Which thermometer is better

It's powered by a replaceable CR battery. For infrared thermometers, we have been fans of the Braun No-Touch Forehead, but that remains out of stock at many stores. In contrast, the Elepho eTherm is available, and like Braun's thermometer, it's all about getting temperature readings quickly and without a fuss. The Elepho eTherm lets you take temperatures from either the forehead or the ear canal.

Just pop off the cap if you want to measure someone's temperature from the ear. That kind of flexibility makes this a welcome thermometer for all members of the family, and the promised 1-second readings in either Fahrenheit or Celsius should provide quick answers on whether someone has a serious fever. There's not a lot of bells and whistles to this thermometer — forget about storing recent readings in on-board memory — but it's a good choice if you just want something that can quickly take a person's temperature.

The Braun ThermoScan 7 takes ear temperatures only, but it's one of the best thermometers if that's the preferred method for the kids and adults in your home. The ThermoScan allows for fast back-to-back readings and stores the last nine results, which makes tracking temperature over time easy.

One unique feature to the ThermoScan: You can set your child's age to get personalized fever alerts, as "normal" ranges differ among babies, toddlers and older children. Within each of those presets, you'll get color-coded results on the large backlit display. But there's one major flaw to the ThermoScan 7 — it requires a disposable probe cap.

The thermometer won't read temperatures without one. If you don't want to deal with a separate part each time you need to use your thermometer, this may be a deal-breaker.

That said, this device is generally well-regarded among users. When you're looking for the best thermometer for your home, consider whose temperature you'll be taking, as well as which features — fever alerts and app integrations, for example — could make dealing with a sick kid or partner a little bit easier. Your first step to choosing the best thermometer is to determine which method you prefer for taking temperatures.

If you have a newborn — or if you're looking for an inexpensive option for the adults in your home — a digital stick thermometer that can be used for oral, rectal or axillary readings should do the trick. If you have toddlers or children who are averse to holding their breath, a forehead, ear or dual-mode device is likely a better fit.

Here are a few additional factors to weigh when determining which thermometer is right for your family. Finally, your choice likely depends on how much you want to spend.

Infrared thermometers with more features are, predictably, more expensive than your basic digital stick version. Emily Long is a Utah-based freelance writer who covers consumer technology, privacy and personal finance for Tom's Guide. When she's not working, you can find her trail running, teaching and practicing yoga, or studying for grad school — all fueled by coffee, obviously.

Included in this guide: 1. Keeping one of the best thermometers in your medicine cabinet will let you know right away whether that warm feeling is a fever or just a flush, or whether your child needs to stay home from school or head to the emergency room. Battery: 2 AA. Lit display: Yes. Silent mode: No. Fever alert: Yes. Memory: Yes. There are a ton of options for compression gloves out there, and most have additional features that you might want to consider.

Learn more. There are three main types of crutches. The best type for you will depend on why you need crutches and your overall health. Air purifiers can help clean the air in your home from unwanted particles, such as pet dander, allergens, and smoke.

We'll discuss what to consider. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Thermometers.

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Types Which is the most accurate? The different types of medical thermometers. What type of thermometer is the most accurate? How to take an oral temperature.

How to take a rectal temperature. How to take temporal temperature with a no-touch forehead thermometer. Read this next. A fever is the body's way of battling an illness. Here's how to tell if you have a fever, plus what you should do and when you should seek help. Although the average body temperature is Knowing you need an ostomy bag can be overwhelming.

Educating yourself about different appliance types can help you make the best decision. A home remedy for congestion is steam inhalation, where you breathe in water vapor.

We reviewed the Vicks Portable Steam Inhaler. There are a ton of options for compression gloves out there, and most have additional features that you might want to consider. Learn more. There are three main types of crutches. The best type for you will depend on why you need crutches and your overall health. Air purifiers can help clean the air in your home from unwanted particles, such as pet dander, allergens, and smoke. We'll discuss what to consider.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. How we chose. A word about price. Best overall thermometer. Best ear thermometer. Braun Thermoscan 7. Best oral thermometer. Vicks ComfortFlex Thermometer.

Best forehead thermometer. Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer. Best thermometer for babies and children. Best smart thermometer. Many Americans think anything over Rik Heller, a biomedical engineer and thermographic expert, tells Insider, "Age, gender, and even time of day impact normal body temperatures.

Some children's temperatures especially run higher than others, points out Dr. Any reading of Meanwhile, older adults tend to have lower baseline temperatures than younger adults; sometimes fevers in the elderly are completely absent. To figure out what's a fever for you, you want to find your baseline temperature i. At the end of the day, how you or your child is acting and feeling is the best indicator of a fever over the number on a thermometer, multiple of our doctors say.

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