Determining the exact temperature of your baby’s bath water is nearly impossible when using your hands. While the water may feel comfortable or even cool to you, a baby’s skin is far more delicate and sensitive than ours.
So, while you can get a good idea of the overall temperature, you can never truly be exact. You could potentially be putting your little one into bathwater that’s too hot for them without even knowing.
That’s why we recommend finding the best baby bath thermometer! Be 100% confident that your baby’s water is safe and comfortable for him.
A few helpful guidelines
Ensuring that your baby’s bath time is safe is so important. The ideal temperature for a baby’s bath water is somewhere between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above or below those temperatures could burn your little one or cause them to become too cold.
An extreme temperature in either direction can pose a safety risk for your baby, such as burns, sensitivities and the risk of hypothermia.
What to look for in a thermometer
When you’re searching for the best baby bath thermometer, you want to make sure it:
- Has a large, easy-to-read screen
- Offers accurate, quick readings
- Is safe for little ones to play with
- Has an indicator for temperatures that are too hot
Before we share our research, check out the table below for an overview of our top picks.
Quick comparison: Best baby bath thermometer
Bath | Features we love | Rating | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
The Duckymeter 
| - Activates as soon as it's in the water | ||
MotherMed Baby Bath Thermometer 
| - Can be used as a room | ||
Ozeri Turtlemeter 
| - Looks like a bath toy, so kids love it | ||
Dreambaby Room and Bath Thermometer 
| - Automatically shuts off after 30 minutes to save battery | ||
Babylian Floating Snail Bath Thermometer 
| - Has a high/low temperature alarm |
For every last detail on the best thermometers, you're going to have to read 'til the end!
The Duckymeter
The Duckymeter serves as a thermometer and a toy for your kiddo. The super-cute ducky design automatically activates once it’s in the water, so you’ll never forget to turn it on. It also floats naturally and is completely submersible.
You’re little one can play with it just like any other rubber ducky without compromising the thermometer, providing entertainment as well as making the bath safe.
It checks the water’s temperature every second and displays it in Fahrenheit on the easy-to-read LCD screen.
The screen has three different color indicators to help you ensure that your baby’s bath water is just right. When measuring the temperature of the water, the screen will display blue to indicate the water is too cold, red for too hot and green for the perfect temperature. This way you’ll always know for sure that you’re bathing your baby in a safe environment.
It's also 100% safe to use out of the bathtub, and it complies with the Consumer Product and Safety Improvement Act. It
The Duckymeter comes with 3 AAA batteries.
You can rest assured that this is one of the best baby bath thermometers available.
Pros
- Different color displays ensures that your baby’s bathwater is always just right
- Safe for use as a toy in or out of the bathtub
- Measures the temperature every second, so you won't have to worry about it getting too warm before it reads it again
- Turns on once in the water, and you only swipe the bottom with a towel to dry to turn it off
Cons
- Takes a while to initially read water temperature
- Doesn't have an alarm if the water reaches a too-hot temperature
- Must regularly check and dry the battery compartment, as it has a tendency to corrode
What makes it different?
The Duckymeter displays the actual temperate and has a color code, whereas similar products only feature one or the other.
MotherMed Baby Bath Thermometer
The MotherMed is also great as a thermometer and a bath toy. We especially love that it can be used as a room or bath thermometer.
To activate it, you simply shake it or put it in the water to turn it on, and it shuts off automatically after 30 minutes. So no draining the batteries because you forgot to turn it off.
It is completely submersible, so your kiddo can safely play with it as a toy in the tub. We love the fact that this thermometer has a built-in battery that’s good for daily use up to a year. No replacing batteries over and over, and it’s completely leak-proof. You’ll never have to worry about corrosion leaking into your baby’s bath water.
It checks the temperature every second to ensure that you’re always getting an accurate reading. If the water gets below 89.6 Farenheit, it will display “COLD” on the LCD screen. If it gets above 102.2 Farenheit, a red light will come on and an alarm will sound.
These temperature settings are specifically set for a baby bath. So, even if you’re not looking directly at the thermometer you will always know if the water is getting too hot.
