heating?!!

jkay_3

Hello nats .

Have a word with your health visitor, she may be able to help or suggest charities that may offer some solutions. I used to live in a very cold council flat and remember all to well the ice on the inside of the windows. Speak to your housing officer, under the decent homes scheme central heating will be included, but that doesn't help you to-day. Although its not ideal, you may have to consider all sleeping in the lounge, until the cold spell passes. at least you will all keep warm

mshterry

Goodness me what is this person like, this person’s attitude insulted me so much I joined the site just to show my total outrage!!
This person is asking for constructive help not a personal opinion to what ever this persons personal feelings are, in the roll of parenting or what they believe is to cold!!!!!!!

Do you remember what your mother said “if you can’t say anything nice, shut up!!!!

You have come across as rude, callous and malicious perhaps not one of societies gems!

As a GOOD parent of 4 children, I totally understand your concerns , and although have little benefit advice to give you I would suggest you talk to the benefit agency for perhaps a crisis loan to install heating – don’t know if it will help but give it a try – try approaching council explaining problem see if they are interested also talk to CAB they are brilliant and might know of other grants and funds that might be available in your area.

Good luck and for the over opinionated this is meant to be a source of real help not for those who perhaps come from the Victor Meldrew society!!

Let us know how you do
You’re a good mum , we put our children first!

Oldernotwiser

Right, I'm going to make one more post to clarify what I'm talking about.

1.The OP was worried about the cost of heating her children's bedrooms. I pointed out that warm bedrooms were unnecessary and produced some sites that confirmed this.
2. The sites I quoted regarding warm rooms being unnecessary went on to link warm rooms to cot deaths.Unfortunately people took this to mean I was threatening her children with cot death risks.
3. I pointed out that she was better to see if her council would improve her insulation and check out the damp situation in her house. This is only sensible.
4. It seems totally irresponsible to encourage a single mother on benefits to feel that she MUST heat her children's bedrooms to living room temperature all night. Many people could not afford to do this, even if working. Even if the OP could get central heating installed, could she afford to run it all night?
5. We are having this argument during one of the warmest winters since records have been kept. In an arctic winter the situation might be different. I have to get up at night frequently for a sick husband and it's not cold without heating on.

You can call me all the names you like, but my posts have been intended to be helpful and reassuring to the OP.

bigbrummygirl

it might be worth taking a look at this website who can help you get some more heating installed..


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Bfsl1/BenefitsAndFinancialSupport/DG_10018661

viktory

Hi Nats

I would call your council and request that they fit rads in the bedrooms. Perhaps keep a thermometer in the room so you can confidently tell them how cold it is in there. If your children play and sleep in their bedrooms, then they should be warm.

The other ideas about insulation and under blankets is a good idea. And maybe a hot water bottle? (caution with temperature in the bottle though, as I am sure you know!).

zoezoe_3

Oldernotwiser wrote:

Right, I'm going to make one more post to clarify what I'm talking about.

1.The OP was worried about the cost of heating her children's bedrooms. I pointed out that warm bedrooms were unnecessary and produced some sites that confirmed this.
2. The sites I quoted regarding warm rooms being unnecessary went on to link warm rooms to cot deaths.Unfortunately people took this to mean I was threatening her children with cot death risks.
3. I pointed out that she was better to see if her council would improve her insulation and check out the damp situation in her house. This is only sensible.
4. It seems totally irresponsible to encourage a single mother on benefits to feel that she MUST heat her children's bedrooms to living room temperature all night. Many people could not afford to do this, even if working. Even if the OP could get central heating installed, could she afford to run it all night?
5. We are having this argument during one of the warmest winters since records have been kept. In an arctic winter the situation might be different. I have to get up at night frequently for a sick husband and it's not cold without heating on.

You can call me all the names you like, but my posts have been intended to be helpful and reassuring to the OP.

so why did you post links on cot death and say this to ME (who is not the OP)

Oldernotwiser wrote:

There are obviously different views on this but perhaps you're doing this for your comfort rather than their health?

and say this

Oldernotwiser wrote:

Personally I think that it's really unhealthy to heat bedrooms unless there is some medical condition that requires it and always sleep with an open window unless it's absolutely freezing.

It does not matter if you think this is a warm winter or if your house is warm. What matters is that the OP is able to keep HER house within the recomended 16-20 and she cant do that without heating !

I must have missed all your other helpful posts on this thread as I can only see one which you directed at the OP...

Oldernotwiser

I'm sorry that one of your relative's had a cot death but you shouldn't take it all so personally. I think that many people keep their houses warm because THEY like it and make the excuse that it's for their children's health.

You haven't addressed the OP's problem that she can't afford to heat her children's room. The more you stress that it's important that she do so, the more worried she's going to be. I think that reassuring her that these temperatures are not necessary is a better way forward. Don't forget that these boards are about saving money!

annapantscats

Having decided to bite my tongue regarding some of the postings I have just read ( :mad: ), I shall keep this simple...
Hiya Natts... I was a single parent to my boy, and at one point we lived in a caravan in the welsh mountains (now thats COLD!!) and yes, it worries you sick when you see how cold they get at night. I agree with a fellow poster...how about having a word with the local CAB or your health visitor? They might be able to fast-track you to a grant? And in the meantime try and buy some of the all in one sleep suits that have built in mittens (that the little monkeys cant take off!!), and if things get too bad, yes, all of you sleep in the same room. I know its not ideal but if it keeps the bills down and puts your mind at rest it might be the best short-term solution.
If you cant afford any all-in-one suits just PM me and I will see what I can do.

Frankly I couldnt give a damn if it has been the mildest winter on record, or if my great great grandmother brought up 18 kids in minus 30 degree temperatures...if your kids are cold your kids are cold!!!!

Good luck to you hun

zoezoe_3

Oldernotwiser wrote:

You haven't addressed the OP's problem that she can't afford to heat her children's room. The more you stress that it's important that she do so, the more worried she's going to be. I think that reassuring her that these temperatures are not necessary is a better way forward. Don't forget that these boards are about saving money!

I suggested that she just heat up one room and they all sleep together.

I have not said that it was important for her to heat her house. But you have posted that you think it is NOT important and you went on to say how you thought it was unhealthy and could lead to cot death.

I think you need to consider your postings here, reassurance does not come in the form of posting link to the risk of child death. This is my last post to you since you are not able to understand how offensive your links to cot death, for no apparent reason, have been.

love2save

Oldernotwiser wrote:

As somebody else posted, how on earth do you think that people's children managed before central heating; they didn't all die of hypothermia you know and rather fewer died of cot death.

I just wanted to say that 26 years ago my first daughter died from cot death. The bedroom wasn't heated..we didn't have heating upstairs in those days. Of course that was only probably a contributing factor...but being cautious is always the best idea. Contrary to the comment that rather fewer died from cot death in those days the opposite is true. I myself heat my whole house during the day, although the heating is turned off at night times (but then my youngest child is 6 now).

Nats .... Mittens are a good idea for the meantime.....also a baby sleep bag that will stop the tiny one escaping cover altogether during the night. It is dangerous for the home to be too hot...but too cold is just as bad. Good Luck xx