Tub bathing improves thermoregulation of the late preterm infant.

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.

Design: This study was a randomized controlled trial.