What type of blankets will keep the kids warm this winter?

[Pibbley]

Should I invest in high tog duvets?

I think they're just normal all year ones as we usually have the heating on but really not going to be able to.

Or will layers work better? More blankets?

I think people are potentially overthinking this. We never, ever have the heating on overnight even with young DC. When it's winter and cold we:

Possibly slightly but if people are going to cut down or stop heating during the daytime then bedrooms won't be getting ant heat. Our previous house had a box room which dropped down to single figures some nights, although it was a very cold winter and that was with heating on during the day.

Vertbaudet has 3.5 tog baby sleeping bags with arms.

I think some people are underestimating just how cold some houses get in the winter.

I've moved to a new build this year - I'll be very surprised if I need half as much bedding this winter as I used to, it's noticeably warmer (something I'm disliking this summer!).

But previously I've moved about a lot, renting, and in older house of various ages. Some have been much colder than others and some of those can be genuinely freezing at night. Not quite to the extent of ice on the inside of windows, but condensation on phone etc was normal.

Once the cold gets in, its very hard to maintain a pleasant ambient temperature. So just because you and your family might get away with one fleece throw, doesn't mean that will be adequate for others.

I think people are potentially overthinking this. We never, ever have the heating on overnight even with young DC. When it's winter and cold we:

So you have done all your 'overthinking' already. Some people haven't got the fleece pyjamas and bed socks that you have already, that's the point of the thread.

If you're on a tight budget I find a towel does the job of a blanket very well. A 100% cotton bath sheet is so cosy under the duvet or as an extra layer on top of the duvet.

We will do the usual as we never have heating on unless it drops below a few degree's then we have it on literally the lowest setting. Usually I flick it on when I go to use the bathroom about 5am ish so it's warm for the boys getting up at 6.30am. Our bedrooms stay relatively warm unless it's freezing. Downstairs is colder as open plan.

I have the heating off in my room as I hate being too hot so have usual quilt and a lovely large teddy fleece blanket from Home Bargains as an option - I do always wear bed socks in winter as I hate having even slightly cold feet.

Oldest DS is in the loft room and has a small electric heater that is on the lowest setting (1 of 7) which keeps it toasty and switches on/off itself to keep temp stable. He also has a normal quilt, teddy fleece as an option but is usually too warm.

Youngest DS has vest, pj's and slipper socks. Normal quilt and Teddy fleece.

Both DS have dressing gowns as they prefer them to onsies etc and downstairs I have a few teddy throws for if they are watching TV etc

Where does everybody live that they need the heating on overnight and more clothes to sleep in that they would wear in daytime.
We’re in Scotland and only ever wear long sleeve pj’s and winter weight down duvet, no heating on overnight.

We have army blankets, fit single beds or work fine for one person in a double too. Cheap online.

Growing up in an unheated house, no central heating , just a fire in the living room,, it wasn’t unusual to wake-up to frost on the inside of bedroom windows.
We had flannelette sheets, pure wool blankets, a Candlewick bedspread and an Eiderdown on top, The Eiderdown was a quilted top cover filled with feathers from Eider ducks hence the name Eider down.
The wool blankets were Witney blankets, lovely and warm. The cotton flannelette sheets have a raised nap which traps the warmth from your body, unlike smooth cotton.
It was all about layering. It keeps you warmer.
DH worked offshore, North Sea, during autumn/winter months they had to wear three layers of clothing under their protective outer work gear: Vest, sleeved shirt or long sleeved t shirt and a jumper. It wasn’t a choice.

Our heating is off during the night. Goes off at 10pm comes back on at 6.30am.

I've camped in freezing conditions with kids.

Merino wool themals - you can get these cheaply from Mountain warehouse.
Then fleecy pyjamas / onesie on top.
Fleece blanket underneath.
Sleeping bag.
Fleece blanket on top.
Socks and hat.

It always staggers me that people can’t imagine that their reality isn’t that of others. Just because you don’t need the heating on because you/your area/your home doesn’t get very cold, other people do! They get cold, they live further north than you, they live in a more exposed area than you, they live in a colder house than you.

People are asking for help, if you can’t offer it then move on, not every thread is an opportunity for you to express your views.

OP, we just recently bought heated blankets, the dreamland ones cost 1p for 7 hours running time and on the Freemans website they have a 25% discount available.

Have a look at www.yorkshireblankets.co.uk - beautiful quality but inexpensive, made from the yarn unused in mills at the end of each week which would otherwise go to landfill.

We have ancient Witney blankets that used to belong to my grandparents. They aren't exactly beautiful but they are so warm.

I dream of having wool/cashmere throws or beautiful Welsh blankets all around the house to snuggle under but if I could afford them I wouldn't need to worry about putting the heating on anyway!

We don't have heating on overnight but heating going off earlier or set at lower temperatures means the house drops to lower temperatures at night.

I'm a convert to sleeping in hoodies to solve the cold head problem.

Put blankets on top of the mattress and also under the duvet, so they trap air under the duvet rather than just sit on top of it and slide off overnight. (works with sleeping bags too if you go camping.

Heated blankets? But then you are still using electricity.
I'm quite old so when I was a child no one had heating in the bedrooms, and sometimes there was ice on the inside of the window, so it did get quite cold. But we didn't get cold in bed - wool blankets, pyjamas, sometimes a hot water bottle..I think the bedding traps the heat of you body in.

Bed socks are everything. I get cashmere socks every year ( you can get them for about £30) and wear them each night. They make a huge difference.

A hot water bottle is many times more cost effective than electric blankets. You’re talking pennies a week for multiple daily fills, and they last a good long time if you have it under a blanket when on the sofa or in bed.

We dont have it on overnight either. But we do have a reasonably warm house in the evening which means the house (and we) are not already very cold when we go to bed and the house itself retains some of that heat.

Some people will struggle to heat their house in the evenings this winter and doing to bed already very cold is a completely different prospect.

We are in a cold house as it’s Reno project. We survived last winter with no central heating for some weeks. Didn’t need anything other than duvet and a blanket at night. We are in north Scotland. I wouldn’t worry too much. I’ve never had heating on at night 🤷‍♀️

Dreamland intelliheat electric blankets cost 1p for 7 hours of consistent heat, as opposed to an electric kettle for a hot water bottle which is around 75p per use which will likely need refilled to give an inconsistent temperature every 2-3 hours.

so:

1p consistent heat for 7 hours, or
£1.50 inconsistent heat for upto 6 hours.

Just looked up the cost of boiling a kettle as 75p a time seemed staggering. Seems it was around 25p earlier this year so no doubt has gone up and will continue to do so though even that shocked me, I thought it was a few pennies! We are terrible for boiling the kettle and wandering off forgetting so having to do it again...will stand there like a hawk from now on!

@Twillow oh my gosh is that true?! That puts the price rises into even more perspective doesn't it. A takeaway coffee won't seem so expensive in comparison

@Chipsahoy sorry whats a reno project?