Which infant is likely to experience the highest amount of insensible water loss?

The infant likely to experience the highest amount of insensible water loss is the one who is a 34-week-gestation infant under an infant warmer. Infants, particularly those who are preterm or of lower gestational age, have thinner skin and a higher body surface area-to-volume ratio, which increases their vulnerability to insensible water loss through evaporation.

When placed under an infant warmer, the environmental conditions—such as increased air flow and temperature—can significantly elevate insensible water loss, as the warmer creates a dry, heated environment that exacerbates evaporation from the skin and respiratory tract. This situation is particularly concerning for preterm infants, who are already at risk for dehydration and electrolyte imbalances due to their immature physiological functions.

In contrast, a term newborn in a crib, while also susceptible to insensible water loss, is typically not in a high-evaporation environment compared to an infant under a warmer. The humidified oxygen provided to a 30-week-gestation infant can help reduce insensible water loss by maintaining higher ambient moisture levels. A 38-week-gestation infant with normal respiration is likely to experience normal levels of insensible water loss, as their physiological and integumentary systems are more developed and better able