Ear and Temporal Thermometers

Author Name: Heidi Holvoet, PhD

Both a temporal thermometer (forehead) and an ear thermometer are quick & easy to measure baby's temperature - especially if you need it while she sleeps.

You know those moments, when your she's had a fever during the day and while she's sleeping you want to check if it's still there or got better ...  Or when baby's cranky and fussy during the day and too restless to get a decent regular temperature (rectal or under arm). Or you're on the road ... that's when such a quick indication can be a godsend (!).

Let's have a look at the different types and what to look out for when choosing one.

Temporal Thermometer

Pro: No-hassle and quick. Good indication of body temperature.
Con: May need to average 2-3 measurements.

A forehead or temporal thermometer measures body temperature at the forehead . The same place where us moms and dads place our lips to get a first indication of fever/no fever ...

How to use: with most models, you hold the head against your baby's forehead and gently swipe it sideways over the eyebrow and towards the hairline.

Most babies and toddlers don't mind this at all and won't even wake up it you want to measure while sleeping.

It's best to wipe dry baby's forehead before measuring to avoid wrong readings, especially if it's hot or if she's a bit sweaty.

For young babies (under 1 year old, some say 3 years), results may not be 100% reliable. Many have long shouted that this type of measurement is totally unusable. But the new models are getting better and better and are widely used by doctors and in hospitals, because indeed there is a lot of value in getting a fast relative temperature reading.

Sadly, really cheap ones just don't offer enough quality so you need to spend a little.

The Exergen Temporal Thermometer is very reasonably priced though and gives good results.

It does take a bit of practice to do the move correctly. The measurement may vary with how exactly you swipe. So it's a good idea to test a couple of times before starting to rely on the results.

Take your temporal thermometer to the doctor on your next visit to compare your results to his in a test measurement.

Remark: there are also temple thermometers (no swiping, just hold against temple ) on the market but to date I have not found a sufficiently reliable one to recommend. Please let me know if you have experience - good or bad.

Ear Thermometer

Pro: Quick indication of body temperature.
Con: Must insert precisely. Not with ear infection.

To measure temperature with an ear thermometer, you have to insert its head into the ear entrance. To do this correctly you have to pull the ear to open and straighten the ear canal .

That's the main drawback of this type of thermometer: to do it correctly can be a little uncomfortable for your child. It'll be impossible when he has an ear infection. And if you don't insert correctly, the measurement will not be precise.

But it's quite doable. With just a bit of practice you'll soon get the hang of it. A good quality ear thermometer like the Braun Thermoscan gives good results.

Don't bother to shop (and pay!) for the fastest "1 second" gadget.

Good quality may take just a few seconds longer, but those few moments won't bother your child that much.

And those moments are worth the wait because you get a better reading.

Mind that for really young babies results may not be very reliable. As your child grows though, the ear thermometer will most certainly come in handy for quick and no-fuss measurements.

It's a good idea to take your ear thermometer along to a next doctor's consult. He or she can show you how to pull the ear and insert the thermometer correctly for best results. And you can do a test and compare measurement with his device.


As a general recommendation I recommend you get a decent basic digital thermometer (for rectal or under arm measurement) for precise to-the-degree results, see Thermometers, part 1 for details on that. Then complement with an ear or temporal thermometer for no-fuss measurements when needed.