My toddler couldn’t sleep through the night in his cold room – I won’t risk an electric blanket, but a Primark buy helps
WITH energy prices rising, most Brits will be reluctant to put the heating on.
But this option can be tricky, especially when you have little ones.
And one mum found herself in this sticky situation after not knowing what to do to keep her child warm in the colder days.
And so the mum decided to take to online forum Mumsnet to ask other parents for advice on how they keep their child warm without the heating.
She wrote: “I have a two year old, who no longer sleeps through because he gets cold in the early hours.
“His room temperature fluctuates between about 13 and 17 degrees celsius.
“I put him to sleep in a long sleeved vest, sleepsuit, extra thin sleep sack and a toddler duvet.
“Apprehensive to pile on too many blankets in case of suffocation / overheating.
“[I] have also read electric blankets and hot water bottles aren’t safe until age five? Anyone got any tips??”
Many parents took to the comments section to share their hacks they’ve discovered whilst parenting during the winter season.
Many offered up some products which can be bought cheaply from budget retailers including Primark.
One wrote: “A fleecy or thick onesie/sleep suit might help and if you get a larger size it could go over pyjamas.”
Another added: “Put them in PJs and add a vest or blanket if cold.
“We live in a very old house so it gets cold overnight and both of mine are fine. I don’t think 13-17c is actually that cold for night though.”
Another added: “One of those fleece onesies with a long sleeve baby grow underneath.
“Sleeps in the bed with me, under the covers, though he’s always kicked blankets off since birth.
We’re all sharing a room with all our beds side-by-side for warmth atm.
Mumsnet comment
“We aren’t not putting the heating on, but haven’t really felt the need to yet.”
Fleece jumpers, also known as Snuddies, can cost £16 from Primark and they come in a purple and grey.
Another parent suggested: “Thicker tog duvet. At least 10. And fleecy PJ’s. I hate the heating on at night, [I] wake up stuffy, headachy and with a dry mouth, it’s horrible.”
Bargain buy
Primark are also currently selling “super soft” duvet sets costing between £9 to £14.
A fourth parent added: “We’re all sharing a room with all our beds side-by-side for warmth atm.
“Also extra thick heavy curtains which we bought on sale from B&M a couple of years back.”
B&M are currently selling a variety of curtains, which come in a number of different colours, and cost between £7.50 and £60.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.