does anyone use an electric blanket for children

[Deleted User]

I would never use an electric blanket because even a new one could develop a fault and something nasty happens (and anything electric is expensive to run as far as I am concerned). I never use hot water bottles because I still (40 years later) have burn marks on my legs from hot water bottles given to me as a child.

My 5 year old has a sleeping bag, (nothing special, its not very thick), wears pyjamas and I have two blankets and a thin quilt, plus a 13.5 tog quilt (he doesn't like too many coverings so usually rejects the heavy quilt) that I pull over him when its cold. He seems fine with all that. Lots of not too thick layers that can easily be removed when needed. I used to work as a nurse and we'd have to be very careful with people who were a little cold (temp of 35 degrees). We'd use a foil thermal blanket but monitor their temp very very closely as once the temperature was normal, u had to take the blanket off because it would continue to rise for a while and it hardly seemed fair to do all that and then say to the poor cosy person "sorry u'r too hot, now u've got to strip off to the bare minimum" lol.

Wilma33

Hot water bottles can be much more dangerous for children then a new electric blanket. If using a hot water water, never put boiling water in it. If using an electric blanket, never fold it up during summer. It needs to be kept flat.

rachbc

Mine use hot water bottles and the littly has a wheat teddy to snuggle.

DD has wool blanket under her flanneletter sheet then duvet over her, as it gets colder I will add another flannel sheet between her nad the duvet and a cotton patchwork quilt over, she wears flannel pjs which again will increase to vest, pjs and socks and if it gets bitter then a long sleeve/ thermal under pjs. She is in a boig north facing bedroo with a fireplace in so even though I have the heating on as soon as its needed I do worry

bedpotato_2

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

yep always make sure you put the lid on with a little bit of water overflowing so theres air room. x

Hot water bottles should NOT be fully filled with water. You should fill them about 3/4 full with hot, not boiling water, and then gently and carefully squeeze the air out until the water rises to the brim. THEN put the lid on.

I don't know what you mean by "air room." The whole idea is to leave no room for the air at all, but to remove it all, so that there's only water in there. It's just basic science. Hot air will expand. Expanding water bottles will explode.

This is a serious safety issue and I'm shocked that so many parents apparently don't know the correct way to do it. Children could be scalded by hot water bottles exploding due to being filled incorrectly by careless ignorant parents.

Lotus-eater

We've just decided this year not to use hot water bottles for our kids, the risk didn't seem to be worth it anymore.
We could just take them out when they go to bed I suppose, but they like having them to cuddle up to.

We have an electric blanket and we love it, it means you can go to sleep straight away instead of warming up for half an hour first. Our house is very cold.

But no way would I give an electric blanket to a kid.

We've seen these electric plug in hot water bottle type things, but they have no water in them. Haven't bought them yet, as I can't find any reviews, don't want to buy them if they are a load of rubbish.

clw1

Personally I'd never get a second hand electric blanket and for LO's I'd stick to wheat filled bags.

Also if it's really cold I sometimes wave my hair dryer over the sheet / dvet to take the chill off it and make it slightly warm to get into (NB not for long just 30secs - 1 min makes a big difference)

Sammy85_2

I personally wouldnt use an electric blanket. I like my bedroom supercold and its only a few minutes before the bed warms up. For the kids bed i would probably put a hot water bottle or wheat bag in to warm it up first and then use a couple extra blankets.

Here's the fire service advice on safe use of electric blankets ... http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/electric-blankets

Note over 5000 fires a year are caused by them. If you want one then definately get a new one and check its safety markings to make sure it isnt a cheapo foreign import that doesnt meet our safety regulations.

devon27_2

We dont have children but i wouldnt let them use an electric blanket would be worried that they would play with the control or the bit that conects the blanket to the control.

I have an electric blanket but i am a bit nervous of it i never would leave it on when I am asleep.

When I was a kid my Gran used to use a "belling bedwarmer" it was a disc shaped thing that plugged in and warmed the bed all the rage in the 1960`s and 1970`s she had it with the original lead that she had on it when she bough it in the 60`s until she died 5 years ago:eek: but did warm the bed and it was taken out before you got in, oh childhood memories lol :rotfl:

pearl123

Throw an extra blanket ontop. Also maybe if it really is terribly cold. Bed socks. And if you really want to money save a wooly hat. I've never worn a wooly hat in bed but i would if it was that cold. Nothing wrong with a good old hotwaterbottle.
Well done by the way for trying to save fuel costs.

MarilynMonroe_2

bedpotato wrote: »

Hot water bottles should NOT be fully filled with water. You should fill them about 3/4 full with hot, not boiling water, and then gently and carefully squeeze the air out until the water rises to the brim. THEN put the lid on.

I don't know what you mean by "air room." The whole idea is to leave no room for the air at all, but to remove it all, so that there's only water in there. It's just basic science. Hot air will expand. Expanding water bottles will explode.

This is a serious safety issue and I'm shocked that so many parents apparently don't know the correct way to do it. Children could be scalded by hot water bottles exploding due to being filled incorrectly by careless ignorant parents.

I never said they should be! I said make sure there is water overflowing IE youre not pouring water in then just putting the lid on - yeh youre pushing air out.

I certainly DO know how to make up a hot water bottle sheesh, some people are such nit pickers on this forum these days.