Relaxing in a hot tub by yourself or with your spouse is great, but there is something magical about enjoying it with your kids and grandkids. Their excitement over the experience is something to truly be enjoyed. That enjoyment can quickly be extinguished when you think about all of the notices on public hot tubs and rumors that circulate about kids and spas. In fact, you may be feeling a little anxious about opening the spa up to the young members of your family. We are here to put your worries aside, with some helpful information about what age is appropriate for a child to use a hot tub.
5 Should be an Appropriate Age for Hot Tub Use
For a quick answer, the only agency that has made any sort of recommendation on the issue is the CDC or Center for Disease Control. They recommend that a child be at least 5 years old to use a hot tub.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the concerns with children in a spa and how these issues can be addressed so you can make a decision for yourself.
Jets
One of the things that makes hot tub use different from pool use is the jets. Because the jets are constantly bubbling and stirring the water, there is a higher risk to the child. For one, the actual depth of the water can be deceptive. A child may not realize that they are getting in over their head. Which leads to the next problem with the jets, if a child slips under the water, the jets make it difficult for them to get back up.
To help with these issues, you should make sure that the child’s head is fully out of the water when they are standing on the lowest level of the spa. Even at this height, the child might not fit correctly when seated. A spa seat cushion or booster seat should be used to make sure their head is fully above the water at all times.
Heat
Another concern is the heat of the water. Children can overheat much more quickly than adults. Their bodies are not able to dissipate heat as easily as an adult. Their skin is also more sensitive than adult skin. There are two simple things that you can do to greatly reduce these risks.
Turn Down The Heat
First, turn down the heat. You may like your spa temperature maxed out, but when you are soaking with children you should turn down the heat to between 98 and 99 degrees.
Limit Their Time in the Hot Tub
Secondly, you should limit a child’s time in the hot tub to no more than 15 minutes at a time. That may not seem like a long time for an adult, but the short attention span of a child makes 15-minute intervals easy. Enjoy the spa for 15 minutes then get out and have a snack or take a potty break, allowing the child’s body temperature to return to normal, before entering the hot tub again.
Hydration
Finally, children can become dehydrated more quickly than adults. It is important that you make sure the child drinks plenty of water before, during and after their time in the hot tub. Often times the signs of dehydration are masked when you are in the spa, so keep a special watch out for any signs. Lack of focus, dizziness, nausea and rapid breathing are all signs of dehydration and should be addressed immediately.
There is certainly an added level of caution that needs to be exercised when soaking in a hot tub with young children. But, when proper precautions are taken, there is no reason that you can’t enjoy your spa with your children and grandchildren.
If you are ready to make more time for family and haven’t taken the dip into hot tub ownership yet, what are you waiting for? Come see us at Texas Hot Tub Company, we have the perfect Jacuzzi® hot tub for your family.