Why every parent needs a baby room thermometer

best baby room thermometers

by Maria Martin |
Updated on

As well as having a baby thermometer on hand to check when your baby has a fever, it's also important to make sure that you have one of the best baby room thermometers to ensure that your little one's room is at a safe temperature.

Babies can't maintain their own temperatures, so you need to ensure that their environment isn't too hot or cold so that it's a safe temperature, especially at night.

Having a baby room thermometer is also helpful for knowing how to dress your baby at night, so you know what baby sleeping bag to choose.

The best baby room thermometers at a glance:

From those that double as night lights to dual-purpose baby room thermometers that can also be used in the bath, investing in a baby room thermometer can tell you at a glance whether or not a room is safe to sleep in. We’ve hand-selected the best baby room thermometers on the market.

Best baby room thermometers 2024

Best baby room thermometer overall

Expert rating:
5.0
Tommee Tippee GroEgg2 Digital Room Thermometer©MOTHER&BABY
Price: £83.78

Our parent tester, Melissa, was incredibly impressed with the Tommee Tippe GroEgg2 Digital Room Thermometer.

The colour changes depending on the temperature of the room, which is described as 'traffic lights', as it allows you to see at a glance if the room is too hot or cold, without even needing to look at the numbers. Plus, the colourful display doubles up as a soothing night light, which some of our testers have said they've gone on to use after their child is out of the newborn stage, making it great value for money. It also has three different levels of brightness.

This is an updated version of the Tommee Tippee Gro-Egg Room Thermometer, which is slightly bigger, and the brightness cannot be adjusted.

It's USB-powered, making it good for travelling, although it does need to be plugged into work, which is a drawback if you'd prefer something that's battery-powered. If you have the Tommee Tippee sleeping bags, you'll be delighted to hear that the lamp's colour coordinates with the labels, making it easy to see which tog you should use. Clever.

Read our full Tommee Tippee GroEgg2 Digital Room Thermometer review here.

Pros

  • It has a long USB cable
  • Has multiple colour-ways
  • It doubles up as a night light
  • Easy-to-understand 'traffic light' feature
  • It has three different brightness levels
  • The colours coordinate with tog rating of Tommee Tippee sleeping bags for ease

Cons

  • It needs to be plugged in so it can't be moved around as easily as battery-powered ones
  • Durability:
    5.0
  • Ease of use:
    5.0
  • Compatibility with decor:
    5.0
Dimensions:16cm
Material:Plastic
Multifunctional:Night light and thermometer
Power:USB
  • LED display
  • Soft silicone shell
  • Adjustable brightness
  • Four different colours
  • USB powered

Best baby room and bath thermometer combined

Angelcare Baby Bath and Room Thermometer©Angelcare

With a sweet seal design and a digital display that includes high and low-temperature indicators, the Angelcare Baby Bath and Room Thermometer is a great multifunctional option.

It has a convenient battery power-saving mode, which enables the battery life to last longer, saving you from having to replace it frequently. Some parents found that the quick-shake-activation feature can be tricky if not shaken correctly, but other than this the reading is accurate.

Our tester, Samantha, also liked the red light feature, which was a simple addition to the product to quickly alert parents when the temperature is too hot. If you're looking for an alternate bath and room thermometer that's also animal theme, you might prefer the Aycorn Digital Baby Bath and Room Thermometer

Pros

  • It's a cute design that looks nice in rooms
  • It flashes red if the temperature is too hot
  • It's safe for the baby to play with as well
  • Works as both a bath thermometer and a room thermometer

Cons

  • Some reviewers suggested that it's sometimes difficult to activate if not shaken correctly
  • Durability:
    0.0
  • Ease of use:
    0.0
  • Compatibility with decor:
    0.0
Dimensions:5.6 x 7.3 x 9.6cm
Material:Plastic
Multifunctional:Yes
Power:1 x CR2 batteries included
  • Soft-touch material
  • Auto shut off
  • Shake to wake
  • BPA free
  • Battery operated

Best multipurpose baby room thermometer

Expert rating:
4.5
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Digital Bath and Room Thermometer©MOTHER&BABY
Price: £48.93

Another great dual-purpose baby thermometer, the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature thermometer, can be used in the bath and bedroom. Our tester, Carly, loved the LED warning light and found that the room temperature matched her home thermostat and baby monitor temperature, so she found it reliable.

