Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave blow heaters on overnight in my dc's bedrooms?

121 replies

Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 15:31

Is this a fire hazard/ dangerous? would it be unreasonable to do so?. Im aware this isnt really an aibu but Im quite worried and need advice and know here gets the most traffic.

Our damn boiler broke last night (oil) the house was freezing we have back up in a solid fuel stove that heats the radiators but it would appear that the circulation pump is also on the blink and the rads arent been heated. The kitchen and sitting room are quite cosy downstairs (where the stove is) when it got going but it is sooo cold upstairs.

We cant get a plumber today - we've tried. Our usual one is 3 hours away working for a few days but can get to ours tomorrow to sort it.

Im worried about tonight - we've 3 dcs (6yrs, 22 months and 6 months). Im in work today and they are in CMs right now but I dont know what to do later. Ill light up a big fire downstairs but last night dd2's room was 12 degrees Shock(hers has the monitor in it) I think it'll be even colder tonight as the heating upstairs been gone longer, if that makes sense - I think it was retaining some heat from the morning before it broke. Also its been snowing again here today. I had them all in fleece zip up pjs, extra quilts and dressing gowns etc..(dd2 in a 2.5 tog gro bag).

I kept checking them all last night and they slept peacefully but dd2's little hands and face were so cold to touch.

I have a few blow heaters/ can borrow some off my mum too so was thinking of leaving one on all night in each room. Is that irresponsible or ok to do?

Other than that, I could move all dc and things to my mums and we all stay there tonight? she has room and its warm - itll just be a huge hassle. (work and school and cm drop off in the morn)

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 14/12/2011 20:33

saving money on warming up from a cold start ONLY works if your house is modern and very well insulated
otherwise you are paying to pump heat out through the walls and roof every night
higher house temperatures have been directly linked to increased obesity
and if your insulation is good, your heating should be nearly off most of the time anyway

ours is on 6.45 am to 9.30 pm and set to 18
if you want it warmer, put on a jumper

JaneBirkin · 14/12/2011 20:37

I'm not obese Hmm but anyway, ours doesn't seem to be on all the time, which is probably good. Our neighbours upstairs benefit from our heating which I don't mind as I like them. The house is very old but seems weirdly to hold the heat fairly well.

I wear a lot of clothes in bed and therefore 16 or so is fine. I don't tend to walk around the house in just a t shirt though, anytime - I always have a lot of layers on in the winter. And sometimea a scarf, but that's because I have a longish neck and wear my hair up Smile it does get a bit draughty otherwise.

Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 20:51

Oh am worried about littlest one now and 12 degrees being way too cold. Sad

Im hoping to have it all sorted tomorrow - do you think she'll be ok?

It's 12 degrees in her room again tonight - I've left on her wooly tights, vest and an extra t-shirt under a fleece one piece.
I've then swaddled her with a cellular blanket (from underneath her arms down) I've then popped her in a grobag with 2 blankets over (I know you're generally not supposed to do this bit under the circumstances. I left the heater on in get room for an hour before she went to bed but I've removed it now. I haven't put a hat on her as she has a massive head of hair which seems to keep in the heat.

My mum has taken my oldest (the asthmatic one) to hers for a sleepover (and she needs a bath) tonight.

I heated ds's room for a while too, he has socks and an extra layer under his fleece one piece, I've put dd1s "snuggy" on him and have two double duvets on his bed.

Tried leaving the doors open to get heat from stove to travel upstairs but it's not making any difference (house is quite large)

Shit am worrying- should I put dd2 in our bed, I wonder?

Dh has a day off tomorrow and was going to keep dc home from cm's to have some time but will send them now so they are warm and to give him a chance to get it sorted

OP posts:
Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 20:53

Christingle - so glad you've got it sorted! Envy at a bath though... (it's the little things, innit?)

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 14/12/2011 20:55

You're paying money to keep yourself barely warm anyway if your house isn't well insulated. Still no reason to throw your hat at it. Insulation is hardly ever optimal; most houses are not fabulously up to date to the extent that they hardly use any energy. A boiler has to work longer and use more energy to return the temperature to what you want if it's been turned off, and you won't feel the effect for a while during the heating process either. If it was heating up at fairly long intervals during the night to maintain a constant (but lower than daytime) temp then it wouldn't have to work so long to bring the temp up in the morning. And you wouldn't run the risk of freezing pipes.

I get really mad with my mum for not turning on the CH that she finally had installed a few years ago. Living in an environment that is always cold is not good for older people, who are susceptible to hypothermia.

TalkinPeace2 · 14/12/2011 20:55

do you have a thermometer?
tuck into the furthest corner of one of the kids beds and see what temperature they are actually sleeping in
if they have settled / gone to sleep, they are not too cold
v good article in New Scientist recently about how we use our hands to regulate sleep temperature - if hands are tucked into armpits, add more covers
if they are flopped on the pillow then the body under the covers is warm enough

if kids can sleep in an igloo, they can sleep in a house with a broken boiler

minouminou · 14/12/2011 21:05

Thing is, it might be 12C in her room, but it won't be 12C in the air spaces in her insulating clothes/grobag/bedding, it'll be cosy.....that's what clothes and bedding are for!
Also, re temp and weight.....there does seem to be a link, as at lower temps the body has to burn more calories to maintain a steady temp.
And it's true....I am happy at 10-12c.....I'm a jiggler and also have a slightly higher than average body temp.
How's it going, OP?

