Is 10 C too cold for a baby?

[GentleOtter]

Our house is absolutely baltic and the antiquated heating system has broken down. We have two heaters going full in the bedroom where baby sleeps with us (in a cot) but I cannot get the temperature to rise above 10c.
The landlord is not interested and the lease says we are responsible for the boiler/heating but there are no plumbers to be had being Easter.
The temperature drops at night and DS is in a 2.5 tog Grobag with a cotton blanket over his middle to feet.Can I use a small duvet as well? I am convinced the cold keeps wakening him up and now just have him sleeping between us which I know can be risky...he is 9 months.
Can anyone suggest any way of increasing the temperature?

Can you get an oil filled radiator for about £30 from argos?

I know it is an investment you don't necessarily want to make but I think that would be better than nothing as 10C is quite cold.

That does sound chilly. I am sure he will be fine sleeping with you as long as neither of you has been drinking etc (I'm sure you wouldn't do that). Do you have any of those fleecy sleepsuits - if so you could put him in one of those as well as his grobag.

Hope you get it sorted out soon. We had no heating for a few days before Xmas - really sympathise with you.

\link{http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4150499/Trail/searchtext%3EOIL+RADIATOR.htm/a rgos radiator}.

Always good for emergencies.

try again

I think optimum should be between 16 and 18 degrees in the bedroom. He might need extra blankets to keep him warm at night.

We have two of those in the bedroom on at max all day and night. They are really warm if you are right beside them.
There is an open fireplace in the bedroom but the chimney is dodgy...fumes come in. The place is really damp and impossible to heat and the other bedrooms are the same. The house is actually a liability and we will be moving in a few months but it was just to ask how to make it warmer in the meantime.

ps No we do not drink - I hate the taste.

block the chimney with a piece of wood it will stop some of the chill you will be losing heat up the chimney

I wondered about the fleecy sleepsuits - he wears them during the day. At night he has a long sleeved vest, a babygro with feet, the Grobag and a cotton blanket folded in four.
How do I take his temperature ?
The thermometer by his cot shows 10c all the time but if I put it right over the radiator is goes up to 13c.

Do you live in England/Wales?

if so, no matter what the tenancy agreement says, the boiler and the heating system (if fixed) are the landlord's responsibility. It is the law. It cannot be overridden by the tenancy agreement.

quite often people get injunctions to compel their landlords to fix the heating urgently.

we don't have central heating (in NZ) and last winter it was icy in DS's room, 10 degrees wouldn't have been bad - as he was a newborn I didn't want to use blankets etc. so I tended to dress him more - long sleeved vest, sleepsuit, pyjama top etc. then his sleeping bag (a special NZ one made for rooms under 18 degrees - way under in our case!)

check the windows/doors and block any gaps however small, ditto the fireplace - cover as much of the hole as possible. but also, the landlord MUST do something

our attic room (circa 1972) is also asolutely freezing...regularly below 12 degrees...and last night was prob below 10 but couldnt tell you exactly cos the thermometer doesnt go that low.

mu dd nearly eight months usually sleeps in long sleeved vest tights,baby gro, cardigan (not wool) 2.5 tog bag two sheets and two wooly blankets....

she tends to wakes up at about three AM..i reckon she is cold and so bring her into our bed where she sleeps in her bag under our duvet.

I REALISE THIS IS ALL GOING AGAINST ALL THE SIDS ADVICE!

last night she slept in her usual pyjama get up...and (because we had been out) her fleecy suit for going out in (with a loose hood)....and her blankets...she slept great.

this is my second baby in this room...with my first i was much more cautious.

you could def use a warmer blanket to cover your baby..and maybe some socks on his hands?

A blanket underneath is much warmer than above, so if you are adding blankets, make sure you add one at least beneath.

Not responible for the boiler or heating? That must be a load of crap!

I think you should ring up your local council or failing that your locall CAB and ask. I serioulsy doubt you, as a tenant can be expected to repair HIS boiler!

Sounds well dogdy to me!

And 10C is v cold

a quick google says the landlord is responsibly for major reppairs He can write what he wants in the lease - it's not legal.

And you don't have to go into the CAB and wait for hours just ring them up!

we have a few oil heaters from before we had our central heating/boiler and double glazing done. if you are anywhere near me you are more than welcome to borrow them.

xx

10 degrees is VERY cold, at that temperature I'd def have the baby in with us (our 10 month old spend half the night in our bed) as I'd be more worried about the cold than anything else.
Co-sleeping is fine as long as you are careful (dont drink or smoke and are careful with bedline/duvet etc). I think there is less risk with co-sleeping as babies get older and bigger anyway as they are able to move around more easily so less risk of getting caught up in bedlinen etc.

I really how you ring your local CAB today and find of if your landlord can actually do this.

hope

Message withdrawn

Have you felt your baby's chest or back? If torso feels warm enough to you, you don't need to worry. Good luck! (oh, and can I slap your landlord? xx)