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Original poster

Do I need a bath thermometer?

31 replies

BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:17

Right, am having panics that I Haven't Bought Anything Yet (am 35 weeks) so DH and I went to Boots and we looked at baby monitors, decided to buy it online and then saw a bath thermometer.

DH said "do we need one of those? I thought you were meant to just stick your elbow in the water"

to which I replied "yes, but I have no idea what you are meant to feel with your elbow, how do you know if it is too hot or too cold, are elbows special like that?"

to which he said (and I quote directly here because it speaks volumes) "can't you just ask all the women on mumsnet what to do?" (Note POSITIVE comment about me being on MN)

So what do I do? Do I need one or is my elbow special?

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scorpio1 · 01/01/2008 17:18

your elbow is special

you will feel if its too hot or cold from that. put cold in first and then add hot, and baby won't need bath products for ages.

Kbear · 01/01/2008 17:19

no you don't need one, you'll know when the water is warm enough for your baby!! Trust your elbow!

Do invest in a Braun Ear Thermometer though, money well spent IMO.

Original poster
BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:20

but what is too hot??!! I have NO frame of reference for this AT ALL

(lol at your elbow is special)

OP posts:
Original poster
BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:20

Ear Thermometer, check

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Kbear · 01/01/2008 17:21

it's not the temp you would bath at, cooler, just warm, you know what warm is... you're panicking!!

MrsBadger · 01/01/2008 17:21

no you don't need one

elbows are indeed special

though we were given ne of these which at least is fun too

scorpio1 · 01/01/2008 17:21

it needs to feel just warm on your elbow, not hot, not like we have our baths. no steam or anything!

Don't worry you will get the hang of it.

Original poster
BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:21

yes I am

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LoveAngel · 01/01/2008 17:22

No. I always used my (shock horror!) hand to test the water. Luke-warm for babies, slightly warmer for toddlers: not rocket science, and not sure why all these parenting guides make you doubt your most basic senses!

Original poster
BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:23

kind of body temperature?

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Original poster
BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:24

Right, no votes for the bath thermometer then, thank you very much!

Still Too Much To Do. sigh.

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scorpio1 · 01/01/2008 17:24

Yes!

now do you have any other 'special' questions?

clumsymum · 01/01/2008 17:29

No, I didn't have a bath thermometer. bathed ds at the temp just right for my elbow for first 4 weeks, and he SCREAMED every time. Finally got the water a tad warmer and he loved it. as long as you don't boil baby you'll be fine.

Don't bother with a room thermometer either. I had one, but whenever it said the room was too warm or cold I'd already worked it out, and anyway it takes you a while to change the temp of a room, checking the thermometer just adds to your stress, while babe sleeps contentedly on, caring nought.

I was 38 when I had ds, had barely ever held a baby before, knew nothing about them at all. The first day dh went to work and left me alone with ds I panicked. After a couple of weeks I was coping fine.

colditz · 01/01/2008 17:29

if in doubt, get a cup, dip it in, and take a large gulp just unto your mouth. It should not be hotter than your mouth.

Original poster
BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:32

colditz, that is a very useful tip, thank you

And thank you all for not making fun of me, xx

Babies are slightly scary.

OP posts:
scorpio1 · 01/01/2008 17:33

Babies are very scary when its your first one.

I hadn't held a baby until i had just given birth! I didn't even know how to do a nappy .

colditz · 01/01/2008 17:33

I knew NOTHING about newborns. Nothing. I'm not doing too badly - you won't do anything dangerous, you just won't . Women of normal intelligence who are not permanently drunk or on drugs or completely disinterested just don't harm babies. They just don't.

Jennster · 01/01/2008 17:36

I agree clumsymum, we had a duck thermometer, and it made us run freezing baths. dc much preferred the elbow temp.

colditz · 01/01/2008 17:36

LOL I cried because I had bought huggies, which don't have 'sticky', they have velcro stuff. I sobbed because I felt so out of touch. And I was only 22.

beforesunrise · 01/01/2008 17:37

def no bath termometer! and no room thermometer either, in case you were wondering! just use your common sense (i know someone who went and bought an airconditioner because they couldnt get the room to be 18 degrees... in July! madness!)

personally my most recommendable purchase is a humidifier- priceless for when baby (or bfing mum!)has the snuffles, which sadly happens a lot esp for winter babies.
good luck and dont panic, truly babies dont need that much, i would say 90% of what they tell you you must get is totally useless.

scorpio1 · 01/01/2008 17:38

I was 17 and the MW's wouldn't help me, i asked another mum to show me .

can do it with one hand and my eyes shut now though

Jennster · 01/01/2008 17:41

And you don't need half the stuff that people will try to sell you. Leave it a few weeks after lo born, and you will soon work out what you will need or not.

Ledodgy · 01/01/2008 17:43

No and forget this body temperature rubbish as well, would you like to bathe in a body temperature bath? Run it only slightly cooler than you'd have it yourself my firstborn hated me bathing her until I did this.

Original poster
BellaBear · 01/01/2008 17:45

God I love this website.

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Izzybel · 01/01/2008 17:48

Bath thermometers are rubbish, ime. Mine always used to say too hot when there was only cold water in the bath so I stopped using it. The water just needs to feel comfortable on your elbow. When I was in hospital the midwife, who showed me how to bath DD, used her wrist to test the water and told me how hot it should be.