The Best and Safest Space Heaters for Your Baby’s Room or Nursery in 2024

Since my grandchildren are old enough to get into things (and by things, I mean every single thing their tiny, little hands can grab), I have had to be picky about the type of space heater I choose for their playroom and the spare bedroom. Safety is my main concern, but performance and convenience are important too.

I’ve tried a lot of heater over the years, and so have my children with their own kids. Based on our experience I must say that the best space heater for a baby’s room or nursery is the Vornadobaby Tempa Nursery Heater. It is made specifically with babies and parents in mind and therefore comes with some of the best safety features on the market.

If you’re considering a space heater for your child’s room or nursery, keep reading. I’ve got tips on the different types of space heaters, what to consider when buying one, and my complete list of top space heaters for a child’s room or nursery. I’ve also answered some frequently asked questions. I want to arm you with as much information as possible before you make your heater purchase.

Types of Space Heaters

There are four basic types of space heaters: ceramic fan-forced heaters, radiant and infrared heaters, convection heaters, and micathermic panel heaters.

Ceramic fan-forced heaters are the most common and most popular space heaters on the market since they are the most versatile and have the most options. The fan heater typically comes in various shapes and sizes; therefore, they’re great for multiple rooms. Smaller units are great for offices or small rooms, while the larger space heaters can heat an entire living room. These fans are a safe option for children and pets because many of these space heaters have a cool touch surface. The biggest drawback to the ceramic fan-forced heaters is that they can be a bit noisy, so they may not be ideal for the bedrooms of small children or light sleepers.

Radiant and infrared heaters are the next on the list. These instantly heat an area and are increasing in popularity as some of the best space heaters on the market. Many are constructed with wood cabinets, helping them to fit in with your home décor. Unlike the ceramic fan-forced heaters, these are completely silent. They are also known to be very energy efficient. The drawback to these heaters is that they omit a light, so they may not be suitable for bedroom use.

A convection space heater is an oil-filled heater that transfers the heat that radiates from the external surface area, making these heaters perfect for large spaces. They’re low maintenance and easy to clean. They also never need to be refilled. A convection heater is great for bedrooms because they’re quiet; however, because the surfaces of these heaters get hot, they’re not recommended for rooms with pets or children.

Micathermic panel heaters, or combination heaters, are silent and don’t put off light, similar to the convection heaters. They produce 80% convection heat and 20% radiant heat and use the airflow of the room to circulate the heat. This makes it a great heater for those with health issues like allergies and asthma. These space heaters are lightweight and even wall mountable. However, like the convection heaters, they do get hot and aren’t recommended for use around children or pets.

What Should I Look for in a Space Heater for Baby Rooms?

Two out of three of my children were born in the winter and spring months. November and March, to be more specific. As a mother, it was essential to me to keep my babies warm while they were sleeping in their nursery. The apartment we lived in at the time wasn’t exactly energy-efficient and was far from warm by any means. I was completely terrified of space heaters back then. I’d heard all these stories on the news about them causing house fires or burning down whole apartment complexes. Thankfully, heaters have come a long way in the terms of safety features, and I needed to use a space heater to keep them warm.

Now it’s not my own children I’m so worried about, as they’re grown adults with their own families. The need now is to keep the grandchildren cozy and warm when they visit for the weekend. It’s still important to keep their bedrooms warm. However, my big concern is for their safety. Since my grandchildren are old enough to get into things (and by things, I mean every single thing their tiny, little hands can grab), I have had to be picky about the type of space heater I choose for their playroom and the spare bedroom. My new worry is that they’re going to get burned by a heating element, by tipping it over, or getting ahold of the extension cord and electrocuting themselves. I obviously worry a lot, and sometimes with good cause.

Thankfully, as I mentioned earlier, heaters have drastically improved over the years and most space heaters are pretty safe. If you’re in the market for a heater for a baby’s room, there are a few safety features that you’ll want to consider. For example, with tip-over protection, overheat protection, a power switch for protection safety, and cool-to-the-touch features, space heaters are safer than ever. You can even find some models that come with a remote control, so you don’t have to worry about disturbing your sleeping child to adjust the temperature.

