How to stay warm?!

[BumbleNova]

I need your tips! We moved into our new house in September. It's a victorian detached that we bought planning a full refurb. It's not been touched in 40 years and it's a ice box. There is no heating at all in the toilets ...

We have a toddler and a newborn. There is central heating (25 year old boiler!) but it only comes on for 2 hours a day and we can't change that. It's got single glazing, high ceilings and threadbare carpets. Because of being in tier 4 we can't escape anywhere and warm up for a bit.

I'm sat here in 3 jumpers, 3 pairs of socks and the baby has his pramsuit on. Breastfeeding is brutally cold. It's around 17 degrees and the house seems to get colder day on day when the weather is this cold.

Double glazing is booked, fingers crossed next few weeks. We are planning to replace the boiler with an air source heat pump so no point just getting a new one or we would!

Could you put some hook locks on the top of the doors so your toddler cannot open them.

The plug in oil filled radiators are quite good

• Portable heater plug in. I've got a relatively cheap one from Argos or Amazon and I use it every now and again. It's effective at heating up a room, but I wouldn't leave them on without being in the room as I'd worry about your older DC getting near it and burning themselves.

• Heated under blanket for underneath your bed sheets. Absolute game changer. Buy one with dual controls and a different heat setting for feet and body.

I would get some thick lined curtains up ASAP, they will still help even with new windows installed.

@Chumleymouse we will be insulating the entire house - all walls etc and putting in underfloor heating when we refurbish. I agree, it would not work now.

We are putting in a wood burner too. Understandably all local fitters are booked up for months. I miss our wood burner in our previous house!

I live in a, chilly at times, old house too op.
A heated throw would be great for feeding, best thing i ever bought.
Lots on Amazon.
Love my electric blanket too, well worth getting if you haven't already.

Baking? As much time as possible upstairs (where the heat rises to)? Blankets for reading, tv and around you and baby whilst bfing

Lots of great tips. Re the curtains, we have some up but the windows are huge. Does anyone know where I can get some affordable curtains/ blinds that will help?

We have 4 bays, various smaller windows and 4 at the back. Very drafty!

Is there not a setting on the boiler for ‘constant’?

@BumbleNova

Lots of great tips. Re the curtains, we have some up but the windows are huge. Does anyone know where I can get some affordable curtains/ blinds that will help?

We have 4 bays, various smaller windows and 4 at the back. Very drafty!

I would suggest eBay or Dunelm. Try and get thermal curtains.

@ThePricklySheep I wish there was. It's very old and very rudimentary.

These www.screwfix.com/p/freestanding-oil-filled-radiator-500w/8833P?kpid=8833P&ds_kid=92700055281954496&ds_rl=1249404&gclid=CjwKCAiArbv_BRA8EiwAYGs23GCpjABLx5yIDSnwDWWuoZmLm_3eiOFoy_bspfgV1JXG54URYCEUsBoCn58QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
are good for bedrooms

I also have one of these for the main room as the storage heater broke
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002G0DE14/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_uXZ7Fb6C5XG7H?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
My main room is 25ft square and is open plan kitchen / diner / living etc plus has high ceilings and one wall entirely of glass. It works a treat and thecthermostat and timer are great. The cost is reasonable to use

Stay in bed. "Exercising" for warmth.

Otherwise pick a couple of rooms you can all be in and heat just those.

Heavy curtains over windows will help insulate as much as double glazing (I believe)

Oil filled radiator was my saviour. I was pretty skint at the time & the electric bill wasn't bad at all.

They take a little while to warm the room up properly, but you do start to feel the benefit quickly.

Also they have timers so you can sort it to keep the room at the temp you want at different times.

Thin layers are better & you're best off with good base layers (merino is great) top & leggings.

Same for the baby, close fitting layers are better than pram suits which can trap in cold rather than be cosy.

I really feel the cold and if I just get into bed and under my cosy duvet/blanket etc I stay cold, but a layer on first then I'm cosy.

I have also used this in my student days in a freezing cold room with an enormous window
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AL8L20I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_T0Z7FbHGTDRG7?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

While the weather is like this I'd keep the largest bedroom warm and put all the beds/ cots in there! Keep your living room warm too , I'm thinking thermal curtains and oil filled radiators. I'd get a little fan heater just to give the bathroom a quick blast at bath time .
Electric blankets, thermal underwear for everyone and lots of layers !

Oh and wear woolly hats !

I think a heated throw would be a perfect temporary solution.

Oil filled radiators are the most economical to run. I looked it up.
Thermal socks
13.5 tog duvet, bigger than a single so you can burrito yourself.
Large fluffy blanket for folding in half, double the warmth
Wooly hat
Thermal curtains with blankets pinned to them
Duvet velcroed to door holes.

I am currently sat under a 13.5 duvet and a thick blanket with joggers, thermal socks and a thick hoodie. I live in a grade 2 listed building so double glazing is not allowed and the windows are huge. I do have central heating but it costs too much to use because I heat outside more. I'd probably be even warmer if I didn't have a cat, I can't shut my doors. One of my rooms is Currently 12°c.

Get yourself an Ooodie (or pretend - cheaper- one like mine). Get dressed, pop over the top, hood up when it's really cold. It's like wearing a duvet.

Electric blanket for the beds.
Electric throw for sofas.
Hot drinks regularly - in a thermal mug with lid.
Teddy bear fleece bedding, sod cotton!
Teddy bear fleece on sofas.
Jacket spuds, stews, things that take a long time in the oven.
Shut doors, door snakes for the draught.
Chimney balloon unless you're using an open fire.
Sheepskin slippers or slipper boots.
Thermals.
2.5 tog socks.

Keep the baby in the snowsuit - that's what I used to do with DD2 when she was newborn. She slept in it, our bedroom was around 9 degrees.

Large, cheap curtains- to the floor unless covering the radiators- try IKEA. Tuck the curtains behind radiators religiously.

It's possible your kitchen might just have a dirt floor underneath the lino or whatever flooring you have. Rugs on the floor will help.
If you are campers, roll mats work very well on non carpeted areas for bedrooms or playroom.

Window insulation - my parents used cling film when they had an old cottage, apparently it's very effective. Or bubble wrap.

I loathe being cold so lots of sympathy OP (and plenty of strategies above!)

Aldi are selling oil filled radiators for £29.99 at the moment

Heat the bed with a hairdryer before you get in.