Kids A health and safety column from Children's Mercy of Kansas City, Mo. If your kids scream and run away as fast as they can when you mention bathtime, rest assured that you are not alone. But bathtime doesn't have to be such a dreaded part of kids' lives. Baths can be fun. And you need to make sure they're safe.
Extra caution needs to be taken when it comes to hot water and kids.
Scalds from hot water are a leading cause of injuries for children. The lower the water temperature, the more time parents have to come to their children's rescue. Children's Mercy recommends a hot-water temperature of between 120 and 125 degrees. That's low enough to give you time to rescue your kids, yet hot enough for cleaning purposes. Water temperature is not the only thing to consider when preparing for bathtime.