How to Stop Floating in Your Hot Tub (Tips for Kids & Shorter Adults)

When you use the hot tub, you want to de-stress, letting the jets and hot water get to work to rejuvenate your mind and body. It's tough to relax if you can't seem to stay down in the seats, though.

Or maybe you want to use your spa for family time, but your kids don't seem to be able to stop floating!

Either way, rest assured: this is normal. Many kids or shorter adults struggle with floating in hot tubs.

To help you better enjoy (and get more therapeutic benefits from) your hot tub experience, we put together this list of tips you can try to help you stop floating in your spa. Let's get to it.

1. Experiment with different seats

Why do some people float in hot tubs and others don't? Simply put, height and weight are the main factors.

In other words, shorter people are more likely to float in hot tubs. Not only are they likely to be lighter; there's also a chance they're struggling to reach the floor, where others may be able to use their feet for additional grip.

To help fight floating, experiment with different seats. Not all hot tubs have the same water depth, and similarly, not all of the seats within the tub will be the same height or have the same backrest angle. Try switching to a seat positioned higher up and see if the problem improves.

2. Avoid the lounger

A hot tub lounger is a specific type of seat that lets you recline back, so you're almost lying horizontal. Much like the kind of recliner you might put in your living room, hot tub loungers raise your feet up and bring your shoulders back, and your head can then lean back on a headrest.

Although loungers can be very relaxing—and great for targeting more areas of your body with the jets—many people find that they are worse for floating, due to how weight is spread out much more evenly. If your spa has a lounger, try one of the upright seats instead.

If you know you have an issue with floating, this is something to consider when shopping for new hot tubs as well. Loungers take up a significant amount of space, so opting for a spa without a lounger could be a better choice for you.

3. Check if your spa has a foot dome

Not being able to grip onto anything inside the hot tub can be a cause of floating. If this sounds like a problem you have, see if your spa has a foot dome.

A foot dome is a sort of raised ridge on the bottom of some hot tub floors. They are an extra source of jets for reflexology, but can also be used to help you stay put.

If you have this sort of ledge or dome in your hot tub, see if you can use your feet to grip the base of the spa. This can help you stay in place, instead of floating up and out of your seat.

4. Use a booster seat

Shorter people often find that the higher seats in a hot tub make for a more comfortable experience. But what if your spa doesn't have raised seats, or even the highest seat isn't high enough?

Try a booster seat. There are plenty of options that are specifically designed for hot tubs and adult usage. Don't worry, they don't look like the kind of booster seat intended for children. They can actually blend in and look quite sleek; think of them more like plain weighted cushions.

As they're designed to be used underwater, they're also mildew resistant and quick drying in most cases.

Check out our review of the best hot tub booster seat.

5. Try a no-float weighted belt

Another option to try is a weighted belt. This one is designed to be comfortable for all ages and body types, so it shouldn't make you feel like a child.

To use a no-float weighted belt, all you need to do is fill it with pea gravel, BB's, marbles or even large aquarium gravel. Then, sit or lay down in your hot tub, placing the belt across your lap. It will help to weigh you down, preventing you from floating—even in the lounger.

Like booster seats, no-float weighted belts are also specifically designed for water usage. They are made with water resistant materials like a marine-grade zipper and sewing thread, so won't rot or fade.

6. Lower your water level

If you're not keen on the idea of no-float devices, you could try lowering your water level. This will reduce the depth of your spa, keeping less of your body underwater and therefore helping you to stay in place. Be sure to leave the jets completely covered with water though, otherwise you risk getting an airlock in your pump.

To lower your water level, simply drain a little water from your hot tub to try a shallower soak. Once again, always make sure that the jets are completely covered so you never go shallower than the highest set of jets.

Hopefully some of these tips will be useful in helping you float less, giving you a more relaxing and grounded hot tub experience!