It is recommended when giving tub baths even for infants maintained in open cribs to provide radiant heat via heat lamps. Warm all humidified air. Humidified air could be utilized in the isolette as an additional source of heat as well as a preventative measure to decrease insensible water losses and skin breakdown. For the micropreemie in an isolette, always use a skin temperature probe regardless whether your unit prefers the method of air temperature control or skin temperature control for management. BAT is found in the midscapular region, nape of the neck, around the neck muscles extending under the clavicles into the axillae, in the mediastinum, and around the trachea, esophagus, heart, lungs, liver, intercostals and mammary areteries, abdominal aorta, kidneys and adrenal glands.
Most units place temperature probes over the liver when the infant is supine or side lying.
When using a skin probe on a radiant warmer, always use one that is reflective. This protects the probe from the infrared heat source. The probe must be protected from sensing a temperature higher than skin temperature, which will decrease the heater output and may cool the infant. If a micropreemie can not be transferred from the radiant warmer, it is recommended to utilize a plastic wrap covering to minimize convective losses as well as insensible water losses. However useful, plastic wrap is not a substitute for a double walled isolette.