December 4th, 2019 by Becky Calvert

Electric blankets have been around since the 1930s, so there’s no surprise that many myths surrounding them have been shared and discussed. With heated blankets undergoing huge improvements recently, many of these are now extremely outdated and inaccurate for the modern-day electric blanket – so, here’s everything that you need to know about electric blankets, both the facts and the myths!

1. Electric Blankets Are Unsafe

When electric blankets were first made, they were seen to be unsafe. They lacked the thin wiring, safe controllers and safety features that are now implemented into all-electric blankets that are for sale by reputable brands. As a result, many accidents were reported that electric blankets had overheated, which understandably, kept many people away from using the blankets.

However, nowadays electric blankets are perfectly safe to use – provided that you use them correctly! With built-in safety features (such as an overheat prevention system and a 90-minute cut-off timer), the modern-day electric blanket allows you to use the heated blanket without worry. Gone are the days of having to worry about your blanket reaching dangerously high temperatures, so you can snuggle down into your warmed bed with complete peace of mind!

2. You Can’t Use an Electric Blanket Whilst You’re Pregnant

This seems to be something many women worry about when they fall pregnant and it’s clear to see why. With articles everywhere stating that they can be harmful to your own and even your baby’s health – many pregnant women choose to not have an electric blanket on their bed to keep them warm during the winter.

Although using an electric blanket during pregnancy is completely your own choice, there isn’t any reason why you can’t use a heated blanket when you’re pregnant. Research shows that it can be dangerous for your body temperature to rise above 39⁰c, as this can increase the risk of miscarriage or spine and nerve damage. However, this is a much higher temperature than an electric blanket will reach, as they’re designed to keep you warm and not hot. With this in mind, when it’s your baby you’re worrying about, we’d always recommend that you do not use an electric blanket during the first 7 weeks of pregnancy. This is the period where you’re most at risk of miscarriage from Electromagnetic fields and therefore, it’s always better to be safe during the early stages.

 If you’re still unsure, we do recommend opting for an electric blanket that allows you to control the temperature – so that you can set it to the lowest temperature to give you complete peace of mind.

3. Electric Blankets Are Uncomfortable

In the past, electric blankets have felt extremely uncomfortable to lay on. The wires were both thick and stiff which meant that they poked through the soft fabric – making them really uncomfortable to lay on. This led to many people experiencing back problems from sleeping in uncomfortable positions and even being unable to sleep at all due to the wires feeing so prominent as the user laid on top of the blanket.

Modern-day electric blankets do the exact opposite. With super thin and flexible wiring, you won’t be able to feel any wires while you snuggle up to go to sleep. This means that you can get the best sleep possible, feeling the comforting heat of the blanket without the uncomfortable and stiff wires!

4. Electric Blankets are Expensive to Run

Many people are put off buying an electric blanket because they worry that they will be too expensive to run – especially if you’re wanting to leave them on all night. In reality, electric blankets can cost as little as 2p an hour to run! So, there’s no need to worry about your electricity bills skyrocketing when you want to have a cosy and warm sleep on a super cold winter’s night.

5. Electric Blankets Aren’t Safe for Children to Use

Although we would never recommend giving your child an electric blanket if they are still wetting the bed (as soaking the electric blanket when it is on can be hazardous), giving an electric blanket to a mature child is perfectly safe. As long as they’re able to use the controller without difficulty and are mature enough to use it accurately, there is nothing stopping your child from having an electric blanket to keep them cosy and warm on the chilly nights.