Electric Blanket Search

[Darsa]

Hiya!

My mom **needs** an electric blanket, and I can't think of anything better for a Christmas gift for her. Can anyone give me any kind of opinion on electric blanket buying? I don't know the first thing about it, and I don't want to get something that's going to toast her to a crisp or burn the house down or what-have-you.

Anyone have any insight? Oh yeah, I'm also on a strict budget, so that's definitely a consideration.

Thanks!

 

[kwhite1022]

I bought my electric blanket from Kohls last year, and love it more then I ever thought I would. It has micro fiber for the "wires" so you dont even know they are there, and it has dual controls for the temp, which is nice if you have two people sharing a bed, as my hubby wants it less warm then me. This one has a shut off of 10 hrs. On sale I think I paid $55, and it was a good deal.

 

[prncess674]

The cheaper ones generally have these very thin wires connected to these little heating capsules. The thin wires tend to break and cause cold spots.

If she has a bed companion I would get one with dual controls so each person can control their side. An auto off feature is always a good safety freature. JC Penney seems to have a good selection online.

 

[Cibahwewah]

I have a Sunbeam "smart" blanket. It "senses" the person's presence and warms that area or something stupid like that. What it really means is that you still crawl in-between cold sheets and shiver for a few minutes. Wouldn't recommend it.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I've purchased them at both Kohl's and J C Penney, I would also recommend dual controls, but I would also highly recommend automatic shut off. After 10 hrs it goes off. Ours also has a preheat feature and then it goes down to what you have it set at, so if you fall asleep during preheat you are not at preheat all night.

 

[2bearsmom]

We found one at Sam's Club we liked and we'll be opening it Christmas morning from my dh's mom! I can't wait. It is very plush like material and so soft. It is a King size and was I think $89, the cheapest I found for a King. It is machine washable, has auto shut off. We haven't had one in a long time, I didn't know they had plush ones, I just thought they were the old type where you can feel/see all the wires are.

 

[Darsa]

See, this is why I like to ask questions here! I was hoping to go on my lunch break (snow permitting) to get one, and now I have some awesome information and it's not even 11 o'clock yet!

Thank you so much; Kohl's is right down the road here so I'll go check 'em out on lunch.

 

[Traveliz]

This jogged my mind that I was wanting to get one - I hadn't even thought about looking online and checked out JCPenney online -- ordered through mypoints with free shipping and it will be here for Christmas!

Liz

 

[amcnj]

They go over the mattress and under your sheets and thus warm up the sheets and blankets and you from underneath rather than from on top. To me they just seemed more effective than the heated blanket. I have purchased them at Linens and Things (now on its way out) and Bed, Bath and Beyond, but places carrying elecrtric blankets might also carry them. I know Sunbeam makes one, but forget the other brands we have.

 

[Mickey527]

I was planning on writing the same thing amcnj did.
I have a heated mattress pad and I love it. I had an electric blanket but it didn't get me as warm, the heat rose off the blanket and warmed the quilt. The cats loved it but my feet were always cold.
Now with my electric mattress pad the bed is warm, not the top sheet. I turn it on high while I get into my jammies and turn it down to the #2 when I get into bed. Sometimes in the middle of the night I have to turn it off.
It isn't as pretty a gift as an electric blanket but I would suggest it as a better gift.
You can buy them anywhere, I got mine at Walmart 6 years ago. It was so wonderful when I was going through chemo in the winter and had no hair. I was warm through the night.

 

[tiggger1]

I was planning on writing the same thing amcnj did.
I have a heated mattress pad and I love it. I had an electric blanket but it didn't get me as warm, the heat rose off the blanket and warmed the quilt. The cats loved it but my feet were always cold.
Now with my electric mattress pad the bed is warm, not the top sheet. I turn it on high while I get into my jammies and turn it down to the #2 when I get into bed. Sometimes in the middle of the night I have to turn it off.
It isn't as pretty a gift as an electric blanket but I would suggest it as a better gift.
You can buy them anywhere, I got mine at Walmart 6 years ago. It was so wonderful when I was going through chemo in the winter and had no hair. I was warm through the night.

I love my heated mattress pad! no more cold bed! It was $60 for a king size one at walmart...

 

[Grandmax3]

Hiya!

My mom **needs** an electric blanket, and I can't think of anything better for a Christmas gift for her. Can anyone give me any kind of opinion on electric blanket buying? I don't know the first thing about it, and I don't want to get something that's going to toast her to a crisp or burn the house down or what-have-you.

Anyone have any insight? Oh yeah, I'm also on a strict budget, so that's definitely a consideration.

Maybe you could look into a electric mattress pad. I have had one for over 5 yrs. it is the greatest for aches and pains. It warms the bed and you wake up the next day feeling great. I have Fribromalgia and it really helps with all the aches and pains.
Sorry about not reading all the post first , but I agree with everyone about the mattress pad. JcPenny has them in their catalog.

 

[moniot]

Another vote for the heated mattress pad. Fantastic!!!

 

[nikkistevej]

I just got a Sunbeam on clearance for my Mom at Walmart- it was $55 for a queen size. She wanted one for Christmas too, my Dad just passed away about 2 months ago- and she said he always had the bed warm for her when she went to bed(he went to bed earlier). It seemed like a good deal.

 

[Mickey2903]

Did you ever consider a down comforter instead? I used to use an electric blanket, but now I love my down comforter so much more. It is very warm and cozy. Don't mean to scare you, but our friends' house burned down and they said the cause was an electric blanket. I'm sure it doesn't happen often, but I don't want to take a chance.

 

[sharonmickey]

Another vote for the electric mattress pad. I love mine. I turn it on about 45 minutes before I go to bed so it is nice and toasty when I crawl in bed. I turn it off then. Body heat keeps the bed warm the rest of the night.