It's a neutral design and has a stand for when in the room, but it also floats in the bath to make it easier to see. Carly did find that the screen was a little dark, however she said she could still read the temperature clearly. She also mentioned that the stand didn't screw in securely, so she kept it out of reach of little hands.

If you were looking for something with no detachable parts, you might prefer the Miniland Bee-Shaped Bath and Environmental Thermometer.

Pros

  • It provides fast readings
  • It floats in water and stands up on hard surfaces
  • Features an LED warning light

Cons

  • The screen is a bit dark
  • The stand doesn't screw into the star
  • Durability:
    5.0
  • Ease of use:
    5.0
  • Compatibility with decor:
    4.0
Dimensions:4.6 x 10.2 x 10.5cm
Material:Plastic
Multifunctional:Yes
Power:‎1 CR2 batteries included
  • Floats in water
  • Fast temperature reading
  • LED warning light
  • Clear screen

Best baby room thermometer nightlight

Expert rating:
4.5
Tommee Tippee Gro Egg©Tommee Tippee

Awarded Bronze Best Safety Product at the Mother&Baby 2021 Awards.

This clever little room thermometer shows you at a glance whether the temperature of your baby’s room is ok. It glows blue if the room is too cold, red if it’s too hot and stays yellow when the sleep environment is safe. Not only does it save you from having to test your eyesight in the middle of the night, but the glow also acts as a gentle nightlight for your little one, which our parent tester Rebecca loved.

You might prefer the more updated version, the Tommee Tippee GroEgg2 Digital Room Thermometer, which has a softer shell and the option to change the brightness too.

Our mum reviewer also liked how quickly you could check the room's temperature, which helped her dress her baby at night time. The only change she suggested was that it could be wireless or have batteries, as opposed to needing to be plugged in as it limited placement.

Read our full The Gro Company Gro-Egg review.

Pros

  • It also doubles up as a night light
  • It's colour-coded to match the right tog of Tommee Tippee Grobags
  • It's easy to see the room temperature at a glance

Cons

  • It isn't wireless, so you could be limited to where you put it
  • Durability:
    5.0
  • Ease of use:
    5.0
  • Compatibility with decor:
    4.0
Dimensions:16cm
Material:Plastic
Multifunctional:Night light and thermometer
Power:USB
  • Soft night glow
  • Digital display
  • USB rechargeable
  • Works with the GroBag tog system

Best baby room thermometer to play with

Aycorn Digital Baby Bath and Room Thermometer©Amazon
Price: £13.99

This cute crab thermometer does two jobs in one – something we always loved as mums. You can use it to check your baby's bath temperature, then dry it off and use it in the nursery. It's BPA-free, meaning that it's safe to play, too, so you don't have to worry if your little one wants to use it as a toy.

It doesn’t take up too much space in the bathroom or the nursery and is really easy to transport between rooms. It also has a handy red LED warning light that flashes if the temperature is over 39 degrees and messages on the display for extra reassurance.

Parents found the display easy to read and were impressed with how quickly it gave a reading. One thing they said was it can be temperamental to turn on, but it wasn't a major problem.

Pros

  • It's a fun design compared to others
  • The display is easy to read
  • It's water and play safe
  • Gives reading in five seconds

Cons

  • Tapping function can be temperamental
  • Durability:
    0.0
  • Easeof use:
    0.0
  • Compatibility with decor:
    0.0
Dimensions:11 x 7 x 2.5cm
Material:Plastic and silicone
Multifunctional:Bath and room thermometer
Power:1 CR2 battery required
  • LCD screen display
  • Wipe clean
  • Bath and room thermometer
  • Play safe

Best baby room thermometer with a timer

Miniland Bee Shaped Bath and Environmental Thermometer©Amazon
Price: £33.99

This bee-shaped thermometer is a pleasant and fun bath playmate, as well as a nursery companion. It has alerts for high or low temperatures and arrows on the screen, plus a timer function so you know how long your child has been in the bath.

Reviewers like the consistent monitoring, as shown by the coloured light, and how accurate it is. The only downside is the timer can be a little tricky to set, but it's mainly useful that the temperature is accurate.

If you'd prefer a room thermometer that's for the room only, you might prefer the Tommee Tippee GroEgg2.

