Best Heater for a Baby’s Room in Australia

Keeping a baby warm at night can be a big concern for new parents, especially during the cooler months. Understanding what temperature a baby’s room needs to be is important for their safety and comfort. There are a variety of heaters on the market that can be used to heat a baby’s room so making an informed decision is essential. If you want a heater that is safe to leave on all night or can gently heat a baby’s room while they nap, the classic oil column heater or panel heater is the best option. When choosing the right heater for your baby’s room, consider not only the heating capacity but air flow, temperature stability, noise level and energy efficiency.

Do Baby Rooms Need Heating?

The ideal temperature for a baby’s room is between 18°C – 22°C. If the home naturally maintains that temperature, there is no need for a heater. If it drops below 16°C to 18°C, use a safe, regulated heater to gently raise the room temperature. Conversely, it is important that babies do not overheat while they are sleeping and that the room is well ventilated. A room temperature that is too high, excessive clothing, heavy bedding or a covering on the baby’s head can lead to overheating. Babies regulate their temperature through their head and face so it is important at nap or bedtime they are not wearing any sort of head covering.

Why Heating Matters for a Baby’s Room

Baby’s rooms must be kept at a specific temperature to keep them safe and comfortable. It protects them from overheating and ensures they don’t get too cold. Proper heating helps babies regulate their body temperature, prevents illness and aids better sleep.

Types of Heaters for Baby’s Rooms

• Panel Heaters: Panel heaters are slim, electric heaters that can be wall-mounted or free-standing. They use convection to provide quiet, consistent and energy efficient heating. Electric panel heaters are ideal for a baby’s room as they maintain a stable temperature and can be set to turn on at different times. Unlike other heating options where heat rises towards the ceiling, an electric panel heater directs the heat in straight lines across the room. This ensures even and comfortable heat in every corner of the room. Simply AIr can supply and install your panel heater with their 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry.

Types of Electric Panel Heaters

Nobo 750W Slimline Panel Heater

This is an excellent and safe choice for a baby’s room as it features lower surface temperatures, silent, fan-free operation and a child lock. It has a precise thermostat which prevents overheating and can be wall-mounted out of reach. This size heater is ideal to heat small nurseries comfortably. 

• Oil Heaters: An oil heater or oil-filled radiator is a portable electric heater with metal columns filled with oil. When the oil is heated in the columns, it radiates consistent, silent and gentle warmth without using a fan. Most oil heaters have heating control and timer options, which are real drawcards. They are ideal for all-night use as they remain warm even when cycling off. This creates a stable environment for babies without exposing them to harsh, forced air heat.

Types of Oil Column Heaters 

Lenoxx 11-Fin Oil Column/ Free-Standing Heater

The Lennox 11-Fin Oil Column Heater is a 2400-watt, free-standing heater with 11 fins. It is designed for efficient, quiet, portable, oil-filled, radiant and convection heating. It has built-in castors and safety features, including a tip-over switch and overheat protection. It is suitable for those with asthma or allergies and does not dry out the air or cause skin or eye irritation.

• Ceramic Heaters: These are compact space heaters than a fan to blow air across a heated ceramic element for fast and direct warmth. This type of heater is generally considered safe for a baby’s room as long as it has features like tip-over protection, automatic shut-off and cool touch housing.

Types of Ceramic Heaters

Lasko 751320 Ceramic Tower Heater

This tower heater is a 1,500-watt oscillating unit with safety features that make it suitable for a baby’s room. Features include tip-over protection, overheat protection and a child-lockable, cool-touch exterior. It also has a thermostat-controlled auto mode, 3 settings, a 12-hour timer and a night mode that dims the display lights. It produces a slow, steady sound suitable for white noise.

• Hydronic Wall Heaters: Hydronic wall heating uses water-based heating with the ease of electric installation. While the technology of using water to transfer heat is not new, the self-contained electric water-filled radiators are a relatively modern and specialised product. 

Type of Hydronic Wall Heater

RadiWarm® Water-Filled Hydronic Electric Radiator

The RadiWarm® water-filled hydronic electric radiator is the ideal solution if you need permanent heating in a space where plumbing or a gas supply is not an option. There is no need for plumbing, flushing, bleeding or topping up. This ensures that the patented built-in boiler gives the same heat quality of a hydronic heating system, but without the plumbing, pipe work or even a gas supply. This heater is good for a baby’s room as it gives a consistent quality of heat and has a protective low-temperature cover

• Split system heaters: These heaters provide both heating and cooling and are often mounted on a wall. 

Type of Split System Heater

Daikon Split System Zena

The Daikon Split System Zena is a 2kw wall mounted heater ideal for compact rooms like baby’s rooms. It provides both heating and cooling, has climate control, smart WiFi connectivity and air purification.

Heaters to Avoid for a Baby’s Room

Avoid gas or kerosene heaters for a baby’s room as these can release carbon monoxide or deplete oxygen. Fan heaters are also best avoided as they produce dry air and can be noisy. Do not use these in your nursery.

• Bar heaters: These have exposed red-hot elements that pose a significant hazard if clothing, bedding or toys fall on them. They can also cause severe burns if touched.
• Portable gas heaters: They are considered unsafe for babies’ rooms as they burn the room’s oxygen and emit pollutants like nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide.
• Fan heaters: These blow air directly outwards. Air blowing directly onto the cot directly on the baby can cause rapid overheating. Fan heaters also dry out the air and can lead to dehydration.

Essential Safety Features to Look For

When looking into what type of heater to use, make sure the heater has these essential safety features.

• Thermostat control: Precise temperature control is a vital safety feature as it prevents overheating. A high quality thermostat will ensure a nursery stays within the recommended range of 18°C to 22°C.
• Tip-over protection: This automatically shuts off the heater if the unit is knocked over.
• Timer or smart scheduling: This is essential for pre-warming the nursery and ensuring the heater automatically switches off after the baby is asleep. Smart heaters also allow you to manage the heater remotely, which is ideal for adjusting the temperature without entering the room.
• Cool touch exterior: Ensures the outer surface of the heater remains safe to the touch even during extended use. 
• Child safety locks: These locks prevent children from changing the settings or turning the heater on or off.

Where to Place a Heater in a Baby’s Room

For optimal safety and to ensure the comfort of the baby, here are a few tips on where to place the heater.

• Keep heater separate: The heater must be kept at a safe distance from flammable materials.
• Keep on a level surface: To avoid the possibility of the heater tipping over, keep it on a level and stable surface.
• Do not use extension cords: Make sure the heater is plugged directly into a wall socket, and do not use extension cords, which could pose a fire risk.

Heater vs Baby Clothing

Heating and appropriate clothing are both essential in a baby’s room to maintain a safe and comfortable temperature. Babies are smaller with less mass, which means they lose heat faster than adults and rely on the environment and clothing to stay comfortable. Adjust your baby’s clothing to the temperature by using layers while ensuring they do not overheat. The right amount of clothing and type of swaddle will ensure maximum comfort, along with the right type of heater, should the temperature in the room dip below 16°C to 18°C.

The best heater for a baby’s room in Australia is the De’Longhi Thermo 1000W oil column heater. It provides the right amount of heat, safety features and size for the typical nursery. There are a number of other options for heating your baby’s room, with oil column and panel heaters being the most popular. When it comes to heating, contact the team at Simplyair, who will be able to advise on the best heater for your nursery.