Taking care of newborn babies can be daunting, especially for first-time parents. It becomes more complicated when the mercury drops, and you are looking for effective ways to tuck your baby into a warm and cozy place. Chilly weather could wake up your little one many times during the night, leading to long sleepless winter nights.
Temperature control is essential for your young ones to be comfortable and sleep through the night, as babies cannot efficiently regulate their body temperature and have quicker heat loss. However, dressing your baby in warm clothes and covering them with a blanket might not be enough. Babies should also not be put under too many layers as it will make them uncomfortable and sweaty. Also, placing bulky bedding on your babies is dangerous as they could get tangled up in it and suffocate.
Many parents turn to space heaters to supply additional warmth to maintain an optimum temperature, especially during the colder months. However, using the right heater is a matter of their safety and health, and also to give them a comfortable rest.
Things to Consider for Space Heater in a Baby Room
There are a plethora of space heaters available in the market that cover a wide variety of heating options. Before selecting the space heater for your little one, carefully evaluate the airflow, sunlight direction, window placement, and crib placement in the nursery to choose the right space heater.
It would be best not to use non-electric heaters such as those running on oil, natural gas, propane, wood, etc., indoors, especially in the nursery, as they emit carbon monoxide. This colorless, odorless gas can be fatal to humans in an enclosed space.
Age: If you have a newborn in the house, it would be ideal to opt for a heating device with a thermostat, as newborns cannot efficiently regulate their body temperature. Babies who are crawling or walking are curious and drawn to anything bright and shiny. In such cases, a coil heater is a potential hazard as its glowing coil could attract your toddler and may cause serious burns. In addition, heaters without thermostats that don’t turn off automatically may also be dangerous when kept in the vicinity of crawling babies.
Safety functions: Check if your heater is certified from reputed testing laboratories such as ETL, UL, or CSA that conform to safety standards to have a piece of mind.
Noise levels: The last thing you want is a crying baby who was woken up prematurely. Since babies are light sleepers, consider heaters that generate less noise so that they can get comfortable and uninterrupted sleep.
Budget: Your baby’s comfort and safety are priceless. However, the budget is not endless. When choosing between space heaters, price is an essential factor. If you need a heater with all the bells and whistles, it will undoubtedly cost more. Also, factor in the running cost, electricity or fuel usage, installation costs while selecting a heater.
Size and heating capacity: In most cases, the size of the heater determines its heating capacity. Approximately 10 watts of heating power is used for every square foot; hence a 1500 watt heater would be enough for a 150-square-foot space.
Features for a Baby Nursery Heater
Cool Touch Exterior: Heaters equipped with a cool-touch housing can prevent burn injuries from accidental contact with the appliance. This is especially critical for the house with babies and pets wandering around.
Tip-Over Protection: The tip-over protection usually comes in the form of a kill switch at the heater base. When a heater is placed upright on a hard surface, the surface will press this switch and allow the heater to operate. However, if the heater is knocked over, the kill switch will no longer be depressed by the hard surface. It will break the circuit, shut down the appliance, and prevent overheating or burning accidents. If the heater is placed on a soft surface such as a carpet, the kill switch will not be pressed, and the heater will not start. Do not tape the tip overkill switch, as it will perpetually depress the kill switch, and it will not be activated if the device falls over, which may lead to overheating and a potential fire hazard. If you need to place it on a soft surface, place a metal tray below the heater.
Overheating Protection: Space heaters with this feature are equipped with a temperature sensor to detect if the appliance reaches the prescribed temperature and automatically shut down the heater.
Safety Grille: Some space heaters are equipped with a safety grill that prevents wandering fingers from interfering with the fan. The gaps on the grille should be small enough that a young toddler’s fingers cannot go through. Additionally, the grille should be made from heat-resistant materials as it is constantly in touch with the hot air blown out and may cause accidental burns.
Wide Base: A wide base helps the heater to remain steady and not fall over easily if a child or pet is pushing it.
Child Lock: Having a child lock on the heater would prevent most young children from meddling with the predetermined settings on the heater.
List of The Best Space Heaters for Your Baby’s Room
1. Vornadobaby Sensa Space Heater
The Vornadobaby Sensa space heater is built keeping the needs of parents and babies in mind. Featuring Vornado’s signature Vortex Action, the space heater gently heats and circulates the air around and can be placed anywhere in the room to keep the baby warm and comfortable.
