Best Baby First Aid & Health UK

This category covers two separate needs — measuring a fever, and treating one — plus general congestion relief. For temperature, Braun's ThermoScan 7+ (£40, the priciest here) is the clinically accurate ear thermometer, reading in one second with age-precision fever guidance, though it needs disposable probe covers as an ongoing cost and a correct ear-canal seal to read properly. Beurer's FT90 (£22.50) is roughly half the price, reading via non-contact infrared from the forehead in under a second — genuinely useful for a sleeping baby, but non-contact infrared readings are generally less precise than an ear thermometer, and more affected by draughts or forehead sweat.

For fever and pain, Calpol's Infant Suspension (£4) is the NHS's first-line recommendation from 2 months, paracetamol-based with an included dosing syringe. Nurofen for Children (£4.40) is ibuprofen-based instead, suitable from 3 months, and useful as an alternative active ingredient for alternating doses on a stubborn fever, on a pharmacist or GP's advice — it carries more use caveats than Calpol, including around asthma and dehydration.

Vicks Babyrub (£5) and Nuby's nasal aspirator (£8) both address congestion rather than fever directly — the Babyrub a menthol-free chest rub formulated specifically without ingredients not recommended for babies, the aspirator a manual, parent-controlled suction device best used alongside saline drops rather than alone.