44 T E M P E R A T U R E M A N A G E M E N T of the Baby The baby should ideally be warm, neither too hot nor too cold. You should feel warm if you touch the baby with the back of your hand. There is no need to check the baby's temperature every now and then. The normal body temperature of a newborn is between 36.5°C and 37.4°C. Preterm babies tend to get cold more quickly as their body surface area is more in comparison to their weight. Hence, if not covered properly, they tend to lose heat. Therefore, avoid placing the baby on cold surfaces, do not allow the cold breeze to enter the baby's room, and do not leave a wet baby exposed. However, allow for cross ventilation and good light in the baby's room.
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