Sometimes the first thing you notice when you find or admit a baby is that it feels cold. Cold and unresponsive. Warming the baby is the first important step in saving its life.
Our bodies are made to run at a certain temperature. For humans that’s 98.6, for fawns it’s 101 and for opossums, it’s 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Babies who are neonates, stressed, injured, and/or dehydrated will often experience a drastic drop in body temperature.
THERMOREGULATION
To thermoregulate means to produce heat. Most of us can generate our own heat. Our bodies maintain a consistent temperature.
Neonates, babies with their eyes still closed, can’t thermoregulate. They depend on a mom critter to keep them warm. They need additional heat.
PROVIDING HEAT
It’s up to us to provide that heat until the babies start thermoregulating. The babies should have a surrounding temperature between 85 - 90 degrees. Older babies and even adults may need to be kept warm if their health has been compromised or they are injured.
Caution is needed when giving supplemental heat. A neonate or other animal that can’t move should never be placed directly on the heat source. They may become overheated and unable to escape the heat source.
You can place newspapers or towels over the heating pad. I typically place the infant in a knitted pouch and place them just off the heating pad. Then I keep a thermometer in the carrier or cage to monitor the heat.
For a baby who is mobile, place a heating pad on low under one-half of the carrier. Then the baby has the option of crawling on or off the heated area.
METHODS OF HEAT
There are several methods you can use to add supplemental heat. You may have several of these methods going at any given time to meet the needs of various babies.
HEATING PAD
The heating pad is the most commonly used way to offer heat. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. You can just place the heating pad under the container you are using and turn it on low.
I like the Marunda brand just because it’s made for pets and has a couple of nice features such as chew-resistant cords and a wipe-off surface.
When you purchase a heating pad make sure you get on without an automatic shut-off. More and more have these as a safety method but it makes it very inconvenient for us.
Heating pads do need to be monitored to make sure they are putting out consistent heat. You will also need to make sure the baby is not too hot or too cold.
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PROFESSIONAL INCUBATOR
You can actually purchase the same incubators that are used in hospitals for neonate human infants. The disadvantage is that they are very expensive. However, many rehabbers feel they are worth the price.
Incubators are easy to use and offer a nice consistent heat. Many of them also allow you to regulate the humidity as well.
To purchase you can raise money through your Facebook page, use the Baby Warm crowdfunding website, put one on your Amazon list, or ask your local hospital for a donation of one. You can also qualify for store credit with Amazon and get them on a payment plan.
PORTABLE AND TEMPORARY OPTIONS
There are many good portable and temporary options. You may choose to use one to warm up a baby before an exam. They are also good if you are transporting baby animals. I sometimes use them for babies who may appreciate some extra warmth but are physically thermoregulating on their own.
Ceramic Disks are my favorite form of temporary heat. Just put them in the microwave to charge them. The heat lasts several hours however you do need to monitor them carefully.
Snuggle Safe is my favorite brand for ceramic heaters.
In a pinch, you can heat up a bottle of water and wrap it in a dishtowel. This works well if you are transporting an animal to a rehabilitation center. Make sure the bottle can’t roll around onto the baby.
Hot water bottles are something we don't see as often anymore but they are quite handy for emergencies and transportation. They are more stable than a water bottle and hold the heat longer.
Hot water bottles are great for transportation.
HEATING LAMPS
There are many kinds of heating lamps available on the market. Some made for baby birds and some made for reptiles. They are made to work with glass aquariums.
I use the reptile ones for turtles that come into rehabilitation. The ones made for reptiles are nice because they can just set on the wire tank covering. You can also get them with clamps that fix to the side of the tank.
Heating lamps have several disadvantages. They can be hard to maintain the correct temperature and they are not very efficient. Heat often escapes through the top of the enclosure. Also, they can be a fire hazard if they come in contact with cloth or bedding.
I like the ZooMed brand because they have a sturdy design and I have dropped more than one light fixture! These are the lights I use for turtles and snakes.
This was my happy face the day I got my forst Brinsea incubator! Photo by author.
AUTHOR, AME VANORIO, IS A LICENSED WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR AND THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF FOX RUN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER.
