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Keeping warm in bed

(76 Posts)
Azalea99 Fri 22-Sept-23 09:32:23

Most mornings I don’t need to get up straight away, and because I have a kettle in the bedroom I make myself a cup of coffee and sit in bed, reading my mail and the news on my phone. However, now it’s turning cooler, I find I’m having to wear bed socks at night (which I tend to pull off after a couple of hours) but also I need something to keep my top half warm when I’m reading. I’ve no intention of turning the heating on just yet so I tend to pull on a jumper but this morning I suddenly remembered that my grandmother used to wear a bed jacket in the morning.
Do any of you remember them or have one? Think I’ll investigate.

Aveline Fri 22-Sept-23 09:37:58

When I was young all old ladies in my family had bedjackets. Often quilted satin.

annsixty Fri 22-Sept-23 09:45:03

The only bed jacket I ever owned was 58 years ago when I left work to have my D and a very pretty blue, frilly, lacy bed jacket was among my leaving gifts.
It was totally superfluous to my needs.
I was in hospital for one night and would have felt rather overdressed in there.
On coming home I didn’t retire to my bed for 10 days as a previous generation had so didn’t need to look glamorous for the visitors.
Perhaps these days a fleecy short hoodie would serve the purpose.
I have one in a teddy bear fleece from Dunelm which I wear on cold evenings downstairs, I may take it up and pop it on in the morning when I also have tea in bed.

Hetty58 Fri 22-Sept-23 09:47:34

Yes, my mother and aunties all had very pretty bed jackets. I've never been one to sit in bed, though. As soon as I'm awake, I'm up and about. I'd probably just use a cardigan if needed.

Yesterday, it was chilly here first thing, so I dug out a fluffy dressing gown (not needed since the spring).

Last night, I had trouble getting cosy. The bed felt cold and maybe damp, so today I'll be getting the electric blanket down from it's box on the top of a wardrobe. I'll be using it to preheat the bed as it's just wonderfully relaxing to sink into a nice warm bed at night.

Redhead56 Fri 22-Sept-23 10:08:19

I bought a bed jacket from M&S a few years ago though it’s fleecy rib effect very cosy for sitting reading in bed.

Blossoming Fri 22-Sept-23 10:09:25

MrB makes the morning tea and brings it to me in bed so I don’t need to crawl out of my nice warm nest grin. I have never owned a bed jacket, but in our first house, a tiny cottage on the edge of the moors with no central heating, we used to wear an assortment of old sweaters and socks to bed in winter !

Callistemon21 Fri 22-Sept-23 10:11:00

I have a knitting pattern for one, inherited from my MIL 🙂

No, I've never knitted one.

henetha Fri 22-Sept-23 10:34:19

I sit up in bed reading a lot, so I wear a red fluffy bed jacket which was a gift from my d.i.l. a few years ago. It's wonderful.
And bed-socks always, apart from high summer.
I actually had a hot water bottle last night!

Urmstongran Fri 22-Sept-23 10:44:48

I wear a warm cardigan. I buy one from Sainsbury’s in the sales at the end of winter from the “who wants this?’ rail. Often in a garish colour, often a size or 2 too big but for a fiver it’s perfect for ‘at home only’. Cosy when sitting for TIB. Not to be worn outside!

Justwidowed Fri 22-Sept-23 10:52:49

I have two bed jackets, one from B &M many years ago and the other was my mum's who died 30 years ago. Both used regularly when reading in bed.
Recently I was in hospital in a four bed bay,three of us four ladies got on really well (fourth very ill and slept a lot )I needed my bed jacket for a toilet trip and one of the men commented that it wasn't a bed jacket but a cut down dressing gown. The wives disagreed and a light hearted disagreement ensued.It dissolved in laughter when I walked past and said bed jacket on top and nappy on bottom !!

