Best baby thermometer: The expert buyers guide
Oh no! Your baby’s forehead is hot too touch. Could it be a fever? Before you panic and race down to your doctor you will want to confirm your suspicions. You don’t waste time and money on a doctors trip that didn’t need to happen. That’s where a baby thermometer comes in.
A baby thermometer will give you an accurate reading of your baby’s body temperature. From here you will be able to determine whether you are being an overly cautious mom (nothing wrong with that) or your baby actually has a full blown fever.
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Best Infrared Thermometer india
The problem is that there are so many different baby thermometers available that it can be difficult to determine which one is right for your baby. That’s where this guide comes in. By the time you have finished reading this guide you will be a baby thermometer expert. Pretty cool, huh?,
Use the links below to jump to your preferred section or keep reading the guide from top to bottom. It’s all great information!
Quick Navigation
Best baby thermometers
What is a baby thermometer?
Why you need a baby thermometer?
The different types of baby thermometers
And… The worst baby thermometers
What to look for when comparing baby thermometers
Other thermometer features
Baby thermometer safety
Resources
Best baby thermometers
Below I will examine some of the best baby thermometers on the market. These thermometers are considered the best in their class by moms all over the world.
Best Rectal Thermometer
Gentle Read Rectal Thermometer
Gentle Read Rectal Thermometer
Style: As pictured
Brand: Safety 1st
Reads in 8 seconds
Flexible tip
Beeps when complete
Long battery life
PRICE & REVIEWS
There are a lot of different rectal thermometers on the market but the Gentle Read definitely comes out ahead. This is one of the best value baby thermometers on the market.
The design is simple, a probe attached to a chunky handle. The handle is thick by design and prevents you from over-inserting the thermometer into your baby’s rectum. The probe itself is flexible, resulting in a slightly less uncomfortable feeling for your baby.
It is important that a thermometer is simple to use and it doesn’t get more basic than this. This rectal thermometer only has one button. On or off.
The screen is backlit, allowing you to measure your baby’s temperature in the dark. The screen will display the temperature, a battery indicator and a fever warning that comes up if your baby’s temperature is over 100.4°F. When the thermometer is turned on it will display the last temperature reading for a brief period.
Once inserted the thermometer will measure your baby’s temperature in under 8 seconds. A single long beep will sound from the thermometer to indicate that it has successfully recorded the temperature. The backlight will then turn on and a small icon next to the temperature reading will remind you to clean the thermometer.
The rectal thermometer is easy to wash and even has a lid to ensure that the probe remains clean and undamaged, ready for the next time you need to take your baby’s temperature.
If you are looking for a cheap baby thermometer that is incredibly effective then look no further. You can check out the price and reviews here.
Best baby ear thermometer
Thermoscan5 Ear Thermometer
Style: As pictured
Brand: Braun
Reads in 3 seconds
Pre-warmed tip
Guidance system
Long battery life
PRICE & REVIEWS
Thermoscan5 Ear Thermometer
Remember when I said that most other baby thermometers come with a learning curve that needs to be mastered? Well the Braun Ear thermometer literally tells you whether you are using it right or not.
On the thermometer screen a “POS” (no, it’s not short for Piece Of !@#$) will flash up if you have not positioned the thermometer correctly into your baby’s ear making it almost impossible to incorrectly take your baby’s temperature.
The Braun ear thermometer also features a pre-warmed tip. When a thermometer is inserted into the ear; the cooler temperature of the thermometer itself can throw out the accuracy of the temperature taken. A pre-warmed tip means that the cooling effect the thermometer has on the ear is minimized, resulting in the most accurate result possible.
A flexible tip takes your baby’s temperature in just a few seconds. Quick enough that the thermometer will be in and out of you baby’s ear before he even realizes it.
There is a reason why doctors choose to use this particular brand of ear thermometer, it is incredibly accurate. You can check out the price and reviews here.
Best baby infrared thermometer
Bluetooth infrared thermometer
Bluetooth infrared thermometer
Style: As pictured
Brand: Pyle
No Touch
Connects to smartphone
Easy to read screen
Trackable readings
PRICE & REVIEWS
If you were looking for an incredibly high tech baby thermometer then this is it. At the push of a button you can take your baby’s temperature without even needing to touch him.
Using infrared technology you simply aim the thermometer at your baby (Yes, it feels like you are pointing a gun at your baby, get that out of your head) and squeeze the trigger. The result is that your baby’s temperature will be read instantly. Yep. Instantly. Infrared thermometers are the fastest reading on the market.
If that wasn’t fancy enough for you then you can also hook the thermometer up to your smartphone (an app must be downloaded). Through the app you can keep track of your readings through the use of a calendar or chart.
While the thermometer doesn’t come cheap, if you are a sucker for anything cutting edge then you will love taking your baby’s temperature with this thermometer. You can check out the price and reviews here.
How to baby proof your stairs
According to the CDC, approximately 8,000 children are treated in emergency rooms across the United States for fall related injuries each day. Each day. That adds up to over 2.9 million injuries a year.
One of the most common places in the house where falls occur is the staircase. Fortunately, it is quick and simple to baby proof. Read on and learn everything you need to know about baby proofing your staircase.
