Keep in Mind
If your wee one is suffering from a
painful ear infection, trying to get
anywhere near their ears could be a
problem.
The Thermometer that Alerts
You
VAVA
VAVA
VAVA Baby
Baby
Baby Thermometer
Thermometer
Thermometer
$79.99
Add to Babylist
Buy Now
Babylist $79.99
Walmart $49.00
Amazon $79.99
vava.com $79.99
VAVA Baby Thermometer
Why We Love It
Vava’s smart thermometer monitors
your child’s temperature via a wireless
patch made of skin-friendly silicone
that attaches to their armpit and
displays the reading on an LCD screen.
The system alerts you with real-time
beeps and a blinking LED light
whenever it detects a high
temperature. The patch charges in an
hour and a half and holds a charge for
a full 24 hours.
Keep in Mind
This is by far the most expensive
product on the list, but if 24 hours of
temperature monitoring provides you
with more peace of mind, it could be
worth the investment for your family.
Effortless & Effective
Exergen
Exergen
Exergen Temporal
Temporal
Temporal Artery
Artery
Artery
Thermometer
Thermometer
Thermometer
$39.99
Add to Babylist
Buy Now
Amazon $39.99
Why We Love It
Exergen Temporal Artery
Often used in pediatrician offices and
Thermometer
hospitals, this just requires a simple
swipe across the forehead to give a
quick reading with minimal
disturbance to your little one. Because
of that, we especially like it for taking
temps on a sleeping child. And it’s the
next best thing to getting a rectal
temp.
Keep in Mind
It takes some practice to get the
forehead swipe exactly right, but after
a few tries, you’ll get it down. Also, if
your child has a sweaty forehead, it
could throw off the reading—in that
case, you’ll need to take the
temperature by holding the
thermometer behind their ear.
Two-in-One
iProven
iProven
iProven DMT-489
DMT-489
DMT-489 Forehead
Forehead
Forehead and
and
and
Ear
Ear
Ear Thermometer
Thermometer
Thermometer
$59.99
Add to Babylist
Buy Now
Amazon $59.99
Why We Love It
iProven DMT-489 Forehead and
Unsure whether you’ll prefer an ear or
Ear Thermometer
a forehead thermometer for trying to
take your little one’s temp? This one
has both. There’s even a backlit screen
for easy middle-of-the-night reads.
Keep in Mind
If you’re using the ear mode, be sure to
pull your little one’s ear back and up
and aim gently at the eardrum area—
it’ll make for a much more accurate
reading.
Choosing What’s Right for You
Remember that the rectal
thermometers can be used on
newborns, but you’ll need to wait until
at least six months of age to use the
forehead or ear thermometer and until
four years old to use a thermometer in
the mouth or under the arm. The right
thermometer for you and your family
is the one you will feel comfortable
using during what can sometimes be a
worrisome time. Armed with a
thermometer and a good pediatrician,
you can rest assured that your baby
will get the care they need when they
need it.
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