Effects of Swaddle Bath in Preventing Temperature Loss Among Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Swaddle bathing is one of the recommended bathing techniques for infant according to Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses guidelines.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of swaddle bathing in preventing temperature loss among preterm infants.

Comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Airiti Library databases. Methodological quality was assessed using RoB 2 for randomized controlled trials, randomized crossover trials, and ROBINSI for nonrandomized controlled trials. In addition, Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2.0 was used to conduct the meta-analysis.

Total of 4 randomized controlled trials, 2 randomized crossover trials, and 2 nonrandomized controlled trials, involving 424 preterm infants, were included. Overall effect size of the body temperature in the swaddle bathing (SMD = 1.17, 95% CI [0.61, 1.73], P < .001). Subgroup analysis was performed based on the body temperature measurement intervals and bathing duration; these findings indicate that swaddle bathing is effective in preventing body temperature loss among preterm infants.

Swaddle bathing is a recommended intervention to prevent body temperature loss in preterm infants. Neonatal nurses are encouraged to integrate this technique as a standard practice in neonatal intensive care units and special care nurseries. Clinical implementation should ensure a bathing duration of 4-11 minutes, room temperature 24°C-28°C, relative humidity 50%-60%, and bathwater temperature 37°C-39°C to optimize thermoregulation. These findings highlight the importance of individualized care planning, incorporation of swaddle bathing into nursing protocols, and ongoing staff education to ensure consistency.