Restrict your child’s access to the staircase
If you have read my other baby proofing guides then by now you will definitely be noticing a pattern. The easiest way to childproof just about any room or object such as stairs is to prevent your child from getting near.
Using a baby gate to childproof your stairs
The best baby proofing solution to prevent your child climbing the stairs is a baby gate or fence. A baby gate will prevent your child from going anywhere near the staircase.
A properly installed baby gate will hamper your curious child’s access even when you are not watching. Trust me, they will quickly become your best friend.
Choosing a baby gate to suit you and your baby
Before you go out and purchase any old baby gate and fence, you need to consider your lifestyle. As always, no single baby proofing product is perfect for every parent’s situation.
For example, in relation to baby gates for stairs, you may need to consider the following:
Are the stairs constantly in use throughout the day?
If so then you will want a baby gate that can be opened and closed as quickly as possible.
Do you carry objects such as laundry or your child up and down the stairs?
If so then you will need baby gate that can be opened easily with one hand
Do you want to section off not only the stairs but access to a joining room?
If so then you will need a find a longer than normal baby gate.
Do you want your baby gate to match your interior design scheme?
This question should be asked very last and is probably the least important. You do not want to compromise your child’s safety just for looks.
There are hundreds of different baby gates designed to keep your child safe on the stairs. Be sure to research which one best suits your situation. For more advice, you can refer to my baby gate buyers guide outlining everything you need to find the perfect baby gate for you.
With that out of the way, let us take a closer look at the different solutions available to keep your child away from the stairs.
Baby Gates for large areas
Baby gates for open areas will need to be attached to a wall or doorframe with screws. They need to be hardware mounted in order to remain sturdy over the distance stretched.
If your house is like mine and you have a large section around the base of stairs that you need to fence off then look no further than a 3-in-1 gate.
While it is a nice bonus that a 3-in-1 baby gate can turn into a playpen, that is not its main attraction. This baby gate has extensions that can be purchased separately that will allow it to cover virtually any distance (with enough extension pieces). This means that not only can you restrict access to the stairs, but to rooms or hazards around the stairs as well.
These baby gates are popular among parents who have open staircases (Stairs without one or more sides).
metal and wooden baby gates
Metal Baby Gate
Colors: As pictured.
Features:
– Multi-purpose.
– Easy to assemble.
– Extensions available.
Check it out
Wood Baby Gate
Colors: As pictured.
Features:
– Multi-purpose.
– Easy to assemble.
– Extensions available.
Check it out
Baby gates just for the stair entrance
If you don’t have a wide open area at the base of your stairs then a large baby gate is no good to you at all. Fortunately, there are plenty of baby gates that will fit perfectly inside the entrance to your stairwell.
Expandable baby gates, also known as pressure-mounted baby gates, are simple to install and extremely portable. They will require two flat surfaces to press against, such as the stair banister and wall. Because of this, elaborate staircases (and even some plain ones) are not suited to expandable baby gates. If you have an unusual staircase you will have to use a hardware mounted baby gate.
My major gripe with the expandable gate variety is that as they fit inside a walkway, the usable space between the gateway which you actually walk through is quite narrow. You will struggle if you need to take suitcases or travel bags between rooms.
Depending on the brand of gate, you will have the option of extension pieces. Although these cost extra, these are very handy for those of you with wider than normal stairs.
Despite their downsides, many parents swear by expandable baby gates. Just remember that you should only us expandable gates at the bottom of the stairs, never the top. This is because a child’s weight may cause the gate to slip and fall. It is a much higher fall from the top of the stairs than the bottom.
My favorite expandable baby gate is the one below. It is taller than regular gates (A must for those infants that love to climb) and can easily be opened and closed with one hand.
What I like most, however, is that optional hardware mounts are included. This means that you can have gates at the top and bottom of the stairs that match. You can use the hardware mounted gates at the top of the stairs and the expandable gate at the bottom.
Expandable baby gate sitting at the top of stairs
Expandable Baby Gate
Colors: As pictured.
Features:
– Auto-close door.
– Bronze finish.
– 48″x 0.8″x 36″.
Check it out
If you or your partner are confident with your hands you can build your own baby gate. Just be prepared to put aside a good part of your day to piece the baby gate together.
Baby proof the top of the staircase
Unless you live in a sprawling mansion (In which case, lucky you), chances are you will have much less space at the top of your stairs than at the base.
As your child has a lot further to fall at the top of the stairs you will want your baby gate as tall as possible. This is to prevent your child from climbing over the gate using a box or play toy as a makeshift ladder.
The baby gate you choose for the top of the stairs should be hardware mounted. Yes, this means that you will have to screw into your wall our banister, but the end result is a much safer baby gate.
The reason retractable baby gates are not recommended for the top of the stairs is that the pieces of the gate that push against the sides of the stairs can come loose.
Over time the gate is pushed on, leaned against and accidentally bumped. Slowly but surely the sides can come loose. At this stage, all it takes is your child to attempt to climb the gate or put too much weight on one side and the gate will collapse, sending your child tumbling down the stairs.
I mentioned my favorite gate that can be pressure mounted or hardware mounted earlier in the article so I will show you a different variety for this section.
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