Seeing your child sick is never fun, and when they’re young and unable to tell you exactly how they feel and what hurts, any illness can be downright scary.
Sickness during the first year of life is particularly challenging. An already delicate sleep pattern gets interrupted and you’re not sure if you should call the doctor, go to the emergency room, or just wait it out.
One thing that you can do to monitor your baby’s well-being is to keep track of their temperature. In fact, when you call the doctor’s office or go visit the emergency room, one question they’ll ask you is, “Does your child have a fever,” and if so, “For how long?”
Important details related to a fever can give the doctors treating your child valuable information. And since you’ve already decided that a good thermometer is next on your To Buy list, let’s get right to it and talk about the newest thermometers on the market – forehead thermometers.
How do Forehead Thermometers work?
The forehead thermometer is surprisingly accurate. In fact, they have been used in hospitals long before they were available to the general public.
Each thermometer has an infrared beam that scans the temporal artery on the forehead to determine a person’s temperature. An ear canal thermometer also uses an infrared light but it isn’t recommended for young infants due to the small size of their ear canals.
Advantages of Forehead Thermometers
Although a rectal temperature is the most accurate, most parents aren’t comfortable measuring their child’s temperature that way. Thank goodness for forehead thermometers.
Here are the advantages of using a forehead thermometer to monitor your child’s temperature:
- touchless
- very safe and convenient to use.
- almost instantaneous readings.
- the only way to take your child’s temperature without waking them up.
- safer and more accurate than ear canal thermometers.
- easier to use than rectal thermometers.
- more accurate than axillary (armpit) thermometers.
- can be safely used for everyone in your family without spreading germs.
An oral thermometer gives an accurate temperature reading but it isn’t recommended for children under the age of 4 years old.
Pacifier thermometers aren’t accurate and Doctors will not rely on their readings. Overall, a forehead thermometer is the most trustworthy way of measuring each family member’s temperature.
How to Choose a Forehead Thermometer
Thermometers have changed significantly in the last thirty years. Many of us remember the good old under-the-tongue mercury thermometer. We’re being advised to do away with all mercury thermometers due to the danger of the mercury poses if the glass is broken.
With the advances in technology, most forehead thermometers on the market are going to do a good job of getting quick, accurate readings.
Here are some things to consider as you shop for your next thermometer:
- memory recall – some thermometers on this list will store and recall up to 32 readings.
- Fahrenheit and Celsius – do you need to know both readings?
- talking thermometer – yes, there is one that talks in either English or Spanish!
- quick fever detection – some have colour coded screens and some have an alarm that signal a high fever.
The 8 Best Forehead Thermometers
The Innovo infrared thermometer can be used for both forehead and ear temperature readings. While forehead readings do not require a probe covering, it is recommended that you gently wipe the probe with an alcohol swab after each forehead use.
Ear canal readings are not recommended before 1 year of age.
This thermometer has both auditory and visual fever warnings.
The Innovo Medical Forehead and Ear Thermometer:
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- is operated by 2 AAA batteries.
- has a large LCD display with backlights.
- gives fast, accurate readings in one second or less.
- is CE and FDA approved.
- is safe and hygienic.
In addition:
- it stores and recalls 20 readings.
- you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- comes recommended by Doctors and Pediatricians.
The Dr. Madre Forehead Thermometer is the only talking thermometer on this list. You can select between two languages: English and Spanish. You can also silence the talking setting.
The Dr. Madre Talking Forehead Thermometer:
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- operates with 2 AAA batteries.
- has backlight display for easier readings.
- gives fast, accurate readings in one second or less.
- is FDA approved.
- is safe and hygienic.
In addition:
- stores and recalls 12 readings.
- you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- comes with a hard cover carrying case.
- has a separate setting to measure room temperature.
- a blue display indicates no fever and a red display to indicate fever.
Their claim, “always ready when you’re ready.” The manufacturer has given a 2 year replacement warranty and a 30 day, hassle free, money back guarantee.
Additional 2 and 3 year protection plans are available to purchase along with the thermometer.
The PREVE forehead thermometer fever alarm has three colour coded screens for quick fever detection as well as a fever alarm. A green screen indicates no fever, orange for low fever, and red indicates fever.
It can measure more than body temperature. The PREVE can tell you room temperature, bottle temperature, room temperature, and the temperature of baby’s bath water.