There are options with gas heaters and radiant heaters that you should stay away from. Radiant heaters are those you find usually near the baseboards of the home. These are more dangerous for a baby and are more likely to cause a house fire. The same goes for a radiator space heater. Keep in mind, your best bet is going to be with electric space heaters. But with so many choices to choose from, it can be difficult to know the right heating unit for your child.

So what to look for in a space heater? This is a question that comes across many parents’ minds when searching for a heater for child and baby rooms or nurseries. We want to keep our babies and small children safe and sound while keeping them warm and comfy at the same time. So, I’ve come up with a list of criteria for you to consider when making your space heater purchase. These criteria are across the board, regardless if you buy your heater at a local department store or from your favorite online website.

Criteria #1: Consider the type of heater.

As we’ve just learned, there are several heater types. If you’re wanting to warm your nursery or child’s bedroom, be sure to choose a type that is cool to the touch and doesn’t have a hot exterior.

Criteria #2: Consider the size of the room needing heating.

It’s important to consider the size of the room you’re heating. Too small of a heater may not get the job done, while too large of a heater might cause your child to get too hot while sleeping or playing in their room.

Criteria #3: What type of safety features are available.

Always look at the safety features. Does it have tip-over protection? Automatic shut-off in the event of overheating? Is it cool to the touch? Does it have a safety cord? These are all questions you should consider when deciding on the make and model of your next space heater.

Criteria #4: Consider the noise level.

Consider the noise level of the space heater. While some emit a noise similar to that of white noise, others can be quite loud. This is not a good thing if your child is a light sleeper. Find one that will let your child rest peacefully.

Criteria #5: Read the Product Reviews

Always read the reviews of any product you’re considering purchasing. Consumers tend to be brutally honest when leaving a review, especially if it was damaged or malfunctioning in any way. Product reviews are a great way to get a feel of how the item performs and, if there are any defects, how the manufacturer handled the problem.

Here’s How I’ve Determined the Best Space Heaters for Baby Rooms

When determining the best space heater for a child room or nursery, I considered all the criteria above. This includes reading and comparing the options, safety features, and reviews. I have a method: I won’t put anything on this list that I wouldn’t purchase for my own children or grandchildren. I want only the best for my family and suspect you want only the best for your own children.

Our Top Picks for the Best and Safest Space Heaters for Baby Rooms of 2024

#1: Vornadobaby Tempa Nursery Heater (Best Value)

My daughter has this one in the playroom for her daughters and absolutely loves it. She says she wouldn’t choose another one and definitely recommends this to anyone who asks. That’s why it’s my #1 pick.

The Vornadobaby Tempa Nursery Heater is made specifically with babies and parents in mind. It comes with some of the best safety features on the market. It is also the only heater on this list that comes with a five-year promise, so you can feel completely confident in your purchase.

Designed Specifically for Babies

These space heaters were made with your baby’s room in mind. They come with a curiosity-proof child lock switch and covered cord storage that is concealed in the base to keep your child safe from injuries. You, as a parent, won’t need to worry about pinch points, loose, droopy cords, sharp edges, or unlocked controls.

Circulates Air

These heaters have two heat and fan settings, including auto fan mode, for gentle yet effective continuous air circulation. These also have an adjustable thermostat.

Great Safety Features

These space heaters come with a cool-touch exterior, tip-over protection, and an automatic shut-off system for overheating protection. These safety features make these heaters perfect for your baby’s room.

5-Year Warranty

The Vornadobaby Tempa Nursery Heater is also backed with a 5-year warranty from a dedicated customer service team based in Kansas.

Product Reviews

These space heaters have great reviews for keeping a child’s room and nursery warm when needed. The biggest complaint is that the temperature settings are labeled 1-6 instead of temperatures, so it takes a little guessing and experimenting to find the right temperature for your baby’s room. But overall, this is a great buy.