Pros

  • It's a sweet design and different
  • It's suitable for bath and room use
  • It has a stopwatch to time bath time

Cons

  • Setting the timer can be tricky
  • Durability:
    0.0
  • Ease of use:
    0.0
  • Compatibility with decor:
    0.0
Dimensions:9 x 12 x 9cm
Material:Plastic
Multifunctional:Bath and room thermometer
Batteries required:‎2 LR44 batteries required
  • Clock function and timer
  • Quick temperature readings
  • Floats in water

Best digital baby room thermometer

ThermoPro TP50 Digital Thermo-Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer©Amazon

Rrp: £13.99

Price: £9.34

It may not be the prettiest baby room thermometer on the market, but it's certainly clear and accurate. It has a fast response for peace of mind, measuring every ten seconds to provide updated and accurate readings for parents.

As an added bonus, it also has a humidity meter with a climate level icon indicating whether the room is comfortable for your little one. It is a more practical option, as you will be able to use this when your baby grows, but if you were looking for a more child-friendly option you might prefer the Aycorn Digital Baby Bath and Room Thermometer.

The ThermoPro Digital Thermometer has a magnet to stick to metal surfaces or a stand for free-standing. It's also easy to read, with a clear display.

Pros

  • It's easy to read the temperature readings
  • Can be used around the house when your baby is bigger
  • It also measures the humidity of a room
  • It has a magnet or a stand for multiple positioning

Cons

  • It's not a child-friendly design
  • Durability:
    0.0
  • Ease of use:
    0.0
  • Compatibility with decor:
    0.0
Dimensions:7.9 x 2.13 x 6.65cm
Material:N/A
Multifunctional:No
Batteries required:AAA required
  • Foldaway stand
  • Strong magnet for attaching to metal
  • Smart design
  • Battery operated

How important is a baby room thermometer?

Paediatric Nurse and Holistic Sleep Coach Emily McInnes, says: "I am frequently talking about the importance of ensuring the bedroom is a safe temperature for your baby as this can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)."

She mentioned that having a baby room thermometer is important so that you can keep track of the temperature in that room.

"In the cooler months, it can be tempting to wrap your baby up in lots of layers. However, it is extremely important to dress your baby according to the temperature of the room, as overheating your baby can be dangerous." It is a good idea to have a baby thermometer in the room so that you can keep track of this," she adds.

What temperature should my baby's room be?

A safe sleeping temperature for your baby’s room is between 16 and 20 degrees. According to The Lullaby Trust, the chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot, so keeping your baby’s room at a comfortable temperature is important. Baby room thermometers will give you an accurate temperature reading at a glance.

How can you check if your baby is too hot?

Obviously, every baby is different, and even if you’ve used a baby room thermometer, it’s important to check your baby using a baby thermometer regularly to ensure they are not too hot. This can be done by simply feeling your baby’s tummy or the back of their neck, as their hands and feet will often be colder than the rest of their body.

If your baby feels hot or sweaty, remove layers. When it comes to dressing your baby for bed in different temperatures, we've got you covered.

If you’re worried the temperature in the room is too hot, especially during the summer months, open the bedroom or a window if it is safe to do so before putting your baby down to sleep. Also, if you’re using a fan to cool the room, ensure it is not aimed directly at your baby.

Make sure your baby has sufficient fluids if bottle-fed and if your baby's room is difficult to cool, make sure to use lighter bedding and clothing.

As time goes on you'll learn about your baby, so it will become easier to check their temperature and know what's normal.

How can I ensure my baby’s room is warm enough?

Despite feeling cold in the winter, you will rarely need to keep your heating on all night. However, if you do, ensure it is set to a low temperature, no higher than 20 degrees. It’s often a better idea to add another layer to your baby. Remember, it’s important not to put a hat on your baby indoors as they maintain body temperature by releasing heat.

Another good way to keep an eye on room temperature is to have a baby monitor with a screen - these often also include a baby room thermometer, which can also alert you of the room's temperature and for example, in the winter if you've got the heating cranked up too high, you know sooner rather than later when to turn it down.

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About the expert

Emily McInnes is a Paediatric Nurse, Certified Holistic Sleep Coach and Founder of Sound Asleep Coaching. She has over ten years of experience in the healthcare setting and has a passion for supporting parents with their child's sleep.

About the author

Maria Martin is the Digital Group Editor for Yours.co.uk and Motherandbaby.com. She is a mum-of-two with a passion for helping women from all walks of life – from supporting breastfeeding mothers with expert advice to encouraging conversations about mental health. In her professional role, she has over 10 years' experience in the digital world, including editing articles, focussing on SEO, social media engagement, picture researching and video editing.

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