Body Temperature of Newborns: What is Normal?

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Abstract
Medical records of 203 healthy full-term infants were reviewed to determine the range of axillary temperatures for newborn infants, factors that affect temperature and nursery management of infants with temperatures outside published normal ranges. The mean birth temperature was 36.50C (S.D. = 0.60C). Temperature was associated with birth weight (p0C by 2-3 hours after birth (p0C by 15-20 hours (p0C after bathing (p<0.0001). Although 17% of all temperatures measured were in the hypothermic (24 hours) and none for evaluation of abnormal temperatures. No infants had systemic infections and all were discharged in stable condition. Newborn axillary temperatures in our nursery were considerably lower than what has been previously described as "normal." Given the frequency of "hypothermia" and absence of associated illness, we believe the reference range for newborn temperatures should be expanded to include lower temperatures.