[Does a cloth cap on a newborn's head do any harm? Facts and fables]

An increasing number of parents opt not to place a cap on their newborn immediately after birth, a trend influenced by information circulating online and on social media. We describe a term neonate who, following a home birth without a cap, was admitted with hypothermia and hypoglycemia. This presentation illustrates the risk of inadequate postnatal thermoregulation in the home setting. In the discussion, we appraise common arguments against neonatal caps, including alleged interference with early bonding or oxytocin release, using current evidence. We found no scientific evidence to support these claims. By contrast, neonatal hypothermia is consistently linked to substantial morbidity and mortality. We conclude that use of a cap, particularly in less controlled environments such as out-of-hospital births, is a simple, low-cost, and effective measure to prevent heat loss. Clinicians should counsel parents proactively about maintaining the warm chain after delivery and about the risks of forgoing a cap.