With the cost of living soaring and energy prices hitting homes hard, you might be looking to keep heating usage to a minimum this winter. As a result, nannies and those in the care of children will be looking for ways to keep warm as the cold weather sets in. The good news is that there are plenty of options available, and in this guide, we quickly break down some of the possibilities.

Utilise blankets

Layers are your best friend, so beyond making sure you and the children in your care have vests and jumpers on, make sure you have a few blankets at your disposal too. With the weather being unfriendly outside, you are more likely to be spending extra time indoors, watching TV or playing games. So, wrap the kids up in a blanket - you can even get blanket hoodies for an extra touch of practicality and comfort – and enjoy the warmth without central heating.

Put up curtains

Thick curtains are perfect for blocking out the cold and keeping warmth in the house. Perhaps you currently have blinds up, but it might be worth speaking to the homeowner or making the decision yourself, if appropriate, to swap those out for a set of heavy curtains in key rooms like the lounge and children’s bedrooms. This will prevent heavy drafts from coming in, provide a feeling of cosiness, and result in less energy needing to be used to keep the house warm.

Do things together

If you are feeling the cold but want to limit energy usage, making sure that you and the children are all doing things together is important. The body heat of everyone being in the same room, even if it’s just watching a film or playing a board game, can help keep you all warm. Further still, if you are all busy in one room of the house, you can turn the radiators off in other rooms. So, try to dissuade any children in your care from playing alone and encourage time together between siblings and yourself.

Light a fire

For those living in houses that are lucky enough to have a fireplace, making use of this lovely feature is a must. Whether it’s a log burner or an open fire, getting a fire going on a cold afternoon or winter’s evening can limit the amount of time that you need the heating on, especially if you are likely to be using one room in particular. A fire can also result in heating rooms directly above it. If the fire hasn’t been used for a while or you are unsure of its suitability for use, get it inspected and call in a chimney sweeper so that everything is safe.

Keep busy

One of the best ways to keep warm at home is to stay busy. Sitting around all day can make us feel chilly, but the simple act of being active can get the blood flowing and help us feel warm. Whether it’s busying yourself with chores or playing games with the children, getting on your feet will do you a world of good and make it feel like you need the heating on less often.

Cook and bake

Cooking or baking is an option to consider, as the heat of the oven can help warm up the kitchen. While you are busy in the kitchen, you can enjoy the heat the oven provides, and you can appreciate a home-cooked meal when you are finished. Leaving the oven door open once you are finished is also a good tactic, as this will allow the hot air to escape into the room, even once the oven has been turned off. Cooking and baking are also lovely activities to get children involved in.

READ ALSO: 5 child-friendly Christmas bakes

How to stay warm at home

· Utilise blankets

· Put up curtains

· Do things together

· Light a fire

· Keep busy

· Cook and bake

We hope the above tips have been useful and will help you and the children in your care stay warm this winter without excessive energy use.

If you are a nanny and are looking for a new position within a family home, as a leading UK nanny agency, we would love to help you find the perfect match.

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Top tips for staying warm this winter while saving energy