Child health experts have cautioned parents against bathing babies and children with cold water, especially during the rainy season, warning that the practice could expose them to hypothermia and increase their risk of infections.
They emphasised that keeping babies warm, especially during bathing, remains a simple but critical step in preventing avoidable illnesses during the cold season.
The paediatricians clarified that cold water does not cause pneumonia but may weaken a child’s immunity or trigger complications, especially in those with underlying conditions like asthma and sickle cell disease.
The warning comes as Nigeria experiences the peak of the rainy season, a period associated with lower temperatures, particularly in the early hours of the day and after overnight rainfall.
Data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency shows that the rainy season, which begins around late February, typically peaks between July and August, bringing frequent rainfall and cooler weather conditions across many parts of the country.
