title: Tub bathing improves thermoregulation of the late preterm infant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare body temperature of the late preterm infant after 24 hours of life at three time points before and after immersion tub bathing or sponge bathing. We hypothesized that late preterm infants achieve significantly improved thermoregulation when bathed by immersion tub bath compared to traditional sponge bathing.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large metropolitan teaching hospital in the northeastern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Late preterm infants (100) born between 35 and 36 6/7 weeks gestation, bathed in the well-baby nursery of a 30-bed mother/baby unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infant participants were identified and informed consent was obtained from the parent. Infants were randomized into two groups: 50 bathed by sponge and 50 bathed by immersion tub. Infant body temperature was measured at three time points: 10 minutes prior to bathing, 10 minutes following bathing, and 30 minutes following bathing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants who were tub bathed experienced significantly less variability in body temperature and overall were warmer 10 minutes and 30 minutes following the bath compared to infants who were sponge bathed (p = .024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings support the hypothesis that late preterm infants who are tub bathed experience significantly less body temperature variability and an overall higher body temperature following the bathing procedure.
authors.affiliation: Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loring
authors.affiliation: William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA; Department of Nursing, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.. Electronic address: gregorkc@bc.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gargan
authors.affiliation: Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.affiliation: Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lundgren
authors.affiliation: Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stobo
authors.affiliation: Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Cathleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zaya
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001494:Baths; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values