Cardboard Cot: Prevention of Moderate or Severe Hypothermia in Preterm Infants Assigned to Open Crib

Following parental consent, preterm infants with an estimated gestational age < 36 6/7 weeks at delivery who have been in an incubator in the newborn ICU for at least 24 hours in settings where an incubator is available, or who are in the newborn ICU in a setting where an incubator is not available, will be randomized to to transfer either standard protocol of open crib or mylar-lined cardboard cot when their temperatures are stable for transfer. The infants will remain in the cot or crib for the duration of the hospital stay. Axillary temperatures will be taken 1 hr, 6 hrs, and 24 hours after being placed in the cot or crib, and then once every 24 hours. All other care is provided as standard of care, including WHO warm chain thermoregulation guidelines of early and exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate bundling and Kangaroo Mother Care as continuously as possible.

If at any point a babies becomes moderately (32.0-35.9° C) or severely hypothermic (< 32.0° C), an extra blanket will be added to their bodies and a hat placed on their heads.