What is the primary method infants use to produce heat?

The primary method infants use to produce heat is through non-shivering thermogenesis. This process is particularly important for neonates, especially preterm infants, who are highly susceptible to hypothermia due to a higher surface area-to-volume ratio and a lack of subcutaneous fat.

Non-shivering thermogenesis primarily occurs in brown adipose tissue, which is abundant in infants. When the infant's body is exposed to a cold environment, this tissue generates heat through the oxidation of fatty acids. This mechanism is crucial because infants are not yet capable of shivering, which is an adult method of generating heat, nor do they engage in physical activity that could naturally increase body temperature.

The ability to produce heat via non-shivering thermogenesis enables infants to maintain their core body temperature, which is vital for metabolic functions and overall health. Thus, understanding this mechanism is essential for neonatal care, as maintaining normothermia is a key part of infant management in a NICU setting.