Speed reading. When you're trying to take a wiggly baby's temperature, you don't have much time to get the job done. Some thermometers claim to display a reading in as fast as five seconds, but in our opinion, a reading in 20 to 60 seconds is fine.

Positioning gauge. To take the guesswork out of insertion, some oral thermometers feature an indictor or design that makes it easy to know if the thermometer is positioned properly--a definite plus.

Sound effects. Thermometers that beep when they're done are useful; that way, you won't leave the thermometer in any longer than necessary.

Durability. Life with an under-the-weather baby is unpredictable. You'll want a digital thermometer that can withstand dropping, being submerged in water, even being gnawed on by your little one. See our oral thermometer report.

Brains. Some thermometers "remember" the last temperature read. That can be useful, especially in the middle of the night when you're sleep-deprived and trying to determine in what direction your baby's fever is going.