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People, especially those who have become parents recently, tend to worry about everything bothering their child’s health. If parents find out that their baby’s head is hot and the body is of normal temperature, they are naturally concerned. It is normal for them to wonder, “why is my baby’s head hot but body cold?”
A baby’s head may feel hot despite the child being healthy and active, without any signs of illness. If you consult a paediatrician, they will tell you not to panic. However, it is also not a situation to overlook and should be taken care of as soon as possible.
Unlike adults, small babies are mostly not able to regulate their body temperature at 37 degrees celsius. It happens because their system of thermoregulation is not yet developed properly. As a result, babies do not have enough fat in their bodies and have more water. Their skin also does not contain enough sweat glands. These factors contribute to making their bodies hot and cold quicker than adults. Therefore the body temperature ranges around 36.5-37 degrees celsius. That is why any kind of source of heat or cold near the body will affect their body temperature.
Generally, a baby’s head feels warmer than the body temperature because their thermoregulation system is not properly developed. Thermoregulation is the phenomenon of regulating the internal temperature of the body.
Here are some reasons that answer “why is my baby’s head hot but body cold.“
Outside temperature- The temperature outside plays an important role in affecting the baby’s body temperature. Babies can have warmer heads than their bodies if exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period. It can also happen if you suddenly take the baby out of an air-conditioned room to a warm room.
Too many clothes- Small babies lose their body heat through their heads. If you make your baby wear excess clothes, the heat gets trapped inside and makes their body warmer. The excess heat tries to escape through their head, making the head warmer than the rest of the body. The condition is also known as “hot head.” If you cover your baby with warm clothes during winter, the body temperature will be warmer. This does not mean that the baby might have a fever; just the head will be hot.
Teething- Teething is one of the most common reasons why babies have warmer heads compared to the rest of the body temperature. Teething can start within two months, but sometimes it does not occur before six months. Consequences of teething like anxiety, irritation or stress faced by the baby can make their head warmer than the body temperature. If the head feels hot, it does not always mean the baby has a fever.
The baby is excited- Sometimes, your baby can be very excited and cheerful and might feel the urge to explore their surroundings. They may become very active and tend to move around a lot. It can result in an increase in the body’s temperature due to increased blood circulation. The phenomenon is very similar to what adults experience while exercising. The baby might have a warmer head than the rest of its body.
Positioning of the baby- If the baby happens to sleep on their crib or bed for a prolonged period, then the temperature of their head can be warmer than the rest of the body. It can result from increased blood circulation to the head if the baby is sleeping in a particular position.
Extreme Crying- If your baby happens to cry excessively, then it might result in increased temperature. It causes the baby to have a hothead. Despite your baby crying for problems like colic pain, which are not that serious, you should always get them checked by a doctor. Any problem like irritation or fever that makes the baby cry should be addressed as soon as possible.
If you wonder why my baby’s head is hot but body cold, you should consult a doctor to be sure and get clarity of the situation. You may visit Ujala Cygnus hospital for a quick check-up of your baby.
If you wonder why your baby’s head is hot but body cold, then there is nothing to panic about. You do not need to get them to a doctor immediately. However, there are some steps you can take to cool down the temperature of your baby’s head:
Suppose you think about why my baby’s head is hot but body cold, you might take these steps to solve the situation. You can also connect to a doctor at Ujala Cygnus hospital for details and more information about the situation.
A warmer head of the baby is not a matter of concern and occurs mostly due to the underdeveloped thermoregulation system. However, you should consider seeing a doctor if :
If such a situation arises, you can consult paediatricians or expert child specialists at Ujala Cygnus hospital.
One of the hallmarks of our facility is the inclusion of 6 state-of-the-art critical care units.
These units are dedicated to ensuring that patients facing severe and life-threatening conditions receive immediate and specialized care.
Additionally, our 8-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is equipped with the latest technology to monitor and manage patients who require intensive medical attention.
Patients can also benefit from the spacious general beds while they recover.
One of the hallmarks of our facility is the inclusion of 6 state-of-the-art critical care units.
These units are dedicated to ensuring that patients facing severe and life-threatening conditions receive immediate and specialized care.
Additionally, our 8-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is equipped with the latest technology to monitor and manage patients who require intensive medical attention.
Patients can also benefit from the spacious general beds while they recover.