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The best baby room thermometers 2022

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Worried about your baby getting too hot in bed and also the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

A room thermometer is one baby product that every parent should buy for their little one's nursery, to keep them safe while they sleep.

Making sure your baby’s room isn’t too hot or cold is VERY important, with a temperature between 16 and 20 degrees ideal for their safety and comfort, whether it's during the day or night.

The chance of SIDS* is higher in babies who get too hot, so a room thermometer helps you keep an eye on the temperature in the room where they nap and sleep.

We've rounded-up a selection of room thermometers for every budget.

*sudden infant death syndrome

A room thermometer will help monitor the nursery's temperature and give parents peace of mind, and many models can be used to measure bath water too, so you only need to buy one thermometer to serve both purposes.

Parents can also refer to special charts that will show how much or little bedding a baby needs at certain temperatures.


Do I need to buy a baby room thermometer?

If you have a new baby, monitoring the temperature in their room is very important.

Newborns aren’t able to control their own body temperature, so your baby relies on you to monitor and keep their nursery at a constant temperature that's not too hot or cold.

If a baby gets too warm, there's an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death.

The most reliable way to accurately monitor your baby’s room temperature is with a room thermometer, so it's worth investing in one for their health and wellbeing.

A room thermometer is easy to use and usually has a clear, accurate digital display showing a room's temperature.

More expensive products also have extra features such a light, to help with night feeds and nappy changes.

You can also buy room thermometers that double up as bath thermometers to measure the temperature of babies bath water.

Bath thermometers are also really easy to use, simply add it into the bath water and check the temperature reading on the digital screen.

Many bath thermometers also double up as a bath toy for added value.

What temperature should my baby’s room be?

Although your instincts might tell you to keep your baby’s nursery warmer than the rest of the house, the safe sleep charity The Lullaby Trust recommends that the ideal temperature should be between 16°C and 20°C.

That might feel rather chilly to you, but overheating is linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or cot death, so it’s better for the nursery to be on the cooler side.

This is why investing in a room thermometer for your baby's room is such a good idea, so you can get an accurate idea of what the room temperature really is.

Always check the display before you put your baby to bed to see what temperature the room is.

Which baby room thermometer is best?

You can buy a basic room thermometer for just a couple of pounds, and some baby sleeping bags come with their own basic thermometer.

You can buy more sophisticated (and expensive) models that have other functions such as a nightlight or colour-change feature so you can see whether the room is the right temperature – even with the lights out.

You can also buy room thermometers that double up as bath thermometers, too, so you can check whether your baby's bath water is the right temperature.

Make sure that you can clearly read the temperature display, even in dim light.

This is when investing in a more expensive room thermometer can be useful as these models often have a lit digital display, so you always can see temperature readings – even in the dark.

Some products also change colour as a warning if the temperature in the room suddenly gets too warm or cold.

You can buy baby room thermometers from most retailers that sell nursery products, such as Amazon, John Lewis and Boots.

How do I check if my baby is too hot?

Feeling the nape of a baby's neck is the quickest way to see if they are too hot or cold. If it's sweaty or cold to the touch, you might need to make the room temperature warmer or colder.

Signs of an overheated baby include flushed cheeks and rapid breathing.

Want to know more about sleep safety? Read our guide here.

Need to know your baby's actual body temperature? Browse our round-up of the best contact and non-contact kids ear and forehead thermometers, here.


Read on:

The best baby bath thermometers

What should your newborn wear in bed?

The best baby monitors

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