How to Use a Touchless Forehead Thermometer Correctly
By Car Seats, Strollers, & Baby Essentials | Evenflo® Official Site | Published: 2026-10-28
Category: How-to Guides
Learn the correct steps for using a touchless forehead thermometer to get accurate readings every time. Includes tips for the Evenflo PreciseRead thermometer and common mistakes to avoid.
Quick answer
Position the thermometer 1–2 inches from the center of the forehead, press the scan button, and read the result in about one second. For consistent accuracy, ensure the forehead is clean and dry, and avoid using the device immediately after moving from a cold or hot environment.
Why proper technique matters for accuracy
Touchless forehead thermometers measure infrared heat emitted from the skin. If you hold the device too far away, at an angle, or on a sweaty or oily forehead, the reading can be off by a degree or more. The Evenflo PreciseRead Touchless Forehead Thermometer is designed for fast, reliable results, but like any non-contact thermometer, it depends on correct positioning and stable conditions.
A common trade-off: non-contact thermometers are convenient and hygienic, but they can be slightly less precise than rectal or oral thermometers for infants. For screening or tracking trends, they are excellent; for a definitive fever diagnosis in a newborn, always confirm with a pediatrician if you have concerns.
When to wait before taking a reading
External factors can temporarily raise or lower skin temperature. Wait at least 10 minutes after your child has been outdoors in cold or hot weather, after a bath, after vigorous activity, or after eating or drinking. This helps the forehead temperature stabilize and reflect the body's core temperature more accurately.
Step-by-step instructions for accurate readings
- Prepare the thermometer and the person: Press the power button to turn on the device. Make sure the lens is clean and free of dust or smudges. For a baby or child, ensure the forehead is bare, clean, and dry — remove any hair, hats, or sweat. Wait at least 10 minutes after outdoor exposure, bathing, or feeding. A dirty lens or a sweaty forehead is the most common cause of inaccurate readings.
- Position the thermometer correctly: Hold the thermometer 1 to 2 inches (about 2 to 5 cm) from the center of the forehead, directly between the eyebrows. Keep the device perpendicular to the forehead — not tilted up or down. Press and release the scan button. The Evenflo PreciseRead will beep and show the result in about one second. Holding the thermometer too far away or at an angle often produces a lower-than-expected reading.
- Read and interpret the result: Check the color-coded display on the Evenflo PreciseRead: green for normal, yellow for elevated, red for high. Refer to the user manual for specific temperature thresholds. For young infants (under 3 months), any elevated reading should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Use the multi-memory recall feature to track temperature trends over time, which can be more useful than a single reading.
Product used in this guide
- PreciseRead™ Touchless Forehead Thermometer Support: The Evenflo PreciseRead Touchless Forehead Thermometer delivers a reading in about one second and features a large 3-color LCD display with color-coded temperature alerts. The one-second reading makes it easy to get a result even with a wiggly baby, and the color-coded display lets you see at a glance whether the temperature is normal, elevated, or high.
PreciseRead™ Touchless Forehead Thermometer Support
