Construction & Contractors Blog
Hot tubs provide relaxing enjoyment for adults, but what about children. At what age can a child sit safely in a hot tub? Is there an age in which a child is at risk of overheating? These are a few questions that parents should consider before allowing a child to enter a hot tub, whether at home or a hotel.
Children Under Five
It's recommended that children under the age of five not be permitted into hot tubs, and especially infants. The intense heat from the hot tub water could damage an infant's tender skin.
Children under five may also overheat faster from the hot water. Their small bodies aren't equipped to handle hot water temperatures as well as adults, especially at temperatures over 104 degrees.
In some cases, you may allow a child at ages four or five to sit in a hot tub if the temperature is lower, like below 93 degrees, but not for over five minutes.
Children Between Five and 12
Children between the ages of five and 12 aren't as restricted at sitting in a hot tub as those younger than five. However, there are issues you need to be aware of that could harm the child.
Lower the heat on the hot tub if you're at home to around 90 to 92 degrees. Even older children can get overheated. Don't allow them to stay in the hot tub for long periods such as over 20 or 30 minutes. The longer they remain in the hot tub, even at cooler temperatures, the faster their heart will race.
Leave the jets off in the hot tub. A child whose head isn't too far from the water's surface may inhale more of the water through the bubbles than an adult would. Bacteria and chemicals in the hot tub can then enter into the child's body through the nose.
Don't let the child dunk their head into the water either. An ear infection may result from bacteria as well. Even if you keep the water sanitized on a regular basis, a child's immunity isn't as strong as an adult's so they are more susceptible to infection from a hot tub.
Hotel Hot Tubs
It's best not to allow children into hotel hot tubs. Generally, these hot tubs are sweltering in an effort to kill bacteria. In addition, more chemicals may be used to fight germs. On the other hand, some hotels may not use enough chemicals to fight bacteria. Better to spend time with your child in the pool rather than the hotel hot tub.
If you have small children this shouldn't prevent you from buying a hot tub. Just remember to keep it covered when not in use, and keep it for adult relaxation.
Share12 September 2014
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
