8 TIPS FOR LOW-WEIGHT INFANTS

Keep the low-weight infant warm at home. Keep the room warm (at least 25°C) with a home heating device, and make sure there is no draught of cold air.
Keep the young infant in the same bed as the mother.
Avoid bathing the low-weight infant. When washing or bathing the infant, do it in a very warm room with warm water, dry immediately and thoroughly after bathing, and clothe the young infant immediately.
Change clothes (e.g. nappies) whenever they are wet.
Provide skin-to-skin contact as much as possible, day and night.

For Skin-to-Skin Contact:

Dress the infant in a warm shirt open at the front, a nappy, hat and socks.

Place the infant in skin-to-skin contact between the mother’s breasts. Keep the infant’s head turned to one side.

Cover the infant with the mother’s clothes (and an additional warm blanket in cold weather).

When the infant is not in skin-to-skin contact, keep him or her clothed or covered as much as possible at all times. Dress the young infant in extra clothing, including a hat and socks, loosely wrap in a soft dry cloth, and cover with a blanket.
Check frequently if the hands and feet are warm. If they are cold, re-warm the infant by skin-to-skin contact.
Breastfeed (or give expressed breastmilk by cup) the infant frequently.

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