To get the kids an electric blanket

[noenergy]

Has anyone used an electric blanket in their kids beds?

Moved into a rental property a few months ago which is oil heated. You can only time the heating to come on twice a day and there is no thermostat to keep it on all day at a certain temperature all day. I went into DDs room early this morning and it was quite cold. None of my 3 DC have really ever taken a blanket l, they always kick them off.

So would IBU to get them an electric blanket?

I wouldn't. Only because when my mum was a teen hers caught on fire when she was in the bed with it on.

Fleece blankets keep you really hot. If that worried try a sleeping bag?

I would also contact the landlord. Surely there is a way of maintaining the temperature?

When you say oil heated do you mean an oil fired boiler or do you mean those plug in radiators? I'm assuming the former, are you absolutely sure there's no thermostat? I've seen them in some very not obvious places. Anyway missing the point. I have no idea why an electric blanket could be a question of reasonableness...

Of course YANBU. We are very rural, old stone cottage and have oil heating. It's very cold and we all have electric blankets. The days of them catching fire are long gone. Ours have timers to turn them on and off. Nothing nicer.

I wouldn't, personally. Flannel sheets, fleecy onesies, thick socks and lots of layers on the bed. Those oat warmers stay hot for quite a while, too, but nope, not electricity near the DCs beds.

We don't have one on our bed because I don't trust them, so I'm probably BU.

I used to, then I found heated over blankets which they preferred, because they could control them more.

The safety features on both are reliable.

In the old days they were a fire risk, modern ones are fine but buy a decent one and don't make them aware of the controller if they're young. Maybe some have like a child lock feature on the buttons? Not sure

Of course, we live in a drafty old (really old) cottage with oil ch and my kids love them in the winter. All elec blankets in this country are tested within an inch of their lives (stringent h&s) and are very safe.

Yes of course! My DD has had one since she was little, she loves it! I've never heard of them setting on fire you do have to be realistic about these things. The chances of that happening are so small it's not worth worrying about.

As pp said, electric blanket best thing ever. We've had ours about 3 years and still talk about how we can't believe we didn't get one sooner! We have ours on before bed and turn it off before we go to sleep. The bed then retains the heat for some time, so you don't need to leave it on all night, although they are safe now, we would do that. Would also be happy to put one on our dcs bed...but they are the hottest kids ever!

A thermostat can be fitted to that type of heating system. Didn't cost the earth from what I remember either. Although I love my electric blanket and it has overheat protection so pretty safe, the landlord should be taking responsibility for making sure the house is able to be adequately warm.

If you are worried about safety there is a good checklist here www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/electrical-items/electric-blankets/

Depends how little your kids are - if they are still wee it's important that they don't get too hot and you may be better with other methods

My eldest always claims to be boiling and throws off covers but has a gorgeous John Lewis onsie for winter, so it doesn't matter when he kicks off the covers

Electric blankets are perfectly safe these days. I don't leave them on to sleep, though, as we all get too hot. We turn them on for about an hour before bedtime to warm up the beds then turn them off to sleep. Getting in to a warm bed seems to keep you warm all night.

IMO you'd be better off spending your money on plug in radiators.

It'll keep the whole room warm, rather than just the beds which will help prevent damp, and will also make getting out of bed much pleasanter.

It is the risk of it catching fire that I was worried about. But seems the opinion is that they are pretty safe. Will read some reviews to find a child friendly one.

Will check with the landlord again about thermostat. I will have the timer set for an hour before getting up. It's just that it was really cold in the middle of the night and it's now even that cold outside yet.

Will also look for a timed heater.

I don't want to terrify anyone, but. They can go on fire.
Have you not seen the public safety advert on YouTube. About George and Betty. I can't bloody upload it on this phone, though.
Mind you this advert is 30+ years old though, so Obviously safety checks are more advanced. I Still wouldn't get one though

Put it on before they go to bed, then turn it off and unplug once they are in.

Get them one, I love ours.

We have oil fired heating without a separate thermostat. Our thermostat is on the boiler itself. You can hear it clicking on and off during the time it's on, so it doesn't burn continuously.

We don't have it on at night, unless it's REALLY cold out, or we've run out of oil and had to wait a few days for a delivery, so the bones of the house get cold and need the heating running on constant for a day or two.

It would be a good idea to get a Calor gas fire for use if you run out of oil or have a power cut.

Don't forget to keep an eye on the oil level!

Double check, but I don't think you can use them on memory foam mattresses - if you have them.

I remember staying at my grandparents' house as a child and they would put the electric blanket in the bed to warm it up before I got in (they would then remove it). I loved getting into a warm snuggly bed!

My electric blanket makes me so happy, I can't wait for winter. It's like climbing into a warm bath.

I had one when I was a child. It had a preheat setting so it would warm up my bed before I got into it, then it would be off overnight. I loved it.

I've got a memory foam mattress now so can't have one without it damaging the lifespan of the mattress but I still miss a prewarmed bed.

Modern electric blankets are very safe. Get a reputable one (not bought online from somewhere in China) and let your children enjoy the warmth.