Foxygloves Fri 22-Sept-23 10:57:22

I recommend a greyhound.
It is a fact that dogs have a higher body temperature than humans and primitive man (and I dare say woman) would snuggle up to their dogs in the cold nights.

Aveline Fri 22-Sept-23 10:59:13

Hence three dog nights as measured of cold.

Farmor15 Fri 22-Sept-23 11:00:49

An ordinary fleece jacket will do instead of a special bedjacket. Handy if you need to answer door to postman etc while still sitting in bed! Just zip up and if wearing pyjamas can look quite respectable.

Lexisgranny Fri 22-Sept-23 11:13:30

I bought ‘a garment’ from Next a few years ago, I say garment because I have no idea what to call it. Think short dressing gown with no fastenings, slightly waterfall front, quite light weight and somewhere between fleecy and furry. I have had so much wear out of it. I read in bed at night a lot, and wrap it round. It is smart enough to pop on on colder days, and not look odd if you have to answer the door. It washes really well and dries overnight on a hanger and looks exactly the same as the day I bought it. I haven’t seen any around lately but would certainly by another.

BlueBelle Fri 22-Sept-23 11:20:29

Good old hot water bottle does me wherever I put it it radiates to my whole body

Jaxjacky Fri 22-Sept-23 11:38:21

Sleep naked, up and out of bed soon after waking, so I’m no help, but I hope you find something.

maddyone Fri 22-Sept-23 11:47:47

I’ve got a fleece, quite modern, little top/jacket that I use as a bed jacket in the morning whilst reading and wasting time on Gransnet grin

I think it was sold as leisure, relaxing wear.
It was from M+S.

Thorntrees Fri 22-Sept-23 12:10:51

My Mum knitted what she called a bed jacket.
It’s hard to describe, but it’s all in one piece, you start at the cuff in rib then increase,keep knitting until it goes all the way round and then decrease and knit the other cuff,if that makes sense.
The one she made for me is in lovely soft wool in pale shades,I love it for wearing in bed at night whilst reading.
It washes beautifully and reminds me of Mum. I must have had it 20 years or more.

Eirlys Fri 22-Sept-23 12:24:06

Many, many years ago in a mad moment I bought a pink bolero which I didn't need for £7.50. I decided to wear it over a nightie and it became a bed jacket! It has been to every hospital I have needed and someone has always commented favourably on it, including the nursing staff. It's just enough to keep the chill off my shoulders and still looks immaculate ! Finding a bed jacket, particularly a pretty one, isn't easy but I have two others that I only wear when my "bolero" is in the wash. Google for possible retailers.

J52 Fri 22-Sept-23 12:40:25

I have a cashmere wrap that I take when visiting a relative, who believes that a cool house is healthy. I wear it over my shoulders in bed, when reading.
She does provide an electric blanket as well.

cornergran Fri 22-Sept-23 12:50:41

Snap lexi. I’ve one of those ‘I don’t know what to call its’. smile Whatever it is it works very well. A friend uses a woollen poncho, she says it does the job.

Shelflife Fri 22-Sept-23 13:00:23

Bed Jackets are easily available, M&S probably have something that would fit the bill. Failing that just pop a fleece top on .

Baggs Fri 22-Sept-23 15:23:18

Socks, jumper, hat, shawl – separately or all at once – do the trick, I find.🧣🧦🧤🤶

karmalady Fri 22-Sept-23 15:29:51

Bed socks are on, mine are hand knitted and wool so they are warm as in regulated by body temperature. I have my wool summer duvet on and topped by a light woollen blanket. So far so good, I am sleeping better

Re bed jackets, you my mum had one, very handy for her in hospital. I don`t need one, I don`t read in bed. A cardigan would suffice. I do remember the bed jacket, very pretty pink with ribbon ties

M0nica Fri 22-Sept-23 15:48:35

I have a light wooden shawl I knitted nearly 60 years ago. If I need extra warmth when sitting up rading in bed, then I pull that over my shoulders and that's that.