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Price: RRP £23
Price: RRP £23
What we like
Designed in partnership with St John’s Ambulance
One-second temperature reading
Lightweight
Storage bag included
What we don't like
Takes 30 minutes to condition thermometer to room temperature before first use
Need to wait at least one minute between measurements
Screen is on the underside of the unit
Key specs
Type: Digital ear thermometer | Age settings: None | Memory function: Yes | Celsius and Fahrenheit: Yes | Batteries: Two AAA batteries (included)
Our verdict
Set up: 5/5
Ease of use: 4.5/5
Accuracy: 4.5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Design: 4/5
Ease of cleaning: 5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Although it has a simple design and can only be used after 30 minutes (once it’s conditioned to room temperature), the UK-approved medical Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer delivers fast, accurate temperature readings every time. It’s a reliable option should you be looking for a straightforward thermometer to use regularly or pop in your changing bag.
After testing it with my toddler for a few weeks, I found it very easy to use (simply turn it on, position it in your child’s ear and wait a second for it to give a reading), however it was tricky to read in the dark, as the LCD screen doesn’t light up like other thermometers I’ve tried like the Braun Age Precision thermometers.
I like that it’s ergonomically designed to use from birth, has a fever alarm and stores the last 10 temperature readings, plus it comes with 20 replaceable probe covers worth £7 and a handy pouch to store or take it with on holiday.
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How we tested the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer
I put the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer to the test with my 22-month-old toddler. To test its accuracy, I compared the temperature readings to those recorded by other baby thermometers, including the Braun ThermoScan 7 with Age Precision digital ear thermometer.
Once testing was complete, I then scored the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer on seven key criteria: set up, ease of use, accuracy, comfort, design, ease of cleaning and value for money.
Does the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer provide accurate and consistent temperature readings?
Yes. While there was a 0.1 degree difference to the Braun ThermoScan 7, which I find to be very accurate thanks to its Age Precision technology (which the Kinetik doesn’t have), the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer provided both accurate and consistent temperature readings when tested multiple times.
To get an accurate temperature reading, you are advised to gently pull the ear up and back slightly, so there is some margin for error if you don’t do this first. A high fever alert displays an ‘h’ to indicate a high fever, although this only happens when the temperature is over 44°C which to me feels way too high, especially if you’re using this thermometer with a newborn where 38°C is already considered problematic.
Is the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer easy to set up?
Yes! I found the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer to be one of the easiest thermometers to set up. It comes with a quick start guide as well as a larger instruction booklet for further guidance and troubleshooting, which helped me to get started straight away.
The only downside with this baby thermometer is that you need to wait 30 minutes to condition it to room temperature before taking your first reading - I didn’t need to do this for any other digital thermometer I tested.
How easy is the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer to use?
The Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer has been ergonomically designed to make it simple for parents or caregivers to grip and use. It also comes with a handy travel bag for storing it in your changing bag or taking it with you on holiday - something that wasn’t included with the Braun ThermoScan 7.
I found this thermometer to be lighter than the Braun ThermoScan 7, but overall some handy features seen on the Braun are lacking with the Kinetik. Firstly, the LCD display is unlit, which made reading my toddler’s temperature in the dark very tricky. The screen is also on the underside of the unit, so you need to remove the thermometer from your child’s ear before reading the actual temperature.
As for taking my child’s temperature, while the button feels a little flimsy, all I needed to do was turn the thermometer on, position it in her ear, then click the button on the front of the device to take a reading.
The reading then appears in as little as one second alongside an audible beep (the Braun ThermoScan 7, in comparison, takes three seconds). You can also change the readings to Celsius or Fahrenheit depending on your preference.
While this thermometer handily stores the last 10 temperature readings, you need to wait for one minute after taking a reading to take another one.
Like the Braun ThermoScan 7, a new disposable hygiene cap is needed on the tip of the thermometer for every reading - you can’t use the thermometer without one. A set of 20 caps is included with the device, but you’ll need to replace these once you’ve run out.
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Is the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer comfortable for babies?
Yes! One thing I like about in-ear thermometers is that they’re less invasive than oral or rectal thermometers and less of a mission than underarm thermometers which can be tricky with a wriggly child.
My toddler found the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer to be comfortable and was happy for me to take her temperature. The fact that a reading appears so quickly was very handy as, like most toddlers, she doesn’t sit still for long.
Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer: how easy is it to store and clean?
You’ll need to throw each hygiene cap away after one use, but the device itself can easily be wiped down with an antibacterial baby wipe.
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Is the Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer good value for money?
Absolutely. The Kinetik Wellbeing Inner Ear Thermometer is one of the more affordable digital ear thermometers and can be used on both children and adults. While the cost of the replacement disposable probe covers will add to the cost over time, I think this thermometer is well worth the spend, especially for its accuracy and speed.
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About the author
Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a one-year-old, she is fully invested in discovering the best and most affordable baby products on the market, and sharing her knowledge and findings with other parents.
With over seven years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing pushchair product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier.
In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of baby product videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.