Patient's question:
Hello, it's getting cooler now. Is it harmful to children to use electric blankets? Thank you.First follow-up question: Hello everyone, can you explain why electric blankets should not be used?
Doctor's answer:
Do not use electric blankets. It is better to use hot water bags, the kind filled with boiling water, as they can retain heat for a long time. The body temperature of infants and young children is most susceptible to fluctuations in environmental temperature. Electric blankets heat up quickly, and as the temperature inside the bedding rises rapidly, the body temperature of infants and young children also spikes abruptly. A significant amount of moisture is lost through the skin and respiratory tract over time, which can easily lead to dehydration. Dehydration then further increases body temperature, creating a vicious cycle—this is the so-called "dehydration heat" in infants and young children that is commonly encountered in clinical practice. Infants and young children naturally require continuous fluid supplementation, and dehydration, if it occurs, can be extremely harmful to their health. From a safety perspective, it is also not advisable to use electric blankets overnight. Since infants and young children have poor control over urination and defecation, bedwetting can easily cause electric blankets to short-circuit, with consequences that are unthinkable. Therefore, it is best not to use electric blankets at night for infants and young children, and hot water bags are a better alternative for warmth.