Uh oh. Is she a little warm? You hope it’s not a fever. Better check to be sure. But, your little one is sleepy, and starting to drift off, and you’d hate to bother her. This is an ideal situation for a non-contact, non-invasive forehead thermometer. You don’t need anyone to comply by holding a thermometer in their mouth for what always feels like an eternity (doesn’t it?) Instead, you can get an accurate reading in as little as one second with a touchless infrared forehead thermometer. Doesn’t that sound like a more pleasant option? We think so!
If you’re interested in finding out the ins and outs of these useful, inexpensive medical gadgets, check our buying guide below for more information about selecting the best forehead thermometer for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get the most accurate readings with a forehead thermometer?
Forehead thermometers are designed to take accurate readings, but you must follow the instructions precisely. Many forehead thermometers are calibrated to give an accurate reading when held a specific distance from the forehead, which is usually around an inch or so. Check the instructions that come with each product for the distance from the subject that will yield an accurate result. If you hold the thermometer too close or too far away, then the temperature reading loses accuracy, sometimes dramatically. But this can be easily remedied by correcting the distance of the thermometer from the subject. Another thing to check with each brand of thermometer is its margin of accuracy as stated by the manufacturer. Some manufacturers state that their product is accurate to within 0.1 degree Fahrenheit, while others may give an accuracy margin of up to 0.4 or 0.5 degrees.
What can I use an infrared thermometer for?
Infrared thermometers, also called forehead thermometers, take the temperature of a surface. For medical purposes, they’re most often used on the forehead to read the temperature of a person’s skin, but most infrared thermometers can also be used to measure the temperature of other surfaces as well. Some thermometers have a setting for switching its use to objects, as opposed to humans. Other things you can take the temperature of include food or baby formula, (to see if it’s too hot, or safe to consume), the temperature of a hot deck in the sun (to see if it will burn bare feet), and much more. So, you can use forehead thermometers to take a person’s body temperature, or you can check the temperature of an endless variety of surfaces.
Do forehead thermometers show degrees Celcius or Farenheit?
Many of the thermometers on the market have the ability to switch between C and F, so you’ll be able to use the thermometer in a system of measurement with which you’re most familiar. If this feature is important to you, check the seller’s product description to make sure that you can use the thermometer in your unit of choice.
Buying Guide
It can be a tough choice – picking the right forehead thermometer. You want to make sure you get it right, because the health of you and your family is important. Before you buy, consider these important points when shopping for a non-contact infrared forehead thermometer:
- Operation: Are you looking for a forehead thermometer with basic, one-button operation and not a lot of extra features or settings? Or would you enjoy many of the useful electronic features of more advanced thermometers? Some thermometers offer the simplest of use, where you simply aim and press a button, with virtually no set-up and no fancy extras. Other thermometers offer several interesting features and require a little bit of set-up and getting to know your new thermometer’s capabilities. Think about the features and capabilities you’d like in a thermometer, and if you’d prefer the simplest operation, or if going through a couple steps and reading the manual is more your speed.
- Accuracy: Accuracy in a thermometer is everything. After all, it’s a thermometer’s only real job, right? So of course, you want it to be accurate. Check the product details for information about the accuracy of each thermometer. To get an accurate reading, you must hold the thermometer a specific distance from the forehead. Beyond this, though, different manufacturers have varying claims of accuracy, which usually fall between a 0.1 and 0.5 degree margin. Also falling under the umbrella of accuracy is a thermometer’s consistency. An accurate thermometer will give nearly the same digital reading even when you take a temperature multiple times in a row.
- Memory: Some thermometers have the ability to record a history of temperature readings. This is useful so you can track a patient’s progress over the course of an illness. Some thermometers remember up to 10 recent temps, while others can remember up to 35 readings or so. If this memory feature in a thermometer is important to you, look for a thermometer with a memory function.
