Paediatricians have advised parents and caregivers to avoid bathing babies with cold water, particularly during the rainy season, warning that doing so could expose infants to hypothermia and other cold-related health complications.
The medical experts said newborns and young infants are especially vulnerable because their bodies are not yet able to regulate temperature as effectively as older children and adults. They recommended using lukewarm water when bathing babies to help maintain a safe body temperature.
According to paediatricians, exposing infants to cold water can cause a rapid drop in body temperature, a condition known as hypothermia. Symptoms of hypothermia in babies may include cold skin, excessive sleepiness, poor feeding, weak crying, lethargy and, in severe cases, breathing difficulties. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends keeping newborns warm and using warm water for bathing to reduce the risk of hypothermia, especially in the first weeks of life.
The doctors noted that while cold water itself does not directly cause infections, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can place stress on a baby’s body and may worsen existing illnesses or make it harder for infants to recover from respiratory infections.
They also cautioned against bathing babies immediately after birth, explaining that delaying the first bath for at least 24 hours, or at least six hours where a full day is not possible, helps newborns maintain body temperature and preserves the protective vernix coating on their skin, in line with WHO recommendations.
The paediatricians encouraged parents to bathe babies in a warm, draft-free room and to dry them thoroughly with a clean towel immediately after bathing. They also advised dressing infants promptly in clean, dry clothing and covering their heads when necessary to minimise heat loss.
The experts stressed that water used for bathing should be comfortably warm rather than hot, recommending that caregivers test the temperature with the inside of the wrist or elbow before placing the baby in the bath. Hot water, they warned, can easily scald a baby’s delicate skin.
In addition to proper bathing practices, paediatricians urged parents to keep babies warm during periods of cold weather by dressing them appropriately, avoiding prolonged exposure to chilly environments and seeking prompt medical attention if an infant develops persistent fever, difficulty breathing, poor feeding or signs of hypothermia.
The advice comes amid increased rainfall in many parts of Nigeria, where cooler temperatures have prompted health professionals to remind caregivers of the importance of maintaining warmth and practising safe infant care to reduce preventable health risks.