The Vornadobaby Sensa space heater comes with two heat settings and also has a fan-only option. Its Cribside temp sensing controls temperatures at the crib, while you can place the heater anywhere across the room. Featuring automatic climate control, Sensa intelligently adjusts the heat output and airflow to deliver the perfect amount of heat. The appliance has been designed to stay cool to the touch and automatically shut off if excessive heat is detected. Its tight grill spirals resist curious fingers, and there are no sharp edges and pinch points. In addition, Sensa turns off automatically if tipped even a few degrees off its stable base.
The Vornadobaby Sensa space heater is equipped with a concealed cord management built right into the base, with a stretchable cover that keeps the cord out of harm’s way and securely grips to the floor, keeping curious babies away from droopy lines. In addition, the appliance features locking controls to keep your little one from tampering with the programmed settings. The device glows at night for safety and ease of use and comes with a programmable timer that will automatically shut down the machine.
The Vornadobaby Sensa space heater is built to meet U.S. voltage requirements. While the average space heater consumes 1600 watts, the Vornadobaby Sensa can warm a bedroom using only 600 Watts. The appliance is certified and safety-tested. In addition, the space heater is backed by a five-year happy parent guarantee.
Pros
- Automatic climate control
- Cribside temperature sensor
- Programmable timer
- Advanced safety features
- Hidden and covered cord storage
- Less Noise
Cons
- Bright night light
2. Lasko 754201 Small Portable 1500W Electric Ceramic Space Heater
You can place the Lasko space heater anywhere where warmth is required without increasing your energy cost. Powered by an energy-efficient ceramic heating element, this portable space heater comes with two heat settings, high (1500W) and low (900W), plus a fan-only option to quickly eliminate cold spots in your home, apartment, garage, and basement.
Measuring 9.2 x 7 x 6 inches, the Lasko space heater comes with a manual thermostat that lets you control your desired personal comfort level in rooms up to 300 sq. ft. The powerful and compact heater comes fully assembled; take it out of the box and plug it directly into a 120V wall outlet. In addition, it comes with an extra-long 8-foot cord that allows you to reach more places around the house, while its lightweight design and a built-in carry make it easy to move around the house.
The Lasko space heater comes with a tip-over safety switch and automatic overheat protection. In addition, the self-contained, self-regulating ceramic heating element helps keep the exterior cool to the touch, making it a safe choice for chilly days and nights.
The Lasko space heater features an adjustable thermostat that allows you to maintain your preferred temperature setting. Compact and perfectly sized for a tabletop or floor use, this heater is an ideal choice for almost any space that needs extra warmth. The Lasko heater is ETL listed and is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Tip-over safety switch
- Adjustable thermostat
- Simple, manual controls
- 8-foot cord for more placement options
- Compact size
Cons
- Some users have complained about high electricity usage.
3. Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
Dr.Infrared Heater features advanced dual heating system, combining PTC and Quartz infrared elements. Its advanced heating system enables greater heat production without drawing more power with the help of a high-efficiency blower that delivers an average of 250°F at 3.5m/s and helps you save up to 50% on your electricity bill.
Dr. Heater’s state-of-the-art technology helps the room retain air moisture and does not dry out your skin. The space heater comes with three power settings, energy-saving Auto, low 1000W, and high 1500W. The machine will cycle on and off in auto mode and switch between high or low settings to maintain the desired temperature.
Dr.Infrared Heater is safe to use around children and pets and does not overly hot in case of an accidental touch, and does not have exposed heating elements that can cause a fire. The device comes with tip-over protection and overheat protection and also includes a 12hr automatic shut-off timer. In addition, the machine comes with an IR Remote Control that allows you to change the temperature, turn it off, or even program your heater settings without having to get up.
Dr. Infrared Heater features a state-of-the-art 7-inch high-velocity blower that generates higher pressure and moves larger air volume at a lower speed but is still soothingly quiet at 39 Db. The space heater comes with a removable filter that is easy to clean and replace. The machine comes with caster wheels and 72 inches electric cord. All Dr. Infrared heaters are engineered and designed in the USA. The machine is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) USA and Canada and comes with a three-year warranty.
