A warming toy heats its surface to about 40 °C, a little above body temperature. That is not hot, and it will not feel like a heat pack. What it gives you is simpler: the first touch is not cold. This article explains why that can matter, how to use a warming toy, and what not to expect from it.
Why "not cold" matters
Some people tense for a moment when something cool touches their vulva or goes inside. For them, a toy that is already warm takes the cool touch away.
Warmth is about comfort. It does not treat anything, and it does not replace arousal.
Warm it before you start
Switch on the warming a little before you begin and hold the toy in your hand until your palm feels clearly warm; the maker of our warming toys suggests about half a minute to a minute. If you use it before it has warmed, you lose the one thing that makes it different.
How to use it
- Start outside. On a low setting, the side of the toy on your inner thighs, your labia or beside your clitoris is a gentle beginning. Warm, low and slow suits the start of arousal.
- Go inside once your body has opened, not just when you are wet (more: Wet is not the same as ready: how arousal opens the vagina). A little water-based lube helps.
- Afterward, some people like to switch off the vibration and leave the warm toy still for a few seconds before taking it out.
A soft insertable toy that warms to about body temperature, for this kind of slow start:
What to expect, and what not to
- If you expect it to feel hot, you may be disappointed. It is meant to feel like nothing unusual, which is the point.
- Some people notice the warmth a lot; others hardly notice it; a few prefer toys that feel cool. All of these are fine.
- The maker notes that warming uses extra battery, so expect a shorter run time with warming on.
Safety
- If it ever feels hot rather than warm, switch the heating off.
- The makers advise a water-based lube with silicone toys (Lube and silicone toys), and check the water rating before rinsing or using it in water (What IPX6 and IPX7 mean for your toy).
- Stop if anything hurts or burns, and see Toys and your health: when to check with a doctor if it lasts.
What to take away
A warming toy is not about heat. For some people, it takes away the cool touch that makes them tense for a moment. Warm it fully before you use it, start outside and slow, and switch the heat off if it ever feels hot.