MIL not sleeping over our house being too cold

The egg won’t go blue until below 16

At 16'c you'll feel cold and its not warm enough to heat the house. You need it at about 18.5 id say. But its important to heat the house or you can get damp and frozen pipes. Also its bloody cold

At 16'c you'll feel cold and its not warm enough to heat the house. You need it at about 18.5 id say. But its important to heat the house or you can get damp and frozen pipes. Also its bloody cold

Your MIL is right and you're being stingy. Put your heating on and budget for it.

I'm an outdoorsy person, i never wear more than a tshirt and jumper at the stables unless it's raining, but 16 degrees inside a house is freezing!!

Ours sits at 22 when it's on

Got to agree with mother in law. Just been through this with my daughter who is tight with her heating. You also mention your tight arse partner, so you realise there's possibly an issue. The heating should be at least 18 degrees, 16 degrees is not even comfortable for an adult who feels the heat in colder weather. I've spent too many days doing child care in a freezing house having to inappropriately over dress babies and toddlers just to keep them comfortably warm. As for people saying we were used to freezing houses years ago, yes we were before central heating but only because we had no choice and relied on fire risk free standing heaters, coal fires in bedrooms etc where we could. If you have central heating what's the point of keeping it down too low and having to rely on extra heating sources? It's probably more uneconomical to do that anyway. In the past babies were in their cots with loads of clothing, cardigans, hats and blankets often swaddled or on their sides or tummies. It's different nowadays when they sleep on their backs with light layers and a light sleeping bag. That's fine for summer or mild weather but even most adults would find pj's and a summer weight quilt too cold in the winter in a cold room.

Equipment is meant to be kept cold. People are meant to be kept warm. Those who work in server rooms are issued with fleeces and PPE.
I can't imagine functioning in this temperature.

What works for an adult does not work for a baby.

I’d freeze at those temperatures even as an adult.

We spent a fortune on heating when our two eldest early spring born babies were newborns, I had the heating blasting and plenty of air coming in. The thought of a damp house scares me far worse than an electricity bill I’d have to pay off in instalments.

They have a young baby. Guidance is 18 minimum (with 16 in babies room for sleeping) to keep them all healthy but especially the baby. MIL sounds sensibly concerned.

Just shows the importance of punctuation

Ohh, I’ve only just understood your title!

It’s ’MIL not sleeping, over our house being too cold’.

I’d read it as ‘MIL not sleeping over, our house being too cold’.

Well she’s being a bit histrionic! Though also has a point about your house.

16c no wonder she’s worried! Because you’re warm everyone else is? Keep your house warm for your baby

i dont think the computers will catch a chill, but you're welcome to petition for their rights to be nice and cosy if you like.

thats too cold for a newborn. Splash out on heating for baby’s sake. MIL is trying to keep you all well.

Just to counter most of the comments here, ours is set to 14/15. Maybe our thermostat is not reading the temperature properly but it’ll perfectly comfortable inside and feels much warmer. We have a dehumidifier which handles the moisture and also dryer air tends to make it feel warmer inside. A light jumper is enough to be comfortable. I turn it up if anyone is feeling cold. My colleague sets hers to 23 and her heating bill for her 1 bed flat is more than ours for our 100 year old, 3 bed house. If you’re comfortable, there is absolutely nothing wrong with 16, just watch for moisture and maybe have the dehumidifier on. Your MIL sounds really paranoid and controlling.

I don't think your home is ever getting warm enough to hold any heat. It's recommended to set your thermostat to 18° during the day at least. Anything less is a false economy.

What is the relevance to comparing equipment with humans?’

Server rooms are kept at 16 degrees

Sleeping temperatures are very different than day time temps. I wouldn’t go under 20 in the day with a small baby who will be sitting on the ground/baby chairs etc. We had friends who claimed to have a ‘clingy’ baby. Their house was absolutely freezing. At 16 during the day the baby would need to be a in a snowsuit or always wrapped in blankets.

Going outside in winter v staying inside? Did you think about that at all before posting?

also, as someone pointed out, the egg thermometer would be blue at 16c

But at 16.0001 degrees it would be yellow.

In schools in lreland if the classroom temperature drops below 16 due to malfunctioning heat etc children must be sent home. That is in a busy class with over 25 children buzzing around.
I thought dh here was a tightarse but he has it at a constant 19 and no babies around.
Better be safe. Put it up higher and don't bother with all the extra stuff.
Your mil may know her son is mean and is protecting you by raising the issue

the thermostat in our house is in the main hallway, where it's colder than the rest of the house. its set to 20 currently.

At the moment its a cozy 21.4 in my lounge according to the thermometer we have in here. that's warm enough to sit in just long sleeves with no extra layers or blankets.

Soon as we open the door into the hall there is a rather cool draught from the front door and my mother having her bedroom window open all day which keeps the upstairs cooler. my bedroom thermometer is only at 18.

It means it drops cooler out there where the thermostat is before it drops in the living room.

you have to remember that just because your thermostat is set to keep it 16+, it doesn't mean that is THAT temp in every room, and the only way you can be sure the baby is in a comfortable temp, is by having a thermometer in that room.

also, as someone pointed out, the egg thermometer would be blue at 16c.

It is considered relatively cooler than a warmer temperature.

If it was zero outside, 16 inside would feel relatively warm.