The low-birth-weight infant requires a neutral thermal environment. What action should the nurse implement?

• A. Maintain a high-humidity atmosphere.
• B. Use wool blankets for covers.
• C. Avoid using disposable diapers.
• D. Continue cool oxygenation via a hood.

Answer: (A)

Maintaining a neutral thermal environment means keeping the infant’s temperature stable with minimal metabolic effort. Low-birth-weight babies have very thin skin, little body fat, and immature heat regulation, so they lose heat quickly through evaporation, conduction, convection, and radiation. Increasing the incubator’s humidity reduces evaporative heat loss, helping the baby stay warm without extra energy expenditure. That’s why keeping a high-humidity atmosphere is the best action.

Wool blankets trap heat and moisture and can lead to overheating or moisture buildup. Disposable diapers don’t directly affect the baby’s temperature control. Cooling the infant with cool oxygen via a hood would promote heat loss, not maintain warmth.