By The Zagosa Team. Published .
Reviewed or updated .
Guidance from Public Health and the NHS is that children under five should stay out of a hot tub altogether. Older children can join in safely provided you lower the temperature, keep the soak short, and supervise the whole time. The two genuine dangers are overheating and drowning, and both are straightforward to manage with a few clear rules.
How old, and how long
Under five: not advised at any temperature. Small children heat up far quicker than adults and are less able to tell you when something is wrong.
Five to twelve: cap each soak at 15 minutes and drop the temperature to around 32 to 34C. Get them out before they think to ask.
Thirteen and up: standard adult guidance applies, though it is still worth keeping that first session short to see how they cope.
What to do at the tubside
Set the temperature down an hour ahead. Dropping from 38C to 34C takes time, so build it into the plan.
Stay within arm's reach. Most drowning involving children happens silently, and within metres of an adult who glanced away.
Watch for flushing, dizziness, or an unusual quiet. Those are early signs of overheating and mean it is time to get out, dry off, and have a cool drink.
Hygiene counts double with children in
Test the sanitiser before every family soak. Children swallow more water than adults and have less hardy immune systems. Aim for free chlorine at 3 to 5 ppm, or bromine at 4 to 6 ppm, before they climb in.
No nappies, swim nappies included. They are not made for the warmth and circulation of a hot tub. A toilet trip beforehand saves an awkward conversation afterwards.
Common questions
What about pregnancy?
Current NHS advice is to avoid hot tubs entirely while pregnant. The concern is the developing baby's temperature regulation, which is most vulnerable in the first trimester.
Can teenagers use it unsupervised?
Most insurers and manufacturers want an adult on the premises. Drowning, slipping on wet decking and mishandling chemicals are real risks even for capable teenagers.