When testing and selecting the best heated throws we considered size, heat settings, timer function and value. If you're worrying about your children staying well this winter, then it's understandable that you might be considering allowing them to get under your heated throw. These blankets are perfectly safe for children to use under supervision, but they're not recommended for under fives. They're also not safe for children to sleep with, as they should always be supervised when using a heated throw. How we chose the best heated throw

Last year, energy prices surged dramatically, and with the cost of living crisis, everyone’s bills went through the roof. With winter just around the corner again, many people are looking for ways to stay warm while keeping the heating off, and Mumsnet users swear by the best heated throws as a potential solution. Along with other ideas like using the best hot water bottle and wearing the cosiest women's slippers, these electric throws focus on heating the person and not the room to stave off the cold. And while they can be pricey initially, some throws cost from as little as 1p a night to run. How we tested the best heated throw The best heated throw blanket is always a hot topic on the Mumsnet forums when cold weather comes around. These snuggly spreads are much loved as they could be the key to keeping warm this winter while saving money on your heating bill. They're a little similar to the best electric blankets, but while those are predominantly used as bedding, heated throws are more decorative and you can cosy up under them on the sofa. Size and coverage: Make sure the throw is large enough to cover you comfortably. If you want one you can snuggle up under with your other half or kids, make sure you go for a large size so there's space for everyone.Heated throw blankets emit heat via coil wires that provide a steady source of warmth when plugged into an electrical outlet. Each heated throw blanket has a controller, a built-in timer, and a temperature control gauge. That means it will only go as warm as you want it to. The timer means the heat should cut off after a specified time of your choice, so you don't need to worry if you fall asleep while snuggled up in it. How much does it cost to run a heated throw? As someone interested in creating a beautiful and comfortable home for her family while saving money where possible, Gemma was determined to provide honest and independent advice on the best heated throw that will keep your family warm for mere pennies this winter. Why you should trust us Durability After testing, each electric blanket and heated throw is washed and dried five times to simulate wear and tear. We then conduct a full electrical safety test on each one. None showed significant wear and tear, and all passed the test. There's often some confusion between heated throws and heated blankets. Whilst electric blankets are predominantly used as bedding, heated throws are used in other parts of the home.

As part of our test, we washed and tumbled dried each of the blankets five times after testing, and then conducted a full electricity safety test. All the blankets passed. Heated throws are not recommended for use for children under 5 years but we reached out to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and they gave the following tips on how to use a heated throw safely: By doing this, we whittled our longlist down and chose a selection of products that we think offer something for everybody. About the author We then conducted our own rigorous testing on selected products on our shortlist, focusing on these key areas: Safety features: Look for blankets with an automatic shut-off feature. It's a must-have in case you accidentally drift off while it's on, and you can usually choose between different time settings up to nine hours. Overheat protection is also a good safety feature to have too.If you buy your blanket from a reputable UK retailer, as we did for our tests, then it should be safe. Comfort A panel of five volunteers assesses each electric blanket and heated throw for comfort. There is quite a big difference in how snuggly each one is and underwires are more noticeable in some of them. For electric blankets, we also assess how easy each one is to attach to a mattress and how comfortable each one is to lie on under a fitted sheet. With many years of experience as a content and copywriter for her family business Urban Media Publishing, Gemma has written articles and blogs on travel, the outdoor industry, parenting and finance. This depends on how long you use it for and which setting you opt for. As a general rule, you can expect running a heated throw to cost somewhere between 4p and 8p an hour.