How Hot Should the Water Be for My Baby's or Toddler's Bath?

Question: How hot should the water be for my baby's or toddler's bath?

Answer: 90 - 100 degrees Fahrenheit

As mamas we worry about every little thing, and bath time is no different! We don't want to scald our baby's tender skin, but we also don't want to see them shivering and uncomfortable. So how do you know what temperature is just right for your little one? Babies and toddlers generally prefer bath water to be cooler than your average adult (this mama likes her baths steaming hot, ya feel me?), so to try and hit that "comfortably warm" temperature, stick with these temperature (Fahrenheit) guidelines:

• Below 90 degrees: Water temperature is too cold for most children
• 90-100 degrees: Water temperature is safe and comfortable for most children
• Above 100 degrees: CAUTION! Water temperature is too hot and uncomfortable for most children.

Test the Bath Water Temperature

To check the water temperature, you can use a thermometer to get an exact reading, but another easy way to check is by using  your wrist or the inside of your elbow to test the water to make sure it's not too hot. If the bath water makes your skin go red, it's most likely too hot for your baby. Remember to ALWAYS test the bath water before putting your child in! And remember that a hot, steamy bath temperature that you may love is probably a bit too hot for your baby.

You also don't want to make the water too cold. Lukewarm or tepid water can lower your baby's temperature too much and make the bath uncomfortable for them. Shivering lips are never fun during bath time, so make sure that water stays warm!

Set Your Water Heater to Avoid Scalding

Another thing you can do to make sure that baby's bath water isn't going to get too hot is to change your water heater's default setting. Most water heaters have a default setting of 140 degrees, which is definitely hot enough for your child to sustain serious burns. It's recommended that you set your water heater to 120 degrees.

While you still shouldn't turn the hot water all the way up, and you still need to check the temperature with your hand, this will ensure that even if it does get turned up all the way, it won't seriously scald your child--and just in case your toddler is obsessed with turning on/off the faucet, it will keep them safe as well.

Keep the Air Temperature Comfortable 

Keep in mind that the air temperature in your bathroom/house makes a difference too (especially when babe gets out of the bath), so make sure you don't have the air conditioning blasting too high! Keep the area warm and have a comfy towel ready to warm them up once they hop out!

Baby's bath time is one of the most fun times for them during the day--the bubbles, the toys, the water! What's not to love? Doing your best to follow these few simple steps for babe's bath water helps you ditch the mama worries and focus on the fun, and for more tips on keeping bath time safe, check out our post here!