- Fever Alerts: Infrared forehead thermometers have different ways of alerting you that they’ve detected a fever. The most basic models may not alert you at all when they read a temp above 98.6 F. However, many thermometers give an alert with a fever, such as the changing color of a screen, a vibration, or a sound. In some models with an audible alarm, the sound features can be silenced for quiet operation. This is useful for taking the temperature of sleeping patients.
- Auto Shut-Off: With the concern of someone possibly being ill, you don’t need the extra worry about draining your thermometer’s batteries if you forgot to turn it off. Therefore, many thermometers have an auto shut-off feature that turns off the unit after a certain number of seconds go by of non-use. Check the seller’s product description to see if a thermometer has an auto shut-off feature.
Are forehead thermometers all the same? Not exactly. Yes, they all take your temperature, but there are several features, including those above, that distinguish each thermometer as unique. We’ve sorted through many of the options on the market, and here are our top picks for the best forehead thermometers:
iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer
Best Overall
Small and Sleek Design
This petite digital thermometer is only 5.39 inches tall and is not only portable, but also highly accurate.
This non-contact infrared thermometer from iHealth has a sleek white design with a large easy-to-read digital screen. This thermometer has a high level of accuracy with tri-point sensory, which collects data from over 100 points per second, and must be within 1.18 inches of the forehead. Batteries and a user guide are included.
Pros:
- Quiet operation doesn’t wake sleeping patients
- Works even with squirmy patients
- Auto shut off
- Easy to use
Cons:
- May produce inaccurate readings sometimes
- Has a two-year expiration date
GoodBaby Forehead Thermometer
Fastest Readout
Gives Accurate Temp in One Second
Hold this thermometer about an inch away from the forehead, and you’ll get an accurate readout quickly.
GoodBaby’s forehead thermometer is not just for babies: It’s perfect for people of any age, as well as objects and surfaces that you’d like to know the temperature of. This thermometer has been clinically tested to give results that are accurate to within one-tenth of a degree.
Pros:
- Ergonomic handle with large readout
- Fast 1-second results
- Accurate to within 0.1 degree Fahrenheit
- Memory function
- Comes in black or white
Cons:
- May not give accurate readings if sweating
- May give inconsistent readings
Berrcom Infrared Forehead Thermometer
Best Warnings
With Fever Alarm
This thermometer has many useful features, including memory that recalls up to 32 readings, and an alarm that indicates a fever.
This feature-packed thermometer from Berrcom gives a quick 1-second readout, and has a large backlit screen. It sounds an alarm (which can be silenced) when a fever is detected, and its memory stores up to 32 temperatures from prior readings.
Pros:
- Sounds alarm when fever is detected
- Memory recall records up to 32 temps
- Auto shut-off function
- Sounds are mutable or silent operation
Cons:
- Batteries not included
- Set up can be confusing
DISEN Infrared Forehead Thermometer
Best Memory
Recall Temperature History Easily
This thermometer switches easily between Celsius and Farenheit, gives a readout in one second, and remembers 35 past readings.
The memory storage of up to 35 previous temperature readings is easily recalled with this thermometer from DISEN, making it easy to track your patient’s progress. This thermometer also has a three-color LCD screen, and an automatic fever alarm.
Pros:
- Track patient’s temperature progress with history
- Accurate readout within 0.4 degrees F
- Saves 35 temperature readings
- Includes fever alarm
Cons:
- Operation is not intuitive
- Must be held at a precise distance for accuracy
Hotodeal Infrared Forehead Thermometer
Most Versatile
Settings for Body Temp or Objects
This thermometer has all of the features you need, including a fever alarm, 10-temp memory, and settings for object temperature.
The colorful LCD display on this non-contact infrared thermometer from Hotodeal changes color to indicate a mild fever or a high fever, and also sounds a warning alarm when a fever is detected. You’ll have no worries about draining the batteries, too, because this thermometer will shut off automatically after 30 seconds.
Pros:
- Easily switch mode from bodies to object or surface
- Display changes color with slight or high fever
- Auto shut-off after 30 seconds
- 10-temperature memory
Cons:
- Readings may be inconsistent
- Beeps with readings
