Bath water temperature for your baby: how warm, and how to test it safely

Thuisarts.nl advises bath water of around 37 to 38 degrees Celsius. The German BZgA keeps it slightly cooler, at a maximum of 36 to 37 degrees, and prefers a touch too cool over too warm. The NHS gives no exact figure, but describes it as body warm: the water should feel like your own body temperature.

A safe rule of thumb is therefore about 37 degrees, with a margin of roughly 36 to 38. If it feels lukewarm and pleasant, you are on the right track. If you are unsure or your baby reacts differently, check with your health visitor or midwife.

A bath thermometer gives the most reliable reading. Alongside it, feel with the inside of your wrist or your elbow, because that skin is more sensitive than your hands. Stir the water well and check in several places, so no warm layer or hot spot is left behind.

Run the bath with cold water first and then with warm. This prevents a hot bottom for your baby to sit on. Turn off the hot tap afterwards and always feel again before your baby goes into the water.

Warm the bathroom first, because a baby cools down quickly. A room of around 21 to 24 degrees is comfortable. Keep the bath short, about five to ten minutes, especially with newborns.

Daily bathing is not necessary. Thuisarts suggests two to three times a week, the German BZgA keeps to one to two times a week. On other days you can wash the face, hands and bottom with a flannel. Choose what suits your rhythm.

VeiligheidNL is clear: never leave your baby alone in the bath, not even for a moment. A child can drown in as little as ten centimetres of water, and it happens quietly and quickly. Put everything you need within reach beforehand, and let the phone ring if you have to.

Keep the water shallow, around eight to ten centimetres. Never top up with hot water while your baby is in the bath: water at sixty degrees causes burns within seconds. VeiligheidNL advises against a bath seat, because it gives a false sense of security.

In the first weeks, clean water is enough. The NHS advises avoiding lotions and oils until your baby is at least a month old, and the BZgA keeps to water only for the first six to eight weeks. After that you can use a mild baby wash if you like. Do not add oil to the bath water, because it makes your baby slippery.

Guidance on the umbilical stump differs slightly. The BZgA recommends washing with a flannel rather than a full bath before the stump falls off. Thuisarts is more relaxed and says bathing is fine, as long as you pat the navel dry well afterwards. If you are unsure, follow the advice of your midwife or health visitor.

Bathing together can be a warm and calm moment, as long as you do it safely. Keep the water at around 37 degrees, make sure the room is warm and always keep the head above water. Ideally, ask a second person to hand you your slippery baby and lift them back out afterwards, so you do not have to stand up alone with a wet baby.

For the first time, it is best to do this with your midwife or maternity carer, and to practise the holds while dry. These are practical tips, not medical instructions: if you have questions about the skin, the navel or safety, check with your health visitor or GP.