Maintaining the Baby’s Body Temperature

How can we know if our baby is hot or cold? Babies who are comfortable will generally be happy, active and will eat and sleep in an age-appropriate manner. Over time, every parent learns to recognize the special signs of their child, but the simplest way to know if he or she is warm is to touch the skin on the stomach or back (not the hands or feet) and make sure it is warm and pleasant.

Low body temperature in babies

Babies are more sensitive than adults to low temperatures, and their body temperature may drop more quickly. We therefore need to maintain an ideal room temperature (22-23 degrees, and in the bathroom 24-26 degrees) and dress the baby in appropriate clothing for the season in which he or she was born. In addition, it is important that we know the early signs of cold injury in babies. If your baby displays any of the following symptoms, immediately contact a physician:

High body temperature in babies

If you touch the baby and feel that he or she is hotter than usual, or if you suspect that the baby is sick, you need to measure his or her body temperature. It is recommended to use a rectal thermometer.

You should know: the average body temperature is 37 degrees, so the body temperature can be slightly higher or lower at a certain point, and it is normal if the baby appears and feels well.
However, if the body temperature is higher than 38 degrees and the baby is less than two months old, immediately seek medical attention, as fever may be the only indication of an illness.