Pros
- Efficient dual heating technology
- Up to 12-hour programmable timer
- High-Pressure Low Noise Blower
- UL certified
- Fastest heat transfer rate
- Low energy usage
Cons
- Expensive
4. Atomi Smart Wi-Fi Portable Tabletop Space Heater
The 2nd gen Atomi Smart Wife tabletop heater uses whisper-quiet 1500W PTC ceramic heating technology that warms the surrounding air to 70 degrees in flat two seconds. The mini space heater can effectively cover rooms up to 750 square feet, while its wide-angle oscillation ensures to warm up every corner.
The Atomi tabletop heater is Wi-Fi enabled and voice-activated. By installing the free Atomi Smart App, you can control the heater at the touch of your phone. The app allows you to turn the heater on/off, change temperature, create schedules, etc. For example, you can use the Atomi Smart app to set schedules for the heater to pre-warm your desired place. In addition, this intelligent heater responds to simple voice commands given through Alexa or Google Assistant, so you can operate it hands-free whenever you need it.
The Atomi Smart tabletop heater comes with built-in overheat protection, cool-touch housing and handle, a wobble-free base, and a 360-degree tip-over safety switch. Receive an instant notification on your phone if the heater tips over. In addition, the machine comes with a large touch screen panel that displays a manual control pad that features buttons for turning the heater On/Off, changing the temperature, switching between 3 modes (high, low, and ECO), setting the timer, and turning oscillation on/off.
The Atomi Smart Wife tabletop heater features a carry handle for easy portability. The smart heater can work on any floor surface – including carpet. The machine is ETL Certified and comes with a three-year warranty.
Pros
- You can integrate the app with Google Home
- The screen can turn off for nighttime operation
- Create custom schedules for using the heater
- Quick heating
Cons
- The plastic feels cheap
5. Pro Breeze Space Heater with 3 Operating Modes
The Pro Breeze 1500W mini ceramic heater is engineered with industry-leading ceramic heating discs that provide ultra-warm heat transfer and more energy-efficient heating than a traditional electric space heater. At the flick of the switch, the ceramic fan heater will produce a stream of warm air to deliver quick and effective heating.
The Pro Breeze heater features 750W (low) and 1500W (high) power modes and a fan-only mode. In addition, this portable heater features an easy-to-use and fully adjustable thermostat control which monitors the surrounding air temperature for optimal heating efficiency. The machine comes with built-in overheat protection. An enhanced anti-tip over switch ensures the device instantly switches off in an unsafe situation, giving you complete peace of mind.
The Pro Breeze heater features a lightweight and compact design that allows it to be transported to wherever you need it most. The machine comes with two dials up top and a kill switch underneath. The body is made from plastic and cool to touch even when left running for a long period; however, the grill is made from metal and can get pretty hot. The machine comes with a 12 month warranty.
Pros
- Powerful Heating
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Advanced Safety Features
- Compact and Portable
- Overheat and Tip-over Protection
Cons
- Low warranty
Space Heater Safety Tips
Heaters are dangerous appliances; according to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment was the cause of an estimated 54,030 home fires and 480 deaths between 2011 and 2015. Therefore, safety must be of utmost consideration when choosing space heaters in baby rooms.
- Never leave a space heater running unattended, especially when with children. Switch off the appliance when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Ensure the heater you buy carries a safety certification label from an independent testing organization.
- Install a smoke detector and a thermostat alarm in your child’s room and have them regularly tested.
- Don’t use extension cords; plug the baby heater directly into the socket. Don’t overload the plug of the electric heater with other appliances.
- Keep the heater at least three feet away from combustible items, such as bedsheets and curtains.
- Periodically check your space heater for wear and tear and loose connections. If you notice any fraying wires or signs of damage, discontinue use immediately.
- Keep the door open for ventilation when using the heater in the baby’s room.
- Do not use heaters for other recreational purposes, such as drying wet laundry.
- Keep the space heater intake and output vents clean and clear of debris.
- Get your heating system inspected by qualified service personnel annually.
- Always put space heaters on flat surfaces. Never place the appliance on furniture such as sofa, cabinets, and tables.
- Keep space heaters away from high traffic areas and doorways as they may pose a tripping hazard.
- Do not use the space heater in wet spaces unless specifically designed for use in such locations.
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