The best baby thermometers 2025: Tried & tested by parents for accurate temperature checks

We've chosen the Boots Pharmaceuticals Non-contact Thermometer as our best overall pick of baby thermometers as it's easy to use and offers a precise way for you to check your baby's temperature without disturbing their sleep – a must if your baby is resting off an illness. The non-contact design also ensures hygiene and comfort for your little one, minimising the spread of germs. Mum tester Michelle loved how easy it was, commenting, “I think the fact that you don't have to disturb baby is the best thing about it. It reads the temperature in as little as 2 seconds. It also stores the last 60 readings so you can see if their temperature has gone up or down.”

We like that it's a multipurpose tool, so you can also check the temperature of your baby's bottle, food, bathwater, and even your baby's room environment. The fact that the built-in memory stores your last 60 readings means you can easily track changes over time. We love the sleek design and the fact it comes with its own storage case, making it ideal for travel or keeping in your nappy bag.

Clinically proven for accuracy – for your peace of mind – it features a unique symbol system, quickly showing whether your baby's temperature is within normal range or not, and saving any guesswork or uncertainty. Our mum tester Victoria did find it tricky to see the result at times though, saying, "I would change the fact that the light doesn’t come on automatically so sometimes you have to peer close to it to read the temperature."

Read our full Boots Non-contact Thermometer review

This ear thermometer offers professional-grade accuracy for measuring your baby's temperature. It also features a night light and colour-coded display so you can easily see if your baby has a fever. It gives you the option to adjust the settings for accuracy according to your child's age, making it suitable for the whole family. One parent tester found their toddler preferred this thermometer over others, commenting, “My toddler won't allow me to use any other thermometer, but he is happy with this one. He even got used to it now and does not resist. It only takes 3 seconds to get a measurement. If in doubt, you can always take another measurement!”

A patented pre-warmed tip ensures comfort for your little one and you can rest assured that this thermometer is even used in hospital settings as well as GP surgeries. Although it isn’t non-contact, you can still use this thermometer when the baby is lying down or asleep, making it very convenient for parents. Furthermore, using the ear as a measurement site offers even more accuracy, reflecting the true core body temperature more precisely. It also gives you a result within seconds. 

The thermometer is gentle on little ears and also hygienic to use thanks to the provided hygiene caps to ensure cleanliness you can also purchase refills when you run out with one mum tester saying, “comes with plenty of plastic covers, and the refills are cheap to buy.” In the box you’ll also find a storage box and simple instructions.

Offering quick and accurate temperature readings without disturbing your child’s sleep, the Tommee Tippee, No Touch Forehead thermometer works at 4cm away from the forehead and, with a press of a button, gives you a temperature reading within two seconds, displayed clearly on the LCD panel. Our parent tester, Thokozani, found this thermometer very easy to use, commenting, “The accuracy and efficiency of the thermometer ensure that my daughter’s temperature is provided quickly. With traditional contact thermometers, if the child moves in any way, it could distort the reading of the thermometer. If the Digital forehead no-touch thermometer records a very high temperature, the Fever indication system alerts you the user by letting off three short beeps, followed by one long beep to warn of potential fever.”

Its efficiency allows for quick temperature checks without causing any discomfort or stress for your child, and it stores previous readings for comparison over time. Parent testers found this very reassuring and consistent. 

While parents liked the design, some did find the instructions a little unclear. Others also found it a little bulky compared to other, sleeker designs, meaning they didn’t find it as easy to hold or store compared to others. Our mum tester, Samantha, agreed, saying, “If I could change one thing about the thermometer, I’d change the size. It is bulkier than thermometers I’ve used previously meaning storage and transportation is a little more difficult. I found the grip uncomfortable when using it in one hand whilst contending with a wriggly toddler. A narrower device would work better for me.”

Read our full Tommee Tippee No Touch Forehead Thermometer review

The compact size of the Braun Digital Stick Thermometer makes it portable, fitting easily into a changing bag or handbag, and its affordable price makes it accessible to all parents. With Braun's age precision technology, temperature readings can be adjusted based on the age of the child, ensuring accuracy for babies, older children, and adults alike. Simply select your child's age before taking their temperature for precise results. One mum reviewer said, “It's fast, accurate, doesn't give unreliable readings, and it just works without a hassle.”

Using the thermometer is easy—just place it under your child's armpit, and you'll have a temperature reading within eight seconds. Its clinically proven accuracy provides reassurance for parents, with temperature measurements you can trust. The thermometer features a gentle and flexible tip, ensuring comfortable usage for the whole family, from adults to children and babies. Plus, it offers multi-site usage choices, suitable for oral, rectal, or underarm use, providing flexibility and convenience for parents.

The main downside compared to other thermometers is that putting a thermometer under your child’s armpit when they’re not feeling well can be a little uncomfortable for them compared to other non-touch models. It’s a firm favourite amongst parents, however, with one returning parent commenting, “This is my second one of these thermometers. The first one was old and worn out. This latest one is very easy to use and quick to show temperature. However, the sound indicating completion does not always work.”

