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:

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:

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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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