ChrisTingleTeaspoon · 14/12/2011 21:06

It was a long awaited lovely bath! Smile

I think she might even be too hot with 2 blankets, a grobag and a swaddling blanket. Have you got a thermometer to check her temp before bed (rather than the room). Overheating is worse for babies than being too cold, we didn't have central heating when I was a young child and I'm fine, although I hate being cold!

I hope it's fixed soon Sad

Krakken · 14/12/2011 21:07

' I've left on her wooly tights, vest and an extra t-shirt under a fleece one piece.
I've then swaddled her with a cellular blanket (from underneath her arms down) I've then popped her in a grobag with 2 blankets over'

I'm not an expert but it sounds like too many layers for your baby.

12 degrees is not really cold and you'd be fine going out in that in a coat and not feeling cold.
Babies can overheat.

Maybe someone can advise you better on this.

minouminou · 14/12/2011 21:13

Maybe take the blankets off and check on her before you go to bed.
It's a pain about the stove not warming the house up much....I bet it's helping a bit, but not as much as we hoped.

Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:15

Oh thank you talkinpeace (neurotic mother of a new baby)

Have just popped upstairs. It's still so cold but both dc are sound asleep and quite cosy looking. Ds is buried under a mound of quilts. Dd2 has her arms flopped at her head- her hands are cold but the rest of her body (and back of her neck) are very warm to touch

OP posts:
Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:21

Sorry x posts with everyone else!!! You're all so kind, bless you.

No hot water as it's heated by the oil Sad cm kindly bathed the 2 small ones for me today. Will have to make do with a strip wash in front of basin and heater myself tonight (yuck) would have went to my mums for a shower but dh is working late tonight so can't.

I'm thinking about overheating/ SIDS advise with dd2 too. I wonder if it's worth disturbing her and just talking her into my bed with just a grobag. Thing is, I'm one of the very lucky ones who's dc love their own beds/ rooms/ space/ sleep - and I know I'm just upsetting her "routine" if I do and she won't be happy... They won't wake til about 7.30am

OP posts:
minouminou · 14/12/2011 21:24

It all sounds ok! Nearly over now!
Great advice from Talkinpeace
Also, I just remembered DP telling me that the average room temp in the 70's was 13-14c in the winter (only vague recollection of what he said), so you're just taking a trip back in time for a day or two!

Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:25

And it's just occurred to me that I had a glass of wine earlier this eve so she can't sleep with us, right? Unless I sleep in dd1s bed or with ds and pop her into bed with dh when he gets home..?

I'm over-thinking this, aren't I?WinkBlush

OP posts:
HavePatience · 14/12/2011 21:27

I'd put the baby in your bed with you with the sleep suit and grobag. Your body heat will warm her more and you'll be able to warm her hands :)

minouminou · 14/12/2011 21:28

I'd leave her....if she's sleeping happily now, leave her to it (did you take the blankets off?). The room's not likely to get much colder overnight if your house is well insulated, so don't worry.

Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:28

Havepatience - im I "allowed" to co sleep with her if I've had 1 glass of wine though? (silly woman)

OP posts:
Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:30

No didn't take the blankets off minouminou - am looking for a thermometer to check her body temp

OP posts:
Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:31

(and thank you for being so lovely and being so concerned for her Smile)

OP posts:
mumnotmachine · 14/12/2011 21:32

I only put my heating on for the first time last week, its never on overnight and my windows are open all year around!
Heating is not on now either, and we have had an inch of hailstones this evening LOL!!

minouminou · 14/12/2011 21:34

It's also concern for you as you're so worried.
She's more likely to cry if she's cold and so alert you than if she's too hot.
Also, if you're worried about the wine, leave her in her familiar cot.

TalkinPeace2 · 14/12/2011 21:36

Barbie
if they are asleep, leave them be
if they were tossing and turning and saying they were cold, THEN you should bed share
but if they are snoring, shut the door between you and them

seriously
the modern obsession with keeping rooms warm at night is not healthy
cool clear air is good for lung / airways too

so long as the core body temperature does not drop - which is dealt with by a couple of decent covers, the air temperature in the room is not a big issue

until 40 years ago, rooms other than kitchens and living rooms were unheated at night and for most of the day. Central heating is lovely but we do not need it to survive.

Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:36

I think you're right minou - ok - decision made. I'll take the blankets off now and check how warm she is before I go to bed. If she seems cold, I'll put her in bed with dh and I'll sleep with ds Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:38

Thanks a mill talkin that makes me feel a lot better Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Barbielovesken · 14/12/2011 21:39

(am obviously a terrible worrier)

OP posts: