A normal axillary (under the arm) temperature is between 97.5 and 99.3 F. Preemies get cold easily, so make sure your baby's temperature is in the normal range before bath time and give your baby a bath in a warm room.
Staphylococci, which inhabit both axillary skin and adjacent textiles (the latter with much less diversity), create a normal, non-malodorous body odor, he says.