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An infant's skin burns much more easily than an adult's. Take these simple precautions, and you'll keep baby comfortable and safe at bath time—whether you use and adult or baby bathtub.
Test the temp
Before you put your baby into the tub, test the temperature with your forearm. Water should be warm, not hot. Don't rely solely on a tub with a temperature indicator, such as a drain plug that changes color to indicate too hot, too cold, and just right. If you're using a thermometer to test temperature, baby's bathwater should be between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But again, use your forearm as your main guide.
Turn the hot water off first, then cold
If baby's sitting in her tub while you run her bathwater, this will keep her safer from scalds. Swoosh tub water around with your hand so that any hot spots even out. To play it even safer, reduce the setting of your hot-water heater to 120° F. Also watch out for hot metal spigots and spouts—you can get a cover for the spout to protect your child from its heat-conducting metal and hard edges. (Some covers are soft plastic and come in the shape of an animal; others are inflatable plastic.)
Get more safe-baby-bathing tips in our baby bathtub buying guide.
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