Parents should avoid bathing babies and young children with cold water, particularly during the rainy season, as the practice may expose them to hypothermia and make them more susceptible to infections, child health experts have warned.
According to The Punch, the specialists stressed that keeping infants warm, especially during bathing, is a simple but vital measure for preventing avoidable illnesses during periods of cold weather.
They explained that while cold water does not directly cause pneumonia, it can weaken a child’s immune system or worsen health conditions such as asthma and sickle cell disease, increasing the likelihood of infections.
The advice comes as Nigeria enters the height of the rainy season, when lower temperatures are common, especially in the early mornings and after overnight rainfall.
According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the country’s rainy season usually starts around late February and reaches its peak between July and August, bringing frequent downpours and cooler weather across many regions.
As temperatures drop during this period, water used for bathing also becomes colder, raising concerns about the effects of cold exposure on infants.
Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing body temperature to fall to dangerously low levels. Infants are particularly at risk because they are not yet able to regulate their body temperature effectively.
The World Health Organization, in its newborn care and thermal protection guidelines, recommends keeping babies warm at all times, noting that they lose body heat easily.
Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics, through its HealthyChildren guidance, advises parents to use warm water and ensure a warm environment when bathing infants.
Speaking exclusively with The Punch,, the Head of Paediatrics at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, Dr Abdurrazzaq Alege, said babies are especially vulnerable to cold exposure.
“Babies lose heat faster than adults because their bodies are not yet developed enough to regulate temperature effectively. When exposed to cold water in a chilly environment, they can easily slip into hypothermia,” the paediatrician said.
Alege also debunked the common belief that cold weather or cold water directly causes pneumonia.
“Cold weather or cold water does not cause pneumonia. Pneumonia is caused by infections, either viral or bacterial.
“What cold does is reduce the body’s resistance, making children more vulnerable to those infections,” he explained.
According to him, the effects of cold exposure are not the same for every child.
“Not every child exposed to cold will fall ill. However, children with underlying conditions are more at risk, as the cold can trigger or worsen existing health issues,” the paediatrician added.
He said parents may notice symptoms including cough, catarrh and breathing difficulties if a child’s resistance is lowered.
“When the body’s resistance is lowered, infections can take advantage, leading to symptoms like cough, catarrh and breathing difficulty,” Alege noted.
He advised caregivers to monitor children whenever they suspect significant cold exposure.
“The most reliable way is by measuring the child’s temperature using a digital thermometer placed in the armpit,” Alege said, adding that it is advisable for parents to have one at home.
He further encouraged parents to adopt appropriate bathing practices during colder months.
“Use lukewarm water, ensure the room is warm, and dry the baby immediately after bathing. Proper covering is also essential,” he advised.
Alege also dismissed claims that bathing babies with cold water helps strengthen them.
“There is no scientific evidence to support that. What we see instead are the risks,” he added.
Also speaking, Consultant Paediatrician and child health advocate, Dr Ayodele Renner, underscored the importance of protecting infants from cold exposure.
“For newborns, temperature regulation is still immature. Any sudden exposure to cold, including cold water baths, can destabilise them quickly,” he said.
Renner explained that low body temperature places additional strain on a child’s system.
“The body begins to use more energy to generate heat, and that can affect feeding, growth and overall wellbeing,” Renner explained.
He also corrected misconceptions linking cold exposure directly to pneumonia.
“It is important for parents to understand that pneumonia is caused by infections. Cold exposure only lowers resistance, making it easier for those infections to occur,” he added.
Renner warned that repeated exposure to cold conditions may increase the frequency of illnesses in children.
“It may not seem serious at first, but over time, repeated cold stress can weaken the child’s resistance,” he noted.
He advised parents to take simple precautions when bathing infants.
“Always test the water temperature, keep the bath brief, and wrap the child immediately after,” the child health expert counselled.
