What is the safest bath temperature for a newborn?

Common comfort range is around 37.0–37.8°C (98.6–100.0°F). Always test water before baby goes in.

How long should babies stay in the bath?

Newborns usually 5–10 minutes, infants 10–15 minutes, toddlers 10–20 minutes. Shorter is safer in a cool room or if baby seems uncomfortable.

Do I really need a bath thermometer?

It helps avoid mistakes. If you don’t have one, use your elbow or wrist and aim for warm, not hot.

Should babies bathe every day?

Not required for most babies. Many families do a few times per week, and more often only if needed.

What should I do if the room feels cool?

Aim for the upper half of the range and shorten the bath. Warm towel/clothes ready before you start.

Can I add bubble bath or soap?

Use gentle baby-safe products and avoid heavy fragrance. If skin gets dry or irritated, reduce product use.

When is it unsafe to bathe my baby?

If baby is very unwell, overly sleepy, shivering, or if you can’t supervise closely. Also avoid if water temperature is uncertain.

Baby bath temperature (°C/°F): newborn to toddler chart

Newborn bath water around 37–37.8°C (98.6–100°F), close to body heat, with ranges for babies and toddlers, bath time by age and the NHS wrist or elbow test.

Baby bath temperature chart (°C/°F) and bath time by age

A baby’s bath should feel warm, not hot. For a newborn, this guide aims for 37.0–37.8°C (98.6–100.0°F), close to body temperature, for 5 to 10 minutes. Older babies and toddlers get a slightly wider range and a longer bath, shown in the chart below. The NHS gives no exact number: it says to test the water with your wrist or elbow before your baby goes in.

Quick chart: bath temperature and time

These are typical comfort ranges. Always test water before placing baby in.

Newborn (0–3 months): 37.0–37.8°C (98.6–100.0°F). 5–10 minutes
Baby (3–12 months): 36.5–38.0°C (97.7–100.4°F). 10–15 minutes
Toddler (12–36 months): 36.0–38.0°C (96.8–100.4°F). 10–20 minutes

What you enter

Baby’s age (months)
How warm the bathroom is: cool (below 20°C), mild (20–24°C, the default), warm (24–27°C) or hot (above 27°C)

What you get

A target water temperature range in °C/°F
A recommended max soak time
A simple timer band: Newborn • Baby • Toddler
Safety reminders you can actually follow

Room temperature effect (simple rule)

Cool room: the range moves up 0.5°C (never above 38°C). Keep the bath shorter
Warm/hot room: the range moves down 0.5°C (warm) or 1°C (hot). End the bath sooner if baby looks flushed

Safety checklist (do this every time)

Test with a bath thermometer or your elbow before baby goes in
Swirl the water to remove hot/cold spots
End the bath if baby becomes chilled, flushed, or unusually fussy
Prep towel + clothes before you start
Never leave baby unattended, even for a few seconds

Example

Baby 6 months in a mild room:

Range 36.5–38.0°C, start around 37.3°C / 99.1°F
Bath time 10–15 minutes

If the room is cool, the range becomes 37.0–38.0°C: start around 37.5°C / 99.5°F and keep it closer to 10 minutes.

Informational guide only. If your child has eczema, skin sensitivity, or medical conditions, follow your clinician’s advice.

How it's calculated

Your baby's age picks a band: newborn (under 3 months) 37.0–37.8°C, baby (3–12 months) 36.5–38.0°C, toddler (12–36 months) 36.0–38.0°C.
The room setting shifts both ends of the range: cool room +0.5°C, warm room −0.5°C, hot room −1.0°C. The top never goes above 38.0°C, and the bottom stays at least 0.5°C below the top. The target shown is the middle of the range, rounded to 0.1°C (°F = °C × 9/5 + 32).
Soak times are fixed per band: 5–10, 10–15 and 10–20 minutes.
These are the tool's comfort ranges, not an official standard. The NHS does not give a number: it says to run cold water first, check with your wrist or elbow, mix out hot patches, and never leave your baby alone in the bath.

Source: NHS: Washing and bathing your baby