Normal temperature of newborns
Release time : 03/15/2025 09:30:01
Generally speaking, a newborn baby's body temperature should be maintained between 36℃ and 37℃. At this time, the oxygen consumption is at its lowest, and normal physiological metabolism can be ensured.
Neonates, especially preterm infants, have poor thermoregulatory capabilities due to immature central nervous system development. When environmental temperature changes exceed the body's regulatory capacity, newborns may experience fever or hypothermia. Consequently, they are highly susceptible to environmental temperature fluctuations. Parents should take care to ensure adequate warmth or cooling measures.
What are the normal temperatures for newborns? The normal temperature of a newborn is related to the method of measuring their body temperature.
Here are three methods for measuring body temperature.
1. The normal range of measurement at the anus is between 36.5°C and 37.5°C.
2. At the oral cavity, normal values range from 36.2°C to 37.3°C.
3. When measured at the axillary region, this is also a commonly used method. The normal value falls between 35.9°C and 37.2°C.
Internal temperature is too high, or if baby wears too much, also after crying a little bit later to measure the body temperature, it can cause body temperature is slightly high. Observe and then measure again, if measured several times of temperature are a little high, then it means that there is a fever.
What should I do if my newborn has a low body temperature? Neonatal hypothermia refers to a core body temperature below 35°C, characterized by low body temperature, cold skin, and lack of response.
The mechanism of hypothermia is that heat production decreases or heat dissipation increases, or both.
Therefore, in neonatal diseases, any condition that results in reduced body heat production or increased heat dissipation can be the primary symptom of a newborn with hypothermia.
Low body temperature can lead to skin edema and damage to vital organs, resulting in functional impairment and even death.
When babies' body temperature drops, the following measures can be tried: 1. The room temperature of newborns should generally be maintained at 18-22℃.
2. Parents should frequently touch their baby's limbs. If they notice that the hands and feet are cold, it indicates insufficient warmth. They can increase the blanket or use a hot water bottle to warm them up.
3. The simplest and easiest method of keeping a newborn warm is to hold the baby in your arms, using your own body heat to keep them warm.
4. If the baby's body temperature remains low after taking certain measures, parents should immediately take the baby to the hospital for treatment.
What to do if a newborn's body temperature is high? A newborn's fever means that the body temperature is above 37.4℃.
This may be caused by environmental temperature being too high, such as sleeping on a hot coal bed, using a hot water bottle at an excessively high temperature, or keeping the baby in a warm box at an excessively high temperature. It can also be due to insufficient breast milk, delayed feeding, hot weather, or improper breastfeeding leading to transient neonatal dehydration fever.
In cases of neonatal fever, treatment should be based on the etiology and not advocate for the use of antipyretic medication in newborns. The common antipyretics are often associated with certain toxic side effects in neonates.
Neonatal low fever does not necessitate antipyretic treatment. If the temperature is 38.5°C or above, physical cooling measures can be applied. The high fever in neonates is more often due to infections.
Pregnancy-related infections, premature rupture of membranes, and unhygienic vaginal examinations are among the causes where fever appears within 1 to 2 days after childbirth.
Postpartum infections typically occur within a week postpartum, commonly involving pneumonia, sepsis, omphalitis, carbuncles or abscesses. Severe infections may present with a normal body temperature.
Infected babies may be treated with appropriate antimicrobial agents.
When the temperature exceeds 39 degrees Celsius, one should go to the hospital for treatment.
How to keep the temperature of a newborn normal, how to keep the temperature of a newborn normal, is the most concerned question for parents who are first in their roles.
Since newborns have less subcutaneous fat and weaker sweating and heat dissipation capabilities, their ability to regulate changes in external temperature is poor, leading to highly unstable body temperatures.
In the case of overheating, body temperature can rise to 40℃ and even cause convulsions.
In cold winter, if the insulation is bad, the body temperature will drop and feel cold all over, even skin hard swelling.
Therefore, it is necessary to maintain appropriate temperature for newborns and regulate room temperature, fresh indoor air, and appropriate temperature.
The external environment should be warm, especially in winter to ensure indoor warmth.
In summer, ventilation indoors is important to avoid direct airflow that may cause discomfort for young children. Additionally, you can sprinkle water on the ground or place a basin of cold water nearby to absorb heat.
Furthermore, newborns should not be wrapped too tightly or confined in a manner that is too restrictive.
Pay attention to adding or taking off clothes and blankets for your child, especially when they cry and sweat. You must never let your child get too hot or too cold.
The medical information provided in this text is for reference only and should not be used for any medical purposes.
In case of discomfort, it is advised to seek medical assistance immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on the examination conducted at a face-to-face consultation.