To use the log burner with a newborn baby?

[Teenytinyfeet]

….given our circumstances?

We had a new log burner fitted last winter, defra approved etc etc. We have a carbon monoxide alarm in the living room and an air filter machine (no idea if that actually does anything)

We are oil central heating and the price of oil is just extortionate, with the government only offering £100 in support at the moment.

We are extremely lucky in that we get free wood so in previous years mostly use this to heat our home.

However, DC is 2 months old and I’ve said to DH I’m not happy using the wood burner this winter due to the increased risk of SIDS and asthma etc.

DH says I’m being ridiculous and that it doesn’t emit smoke into the room and with the monoxide alarm and air filter it’ll be fine. He says we can’t justify not using it this winter given that it’s a free heat source.

We’ve just had yet another row about it.

I don’t know what to think/ do.

Has anyone used their log burner around a young baby? AIBU to be worried?

I only had an open fire for heating when mine were small. (Baxi heated radiators and water)

Which is pretty much the way anyone born before the 1980s grew up. A single coal or wood open fire was the norm for generations and round here (mining area) still was well into the 90s.

They aren’t like open fires. I don’t see a problem using it and you can open doors to hear the rest of the house and it’ll be warmer upstairs.

I don't know, we've always had an open fire, recently changed to a log burner (for efficiency). We always had open fires through four children over 30 years (youngest is 12) and no health issues. Also we both grew up with open fires and no problems. But it's good that you're looking into it. I'd suggest careful credible research and go with that.

I’m pretty sure the health issues discussed in the articles linked would not show up for many years/later life. It’s not a risk I’m prepared to take.

A lot of the people in here won't get your heating situation OP

We have only the woodburners which heat a back boiler for heating and hot water. It's unusual around here.

Make sure you keep your flutes clean (get them done yearly by the chimney sweep)

Those saying opening the doors causes smoke to escape - it shouldn't- your draw isn't good enough if that happens.

Keep your safety up to date and your carbon dioxide and smoke alarms full of battery and there is no problem.

A cold dano house is more risk to the baby than an enclosed well maintained wood burning stove

We would freeze if we decided we couldn't use it because of babies - I'm sure freezing your baby is frowned upon more by the health visitor than using the source of heating you have - which for you and me is a wood burning stove

Should read it's not unusual around here - most houses also run their heating similarly

Yes there is a risk but it is a tiny risk. Honestly you'll probably cause them more risk of harm by driving them in a car.

Humanity has been using open fires to heat houses for millennia. We're not extinct yet. I grew up with open fires in the 90s and 00s and I wouldn't be without one. They'll still work in the event the power goes out in the winter - most houses would be screwed in the event of a power cut.

Which is pretty much the way anyone born before the 1980s grew up.

I was born in 1971 and not one of my family or friends had a coal or wood fire. Far more of my adult friends did (or had log burners) when we were in our 30s and early 40s and had moved out of cities. Lots have got rid of them now though. I would definitely avoid using one if at all possible, especially with a newborn.

Check your air filter. There are different degrees of purification and a certain one that filters smoke. We have a philips purifier that turns on when the air quality drops so we have that running whenever we light the wood burner. It only kicks in if you have the door open and stir up the ashes by mistake while refueling

Have you seen the price of electricity???????

I see you found the question mark button 😳

yes, of course I’ve seen the price of electricity. But log burners are a huge health risk and a massive hassle.

I was born in 76 and we didn’t have a log burner or a coal fire.

The research listed is talking about tiny particles of pollutants getting in to the organs of the body. So carbon monoxide risk is a separate issue.

No humans are not extinct but 50% of us will get cancer so I’d rather not use something that ups that risk.

An air purifier sounds like a good solution though.

Here you go, you need a purifier that filters .01 microns oransi.com/blogs/blog/particle-size

I was raised in a home with an open fire every day in winter - not a woodburner. It was dry seasoned wood but I’ve not had any ill effects. If you have good draw and open the vents when you reload, dry wood etc I think it’s probably fine every so often. Our oil aga covered everything in a thin film of black daily so I expect that was worse for us but we all seem to be fine these days.

could you go for a kind of royal tour with the baby, staying at various friends' and relatives around the country.
to introduce the baby, and keep him/her away from the woodburner in the coldest weather.

Course she can if she's not happy!

Blimey, we've got a log burner and use it most evenings in the winter. We have three children, all teenagers now and it never even crossed my mind it might be harmful. I'm an idiot.

The fumes from being in a car for this royal tour would be worse.

Many, many of us were children at a time when there was no central heating, an open fire only (hideous paraffin heater that stank in the bathroom and barely put out any heat if it was very cold think it was more to stop the pipes freezing than to warm us☃️). We seem to have survived alright, sure its better than being cold.

Have you seen the price of electricity???????

Logs have doubled in price this year. Ukraine or shipping or fuel costs or something. Who knows.

Sorry to detail thread but finding this educational. What makes a stove any different to an open fire?

Have always had the latter and used it a lot both in London and now quite a way out. Kids have been fine but one of the reasons for leaving London was the acceleration of air pollution levels in the area we lived in.

really? Was never a consideration with our DC and they are fine. I have asthma and the wood burner makes no difference at all!

Spending the winters acutely cold and damp because you can't afford the central heating on OR a slightly raised risk of cancer in 50 years time (which is also caused by general pollution, meat, obesity, alcohol, a bad diet, too much sun, the pill, or even just age).

I wonder which is worse... it's a tough one!

Gosh, do you really want your baby breathing all those particulates?