Adding a bathing routine to your baby’s early weeks can be a delight with a pinch of distress.

You must consider several precautions to ensure a happy bathing experience for you and your baby.

That being said, the bathwater Temperature influences a baby’s overall bathing experience.

Warm water is the best. You should avoid using hot or cold water temperatures as newborns are more likely to suffer from hyperthermia.

Kids Health recommends setting the water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and testing the bathwater before giving an infant a bath to prevent accidental burns.

Keep reading this post to know more about baby baths with too hot red skin. 

Baby Bath Too Hot Red Skin

The best opportunity to bond with your little human is during bath time. No wonder it is stressful, but it’s worth the try! 

Bath time is a relaxing time; unless your little one is squirming, crying, and kicking – or doing all three simultaneously – you’ll think you’re doing something wrong.

However, many newborns dislike sudden temperature changes. 

Hence it’s all a matter of setting the right temperature. Rest assured, bathing your baby doesn’t have to be complicated.

The following tips will assist you in keeping your wet baby warm while bathing them.

1. Baby Bath Should Be At A Temperature Around 86 Degrees Fahrenheit

Baby’s bathing temperature should range from 37°C to 38°C (98.6°F to 98.6°F).

Bathing at this temperature keeps the baby calm and relaxed. You can experiment by testing which temperatures your child likes the best!

Since their delicate skin is susceptible to heat, make sure the bath water is lukewarm, which means neither too hot nor too cold.

Make sure your little one has just the right temperature by following these tips:

• Before gently plunging your baby into the tub, check the water temperature by dipping your hand or elbow into the water.

• Do not turn on the tap or run the water while your baby is in the bathtub. Random hot water bursts could scald your baby.

• You can also use a bath thermometer to eliminate guesswork while taking your baby to bathe. Surprisingly, several baby bath thermometers disguised as bath toys allow you to keep an eye on the water temperature while entertaining your baby at the same time.

• According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you should not set your home water heater’s thermostat higher than 120°F (49°C). Because it’ll help the babies, young children, and even adults avoid accidental burns or scalds caused by hot water. You will also save money on hot water!

• Lukewarm or warm water tends to cool down at room temperatures. Hence, bathe your baby and take them out of the water before cooling down. Once you take them out, wrap them in a warm, fluffy towel and hug them close to your body! 

• You can balance the temperatures by removing cold water and adding more hot water until the optimal temperature.

2. When Bathing Your Baby, What Can You Do To Keep Them Warm?

The tiny bodies of babies are timid and warm. Their body temperatures generally range from warm to hot.

But if the heated temperatures persist, you should contact the pediatrician right away.

The bathwater may still seem a little chilly to them, even if it is the right temperature.

Here are some tried-and-true tips to keep your baby warm during, before, and after bath time:

• You must make sure that the bathroom or room where you will bathe your child is warm before you begin.
• Warm a fabulous bathroom with a space heater if necessary.
• Bathe your baby in a smaller, enclosed room rather than an ample, open space like a kitchen.
• Close all windows and doors to prevent windy drafts.
• All bath supplies should be ready and within reach before bath time, including a fresh towel and clothing for your baby.
• If your baby is too small for a regular bathtub, bathe them in a sink or basin.
• Ensure the water is warm before placing your baby in the basin or small bathtub.
• When the water is ready, take your baby out of their clothes and drop them in.
• Cover parts of their bodies you’re not washing with a washcloth or small towel to keep the baby warm.
• Keep bath times short to avoid letting the water cool too much.
• When it’s cold or your baby doesn’t feel like bathing, take your baby for a sponge bath with a clean, warm washcloth.
• To warm up a baby’s clothes and towel, throw them in the dryer or hang them over a heating vent right before bath time.

3. Method

The KidsHealth website advises giving your baby a sponge bath during the first few weeks to clean up leftover spit-up and keep the diaper area free of feces and urine.

You should give baby sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off, occurring between one to four weeks after birth.

The same procedure applies to a circumcised baby; you should administer sponge baths for your little one for the first two weeks until the surgical site heals completely.

Baby tubs and kitchen sinks allow caregivers to maintain a suitable bath water temperature and handle the baby safely.

A mother recovering from delivery may find it difficult to bend over a regular bathtub to clean her slippery newborn.

An infant may be overwhelmed by the amount of water and the space in a large tub.

Keeping about two or three inches of water is sufficient for a baby’s cleansing.

4. Warning

An infant’s sensitive skin is extremely delicate and vulnerable.

The outer layer is around 30% thinner than adults, implying they can get easily scalded or burned by hot water within seconds. 

Look out for reddened skin with tiny blisters after bath as it indicates the skin is exposed to high-temperature water. 

On the contrary, the cool water temperature can cause your baby to shiver and cause his lips, fingernails, and toenails to turn blue.

Summary

Now, you know about baby baths with too hot skin. Get the bathwater temperature just right to keep your baby comfortable and safe.

In addition to heating your baby’s bathwater, try out our other bathing tips to keep things warm.

If your baby develops any kind of rash or has dry skin or eczema, consult your pediatrician about how to clean them.

See another post on toddler safety: Baby Swallowing Bath Water

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why does my baby get a rash after a bath?

It’s known as the drying effect of hot water. A red, itchy flare-up with tiny blisters can occur on your baby’s sensitive skin due to hot water scalding.

In case of too much heat, what will happen to the baby?

When your baby overheats, she is likely to be uncomfortable, won’t sleep properly, and develop a heat rash on her skin.

The more significant concern is that overheating can increase the risk of infant sleep death, also known as SIDS.

A bath at 102 degrees Fahrenheit is too hot for a baby?

Please remember that your baby’s skin is about 20 to 30 percent thinner than yours.

Because a baby’s skin is susceptible to heat, it’s essential to have the right temperature for the bath.

It is recommended that babies’ bath water temperature be between 37°C and 38°C (98.6°F).