Hot water bottle exploded ***title edited by Mumsnet HQ to clear up any confusion***

[Idid20yrsinthecan]

AIBU for not knowing they had an expiration date: 2yrs after date of production. Mine was produced July 2006. Everything OK, aside from wet bed.

I won't use hot water bottles because of this, I'm too freaked out to enjoy them. I also hate the new rubber smell so I don't really want that to content with every two years.

I'm thinking about replacing mine with electric hot water bottles (can't use wheat ones as don't have a microwave) but someone on another thread warned that the lithium batteries could still explode. Is this a serious concern?

I know someone whose child was scalded by a hot water bottle bursting. Not only was the child badly injured, it also triggered a cascade of social service interventions. Haven't used one since.

I’d been using mine for god knows how many years. I’m only replacing it because it just doesn’t stay hot very long anymore.

I wonder if they didn’t air it. You should always get any air out before putting the top on. Poor kid though.

I found this out the bad way - was filling mine (a hand-me down from my mum) and sort of squeezed it against myself to get the water up to the top. It had split at the top and boiling water went all over my tummy and scalded me. It was about 6/7 years ago and I still have some scars.

The ones bought in the last few years are rubbish imported from China. The nice thick rubber ones we bought decades ago are far superior. The oldest one i have is 39 years old. I was given 2 from Primark as presents a couple of years ago, they both split.

I remember that thread. We still use a very old one. The new ones are poor quality.

Seems like a lot of people are filling with boiling water, which you're not supposed to do as per the instructions. They will last a lot longer if the water isn't boiling temp and it's safer too.

Also, a nice fluffy cover provides another barrier.

I can’t remember how long a rubber hot water bottle lasts but most have a number on them which shows the year of manufacture. Rubber perishes and a hit water bottle can scald badly.

They last 2-3 years

Wow it must be the week for it, the same happened to me on Friday night, luckily I was still awake an caught it before too much water went everywhere and just got a slight red mark where some of it landed on me and a wet bed.

I have now chucked out all others and my new one has arrived today!