Electric blanket

[Hymnulop]

Settle an argument for me - electric blankets on kids beds (age 6 and nearly 1) yay or nay?

This has come up on the basis we won't be putting the heating on so much this winter and need alternatives. Thanks.

YABU absolutely not
YANBU absolutely fine

My DD (6) has1 & I see no issues whatsoever- 20 mi s before bed on full then off when she gets in. All good!

I wouldn't for the 1 year old, maybe a microwave wheat bag to warm the bed before they get in? I have bought electric blankets for my kids this year, aged 8 & 13. I also bought myself a heated throw as I wfh and I'm not putting the heating on in the day!

I've been looking at these tonight.

Two questions.... over blanket or traditional mattress type one?

Secondly, is there any risk when using the mattress type ones with a child who very rarely wets the bed? It's very very very rare but might happen so needs to be considered. It's not full flood, usually a patch then they wake up.

Also, side point, due to the very occasional bed wetting, I have a waterproof mattress protector on the bed. Where does that go when considering an electric blanket or does that turn electric blankets into a no no situation?

Where do electric blankets rank in energy usage terms? Clearly cheaper than putting the heating on but are they in kettle or tumble dryer league?

Depends on the make of course, but they use about 0.1kWh. It's more kettle than tumble dryer.

Have it in for half an hour/an hour so you fall asleep warm and it costs pennies a night.

Boiling one kettle is still cheaper (I think they use less!) But the blanket is bigger. Whole body warm rather than just hot water bottle area warm.

On my own bed I have my electric blanket direct on the mattress, then then a fleecy protector then a waterproof - I have the fabric ones rather than the plastic bag type waterproof don't know if that makes a difference.

Because of the layering I would have thought the bed wetter would be fine- especially as blanket wouldn't be on when the bed was wet would it? My blanket is machine washable minus its control units so wouldn't have thought it would be a problem for the odd accident...

OP I would go for it with the 6yr old - but not the 1yr old.

For the 1 Yr old - baby sleeping bags? You can iron them warm if need be? Or use hot water bottles to warm the bed but remove before baby gets in? Don't make a baby's bed too warm though- they'll tell you if they are cold - they might not if they are too hot!

No way would I put something with wires in young childrens bed for the strangulation risk alone.

Use them to preheat the bed - that’s what my Gran always did when we stayed. Coal fire downstairs, no central heating, so warm bath then into preheated bed with extra blankets. She always took heated blankets out before we got in.