They typically provide about six hours of warmth; to get the maximum amount of heat from a hot water bottle, fill it up two-thirds of the way and then carefully squeeze out the excess air until the water level is just below the top. This rectangular heating pad-style bottle from Vivo can be charged up in ten minutes and is a great alternative to traditional bottles if you’re too impatient to wait for the kettle to boil – and, more importantly, if you have mobility issues that can make filling a bottle dangerous. We also looked into the safety aspects of hand warmers to find out what to look for in a good model and anything to be aware of and made sure any hand warmers on our long list made the grade. They can be microwavable if they're filled with beads or you can fill up rubber ones with boiled water. Although it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're brainstorming prezzies, a hot water bottle is actually a super thoughtful and useful gift.

In general, if you’re cold, you’re better off warming the core of your body with the best heated gilet and stopping heat from escaping from you by wearing a hat. If you’re trying to save on heating this winter, you’ll have heard about heating the person, rather than the room, so anything like electric blankets and extra clothing will help. Finally, we collated all that information to come up with a list of the 10 best hand warmers that we think offered something for everyone. About the author This one from Catherine Colebrook is made from cotton with a hot water bottle wrapped inside. The design is floral and pretty and you can get it personalised with an initial for good measure. Are hot water bottles safe? Once the water has boiled, wait for it to cool down a little before attempting to fill your water bottle.Hand warmers give pretty instant heat to your extremities, however, which can really help you feel instantly less chilly. They’re particularly good for those with poor circulation or conditions such as Raynaud's syndrome. What are the different types of hand warmer? READ NEXT: Fill up your hot water bottle with one of these top kettles Is it safe to use a hot water bottle? First, we consulted the Mumsnet Talk forums, where we found lots of Mumsnetters looking for ways to keep warm this winter. We made a note of any types and brands of hand warmers that had good recommendations as well as those that had not impressed our users. We value an honest review and we know we will always get those from the real parents on the boards.

Here are some of the best water bottles to consider in this cold weather. Best water bottle at a glance: The inner bottle is made from thermoplastic, while the zippable covers are all 100% faux fur, which can be machine washed. We’re fans of the solid cover options, like sea green and steel, although lynx and arctic leopard are stunners, too. They come in all shapes and sizes from long designs that wrap around the body to the more traditional shape which is great for lying down or for stomach pain. Catalytic hand warmers - Catalytic hand warmers require either charcoal or lighter fluid to generate heat. While they can offer significant heat retention, they can be a faff to activate and as such, many are being phased out and replaced with rechargeable battery-powered options.There’s the obvious risk of scalding but if you don’t overfill or overheat your hot water bottle, this shouldn’t be an issue.

In the midst of a very real cost of living crisis, we're all trying to find ways to keep our heating off for as long as possible and a hot water bottle is an essential part of your arsenal.READ NEXT: These are the best bedding sets to buy right now The best hot water bottles to buy in 2022 1. Helen Moore Luxuriously Soft Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle: Best luxury water bottle All of the heated bottles we’ve included here involve the user either being in close proximity to extremely hot water or electrically powering heat devices to be used when you’re falling asleep. This means you should always be aware of the possibility of fire risks and scalding. Read all the information that comes with these products, and ensure you switch off kettles and disconnect plugs before sleeping. Do not freeze hot water bottles - doing so can damage the rubber, which in turn can make the hot water bottle leak next time you use it. This is dangerous and could cause scalding.