The highly-rated PREVE thermometer:
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- has a large LED with colour coded backlight display.
- is operated by 2 AAA batteries.
- gives fast, accurate readings in one second or less.
- is safe and hygienic.
In addition:
- it stores and recalls 32 readings.
- you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- comes with a handy carrying pouch.
This thermometer has passed many rigorous clinical tests. It is covered by a two year warranty.
Paramed has made an affordable forehead and ear thermometer that works for the whole family. It’s colour coded backlight quickly alerts you to fever by displaying red for fever, orange for low grade fever, and green for normal temperature.
If you are not completely satisfied with this thermometer, Paramed covers you with a 30 day money back guarantee.
The Paramed instant read forehead and ear thermometer:
- has a high precision sensor.
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- has a large LED with backlight display.
- includes 2 AAA batteries.
- gives fast, accurate readings in one second or less.
- is safe and hygienic.
- automatically switches off after 60 seconds.
In addition:
- it beeps when ready and signals a fever with an alarm.
- stores and recalls 12 readings.
- you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- FDA approved.
Generation Guard has made this clinical grade forehead thermometer that will not only tell you your child’s temperature but it can also be used to take the temperature of the room you’re in and the bottle you feed your child.
This thermometer has been thoroughly tested to be reliable. Generation Guard offers a 30 day no questions asked, money back guarantee.
In addition, this hospital grade thermometer:
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- uses a highly sensitive sensor.
- can operate in quiet mode.
- includes 2 AAA batteries.
- has a large backlit LCD display that is easy to read in the dark.
- gives fast, accurate readings in one second or less.
- is FDA approved.
- safe and hygienic.
- can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Braun is a popular name in small appliances. This professionally accurate thermometer has the usual features of most forehead thermometers, plus Braun offers an additional 2 or 3 year protection plan you can purchase when you buy the thermometer.
To make your life simpler, a quick guide on the thermometer gives you the information you need to operate the thermometer.
The screen is colour coded so you can quickly know if your child has a fever, signalled in red, a low fever signalled in yellow, or green indicating no fever.
The Braun Forehead Thermometer:
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- operates with 2 AAA batteries.
- large, easy to read, LCD display with colour-coded backlight.
- fast, accurate readings given in seconds.
- safe and hygienic.
In addition:
- Fahrenheit only temperature readings.
- no return policy.
- no probe covers required.
This affordable ear and forehead thermometer by Generation Guard is an excellent choice for the budget conscious family. With a 30 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee, you are well protected when you purchase this thermometer that has hospital grade accuracy.
Not only can you measure a child’s temperature by ear or forehead, you can also use the sensitive infrared beam to measure both room and bottle temperature.
The Generation Guard Clinical Forehead and Ear Thermometer:
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- includes 2 AAA batteries.
- large LCD display with backlights.
- fast, accurate readings in one second.
- rapid thermal ear scans.
- FDA approved.
- safe and hygienic.
In addition:
- you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- comes with storage/travel bag.
- there is no silent mode.
The SantaMedical 2 in 1 thermometer can take body temperature either by forehead or tear ducts. It can also give you the temperature of the room and other surfaces.
This non-contact thermometer is covered by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
The Santamedical 2 in 1 Clinical Thermometer:
- can be used for infants, children, and adults.
- operates on 2 AAA batteries.
- has a large LCD display with backlights for easy night time use.
- fast, accurate readings given in one second or less.
- safe and hygienic.
In addition:
- stores and recalls 32 readings.
- you can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- has a volume adjustable fever alarm.
- recommended by Doctors and Pediatricians.
- has an energy-saving automatic shut off.
Conclusion
The best forehead thermometer for you and your family depends on a few things.
The memory recall function is nice to have on a thermometer but not necessary for everyone. Do you think you would benefit from having past readings stored for you?
Guarantees and return policies are good, but the items on this list are all quite reasonably priced. Decide whether or not you need the peace of mind when buying an electronic device backed by a warranty.
While the focus of the article was to review forehead thermometers, a few of the items on this list measure both ear and forehead temperatures. There are also thermometers that can measure room and bottle temperatures. Which temperatures do you need to know?
Whichever thermometer you choose to purchase, make sure you read the instructions thoroughly before using and don’t forget to remove the protective end cap before using.
