Thermoregulation in newborns: when is the baby cold and when is it hot?

Thermoregulation of newborns is very different from ours. Temperatures that are acceptable for adults may be uncomfortable for children. This is because the baby’s heat exchange mechanisms have not yet been formed, which means that both hypothermia and overheating can be critically dangerous. In this article we will understand how the thermoregulation of newborns differs from adults, what temperature is best to maintain in the nursery, and how to understand that a child is cold or overheated?

How thermoregulation of newborns differs from adults

Newborns lose heat and overheat much faster than adults. It's all about the ratio of body area to its mass - in children under one year old, the area significantly exceeds the mass. Add to this thin skin, a thinner layer of subcutaneous fat and unformed thermoregulation.

In addition, children regulate their own body temperature differently.

• When frozen, babies do not shiver like adults do. Instead, children's bodies burn brown fat (adults do not).

• The body temperature of adults and children is also regulated with the help of blood vessels: when overheated, the vessels dilate and blood rushes to the skin, and when hypothermia, the vessels, on the contrary, narrow. In newborns, this mechanism works much worse due to thin skin.

• Newborns produce less sweat, although the evaporation of sweat lowers body temperature. Therefore, children overheat more easily in hot weather.

Premature babies, especially in the first month of life, are even more sensitive to temperature fluctuations due to deficiencies in the thermoregulation system. In this case, even a temperature increase of just 2 degrees can be critical.

What should be the normal temperature of newborns

A normal temperature for newborns and children up to three months can be considered from 36.5 to 37.5 degrees. The thermometer readings may vary depending on the measurement method - whether you held the thermometer in the armpit or in the child's mouth.

Norm depending on the method of measurement:

• In the armpit – up to 37.5 degrees.

• In the mouth - up to 37.3 degrees.

• Rectal - up to 37.7 degrees.

Thermoregulation mechanisms will develop, and with them the temperature norm for the growing baby will change. Thus, for children from 4 to 6 months, a body temperature of 36.3 to 37.7 degrees is considered normal. For children from 7 to 12 months, the norm will be a different range: 36.0 - 37.2 degrees.

Temperature in the nursery and during bathing. What it should be

In the first month of life, the optimal temperature for the baby is 25 degrees. The humidity in the room also plays a role - it is better to maintain it at 60%. The baby's comfort will also be ensured by swaddling or a light suit.

By the second month of life, the temperature is reduced by 1-2 degrees, and by the age of six months it is already up to 20 degrees Celsius.

During bathing, the baby may freeze due to evaporation of moisture. Therefore, here you also need to control the temperature of the water and air in the room. So, it is customary to adjust the water temperature to the baby’s body temperature. In the bathroom itself, it is better to maintain a temperature of 25 to 27 degrees. Gradually, as the baby grows, you can gradually move away from these values.

How to understand that a child is cold

As we have already found out, children do not shiver when they freeze. But there are other signs that indicate hypothermia.

• Pale and sometimes even blue skin.

• Anxiety, crying, or, conversely, the child is lethargic.

• Slow breathing.

• Neck, tummy, back are cold to the touch. Cold hands due to the characteristics of blood circulation do not always mean that the baby is cold.

If you notice these signs, try holding your baby in your arms with a blanket. The warmth of your body will warm the baby and will not lead to the other extreme - overheating.

How to tell if your baby is hot

Signs of overheating are often not noticed - the child will cry even when the temperature is significantly high. Here's what you should pay attention to.

• The skin takes on a reddish tint and becomes moist.

• Anxiety or, conversely, apathy.

• Rapid breathing.

• Neck, tummy, back are wet and hot to the touch.

• Breast refusal.

With such signs, it is better to remove a layer of clothing from the baby. If your baby's skin produces too much moisture, the baby risks hypothermia.

Helpful tips for newborn comfort:

• Avoid drafts in the house and strong winds outside while walking.

• The baby's head can freeze faster - so sometimes, even at home, it is better to wear a hat. Do not place the child's head against a window or wall.

• At home, when the air temperature is 25 degrees, do not wrap your child up - a suit or swaddling is enough.

• Wear your child one more layer of clothing than you when walking.

• Check body temperature in the neck, back or tummy.

Caring about the temperature of the air, water and body of the baby plays an important role in the first months of life. This is how we protect the baby from many diseases. The main thing is not to overdo it.