Best baby thermometers in the UK (2026)

Ear, underarm or forehead?

Underarm digital sticks are what the NHS tells parents to use for children under 5. They're cheap and accurate when held properly, but slow and fiddly with a wriggling child. NICE recommends an electronic underarm thermometer for babies under 4 weeks.

Ear (infrared tympanic) thermometers read in a second or two. NICE accepts them for children from 4 weeks to 5 years, but the NHS warns they can give misleading readings if the probe isn't placed correctly, which is easier to get wrong in a baby's small ear. Most need a fresh disposable cover for every reading.

Forehead thermometers come in two kinds. Forehead strips aren't accurate, according to the NHS, because they show skin temperature rather than body temperature. Infrared no-touch models are far better and brilliant for a sleeping child, but they aren't among NICE's recommended methods for under-5s, so treat them as a quick check.

What to buy for a newborn

A digital stick thermometer, used under the arm. It's the method NICE recommends for babies under 4 weeks and the one the NHS describes for all under-5s. Braun's own manuals also say its ThermoScan ear thermometers aren't intended for babies born early or small for their gestational age.

You can add an ear or no-touch thermometer later for speed. The stick stays useful as a way to double-check a reading that worries you.

Getting a reliable reading

For an underarm reading, the NHS suggests holding your baby on your knee, placing the thermometer in their armpit and gently holding their arm against their body for as long as the instructions say, usually about 15 seconds. With an ear thermometer, use a new cover every time and follow the positioning guide; Braun's ExacTemp light confirms when the probe is placed correctly.

Whatever you use, stick to the same thermometer and method while you're tracking a fever, and note the time of each reading and any medicine you've given. If a reading doesn't match how your child seems, take it again or confirm it under the arm.

Running costs

Ear thermometers use disposable covers. Braun says to fit a new one for every reading, and its LF40 refills cost around £9 for 40 at John Lewis, roughly 22p a reading. Stick and no-touch thermometers have no covers to buy, just the occasional battery, although sticks need cleaning between uses.

Do you need a smart thermometer?

Probably not, but they have their moments. Connected models such as Braun's ThermoScan 7+ connect log each reading to a phone app with the time, which is handy when a fever drags on for days or you're juggling more than one poorly child. They don't make the reading itself any more accurate, and if you're happy jotting readings in your phone's notes app, a standard thermometer does the same job.