Non-contact meets compact with this travel-friendly mini thermometer from Munchkin. This portable infrared forehead thermometer for use at home and on the go, it comes with a travel case to keep it safe and is impressively tiny, making it ideal to pop in the changing bag or suitcase for travel. We were really impressed with the accuracy of this thermometer, despite its size it performs just as well as some of the big brand non contact thermometers. It is easy and intuitive to use and can store up to 20 readings.

"Since non-contact thermometers are usually so bulky, I was a bit sceptical of how accurate this would be, but it gives spot-on readings in only 1 second. The fact that you can store readings as well is great. I'm so impressed with how compact it is, it makes it so much easier to take out and about and offers peace of mind if my little one is under the weather that I have it with me if I need to double check their temperature."

The only slight fault with this product is that there's no way to turn off the beep it makes when giving a reading, which could disturb babies and children when trying to take a reading when they're asleep. Other than that, our testers found this product hard to fault.

The Braun No Touch + forehead thermometer offers dual technology for quick and precise temperature readings, with a touch mode for placing the thermometer on the forehead and a no-touch mode for holding it in front of the child's forehead. This means you can check their temperature without disturbing their sleep or if they’re being a bit wriggly. Our mum tester Laura loved this feature, commenting, “I could easily keep an eye on my sleeping child's temperature without disturbing him. It is quick and easy to use giving you a reading within 2 seconds.”

The LED colour-changing backlight ensures easy reading in any light and changes colour depending on the temperature severity. It also features patented technology for accurate temperature readings. It's also compact, fitting nicely into a changing bag and it doesn’t require disposable covers. No-touch technology means you don't have to disrupt your child's rest, and the memory function allows continuous monitoring.

Our mum tester loved the colour-adjusting backlight, saying it “makes it simple to recognise if your child is seriously ill as it glows Red, Amber & Green depending on the temperature range.”  Some mums, however, would have liked the addition of a storage box or bag for hygiene. “I would like a box or bag to keep this thermometer in to ensure it keeps clean and safe.” Mum tester Laura said.

Read our full Braun Healthcare No Touch + forehead thermometer review

Using infrared technology, the iHealth PT3 infrared no-touch thermometer provides precise readings within 1 second from a distance of 2cm from the forehead's centre. With a single-button control and quiet vibration alert for minimal disturbance, it’s easy to use and best suited for sleeping babies. 

Equipped with three built-in sensors, including an ultra-sensitive infrared sensor and a distance sensor, it ensures maximum accuracy when you need it most. One mum tester loved how easy this device was to use, commenting, “This thermometer is incredibly easy to use, with a simple one-button operation that quickly and accurately measures your body temperature. The large, easy-to-read display shows the temperature clearly, and the results are available within seconds.” The thermometer is suitable for all ages making it excellent value for money for the whole family. 

With no-touch measuring, it makes for a very hygienic choice, and it’s also easy to clean. It operates with AAA batteries and provides readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, although some parents did note that changing the settings wasn’t all that easy. “One thing that isn’t clear is how to change from Fahrenheit to Celsius. However, I did work it out. Press and hold the button for around 5 seconds, press the button to show ‘C’ in the window, then press and hold for 5 seconds to confirm.” One parent said.

With silent operation and the option for zero-contact measurements, the Brother Max Infrared Digital 2-in-1 Head/Ear Thermometer is ideal for parents who struggle to get close to their little ones when they’re feeling under the weather. Suitable from birth, this thermometer provides quick and precise temperature readings from both the head and ear in just one second, accurate to 0.2°C. One mum reviewer said,  “Easy and quick to use with accurate results, which is what I need as a mama!”

It features infrared technology for reliable results, and its 2-in-1 design eliminates the need for probe covers, simplifying the cleaning process. Additionally, it can be used as a non-contact thermometer by holding it 1 cm away from the forehead, providing further flexibility.

The thermometer is user-friendly and comes with clear instructions and a handy cover for storage. It's BPA and mercury-free, ensuring safety for the whole family. With a battery included, it's ready to use straight out of the box, making it a practical and reliable choice.

With its straightforward operation, you can hold the Femometer thermometer 2-3cm away from the forehead and press the start button for a temperature reading in just 1 second. An instant red screen alerts you to a fever, ensuring quick identification of potential health concerns. One mum reviewer said, “This thermometer is the best I ever had! When you have little ones you need quick and easy! And this is that.”

This thermometer features two modes: "Body" mode for measuring body temperature and "Surface" mode for measuring the temperature of water, bottles, and food, meaning it can double up as a bath thermometer and be used before giving your tot their bottle or food. Medically certified, it provides precise readings with its precise sensor probes. 

With its infrared technology, it not only measures forehead temperature but can also gauge the temperature of objects and rooms. The large LCD screen with 3 backlight indicators makes it easy to interpret results, with a warning sound for abnormal temperatures.

Included in the package are the touchless infrared thermometer, user manual, and batteries, ensuring you're ready to use it right away. One mum reviewer commented,  “I’ve tried ear thermometers with my daughter (9 months) but struggle to get a reading cos her ears are so small. This head thermometer is brilliant and gives you an instant reading.”