Pros
- Bath and room thermometer
- Easy turn on and automatic shut-off
- Checks temperature regularly
- Has an alarm when the temperature gets too high
- Sealed battery compartment
Cons
- Doesn’t flash or alarm when the water is too cold
- Doesn't indicate a "just right" temperature
What makes it different?
We love that the MotherMed has an audible alarm and flashing red light to indicate that the water is getting too hot for your baby’s safety. So if your little one is playing with the thermometer, or if you’re not keeping an eye on it, you'll always know if you’re reaching unsafe temperatures.
We’re also big fans of the sealed battery compartment. You won’t have to change batteries regularly and you will never have to worry about corrosion or leaks in your baby’s bath water.
Ozeri Turtlemeter
This thermometer is extra-cute, which is always a plus for us! The turtle design makes it a fun and safe toy for kiddos in and out of the bathtub. It turns on instantly in the water and can be completely submersed safely.
It calculates the Fahrenheit temperature every second and displays it on an easy-to-read LCD screen. It’s also color coded for too cold, too hot and just right temperatures. It complies with all safety standards and comes with three AAA batteries.
The unit turns on easily when placed in the bath water and turns off easily as well. Simply wipe the bottom of the thermometer with a towel, ensuring that all contacts are dried off well, and it will turn itself off. No pesky buttons or switches to deal with.
Pros
- Turns on and off easily
- Color coded system to indicate temperature
- Comes with batteries
- Safe as a toy in and out of the tub
Cons
- You do have to replace the batteries regularly
- Battery compartment has been known to leak, allowing water inside
- The green "just right" range runs up to 102F , which could be too warm for little babies
What makes it different?
This thermometer complies with all safety standards, making it safe for your baby to play with as a toy, whether she's in or out of the water!
Dreambaby Room and Bath Thermometer
The Dreambaby definitely makes our list as one of the best baby bath thermometers. It has a cute little crocodile design, and kids love to play with it.
It has been tested to toy safety standards, ensuring that your little one can enjoy it without you having to worry.
It reads both room and bath temperatures quickly and accurately. It rechecks the temperature every 10 seconds and shuts itself off automatically after 30 minutes to conserve battery life.
The large, easy-to-read digital display will turn green if the water is too cold and red if it’s too hot. It can also be switched between Fahrenheit and Celsius, which is extremely convenient.
Pros
- Color coded for too cold and too hot temperatures
- Automatic shut off after 30 minutes
- Measures temperature in room or water
- Safe to use as a toy
Cons
- No alarm for too hot temperatures
- Some water can get into the LCD screen
What makes it different?
This thermometer is larger and sturdier than other, similar products on the market, and it’s BPA- and phthalate-free. We also love that it can be used to measure the temperature of the room, as well as of the bath.
Babylian Floating Snail Bath Thermometer
This adorable little snail is completely submersible and safe for kiddos to play with in and out of the bathtub. It floats naturally in the water and automatically turns on when it’s placed in the tub. No hassle of remembering to turn the unit on or off.
It has a large LCD display that changes color with the water temperature: blue for cold, green for perfect, red for too hot. We love that this thermometer has an alarm for too hot and too cold temperatures. That way, you’ll never miss a reading, even if your child is playing with it.
It reads the temperature every second so you’ll always get an accurate measurement, and displays in Fahrenheit. To turn it off, you just dry the metal sensors on the bottom thoroughly.
Pros
- Alarms for too hot and too cold temperatures
- Color coded temperature indicators
- Safe for children to play with
- Measures temperature every second for accurate reading
Cons
- Does not switch to Celsius reading
- Batteries will need to be replaced regularly
What makes it different?
This thermometer has an alarm for too hot and too cold water temperatures. This is unique as similar products have no audible alarm or only an alarm for water that is too hot.
Using the best baby bath thermometer will allow you to confidently bathe your baby without the constant worry of too hot or too cold water.
You’ll be able to enjoy this bonding experience to the fullest when you know that your baby is safe and comfortable.
For real recommendations about bath products for your baby from real mamas, don't miss this article!
Featured image: Abi Porter