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#2: Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater (Best Premium)

I have this space heater and absolutely love it. It does a great job at keeping the bedroom at room temperature. Not only is it safe to touch, but this is one powerful heater.

This heater is the only one that also comes with its own patented HMS technology, and it’s the only one that can be mounted to a wall. It also has an adjustable thermostat with an LED display, so you always know your baby or child will be comfortable at all times.

Powerful Heater

This heater has two different heat settings. Choose from a 1500-watt power setting or 750-watts with a 5200 BTU heat output. These settings make this perfect for heating a nursery or a child’s room.

HMS Technology

The Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater offers its patented HMS Technology. This technology combines with the humidity in the room to provide safe heating without reducing oxygen or humidity in the room.

Thermostat with LED Display

A built-in thermostat with an LED display shows you the ambient temperature of the room. This will help you regulate the temperature in your baby’s room or nursery. It also comes with a remote control to adjust the heat settings, so you don’t have to worry about waking up the sleeping baby if it gets too cold or too warm in their room.

Cord Storage

This also features cord storage underneath the bottom heater. When you’re not using the heater, simply store the cord in the designated area to keep little fingers from getting hold of it.

Safe to Touch

This space heater is safe to touch, even the grill. You’ll never have to worry about your little one burning their fingers.

Floor or Wall Mounted

This comes with feet, so you have the option to set it on the floor or mount it to the wall if you’d prefer.

Upgrade Option

There’s even an upgrade option with this heater. If you have a smart home device, you can control your Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater via Wi-Fi.

1-Year Warranty

This heater comes with a 1-year warranty backed by the manufacturer, so you can have faith in this product.

Product Reviews

Customers say this is a great space heater for a baby nursery. It puts out a good amount of heat to keep any area nice and cozy. This is definitely a must-have.

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#3: Honeywell UberHeat Plus Ceramic Space Heater (Best Low Cost)

Honeywell makes the best heater for baby nurseries because they’re designed to be safe and keep your baby warm at the same time. Don’t discount this one just because it’s our low-cost pick. In fact, the great low price is even more of a reason to go with this space heater for baby. It’s a greater heater, and it’s also budget-friendly.

My son has this one for his baby’s room and absolutely loves it. It keeps the baby’s nursery at room temperature without racking up their electric bill.

Powerful Ceramic Heater

Comparable to the Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater as well as the Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater, these space heaters provide powerful 900-watt heat in a compact and modern design.

Adjustable Heat Settings

These heaters offer 2 heat settings with an adjustable thermostat. You can feel confident knowing that your little one is at the perfect temperature while sleeping or playing in their nursery or room.

Tip-Over Protection

Like the Vornadobaby Tempa Nursery Heater, this one has great safety features. It not only provides tip-over protection but cool-touch housing and overheat protection as well, to keep your baby safe. It also features non-slip rubber feet as an added safety feature.

Product Reviews

This is a great small heater for a baby room. The tip-over protection is perfect for those babies just starting to toddle around and learning to grab things off the reachable surfaces.

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#4: Honeywell HeatGenius Ceramic Heater (Best for Wide Spaces)

If you’re heating a large space, this is the best space heater for that. It’s designed for larger, more open areas, perfect for a baby’s room. And, it’s energy-efficient, which makes it a win-win for those looking to go green.

Oscillating

Like the Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater, this heater oscillates. This feature is what helps it to create an evenly warm and cozy room for your little ones.

Energy Efficient

This Honeywell HeatGenius Ceramic Heater heater can help you save up to $276* in heating costs this year.. This is a great feature to have, especially if you’re worried about your electric bill.

Durable

This fan-forced heater is designed with an extra-wide sturdy base preventing it from tipping over. The Cool Touch safety housing and overheating protection system also keep your baby safe from harm in the event of an accident.

Product Reviews

Parents say this is an excellent portable heater for a child’s room. It does a great job of keeping the room warm, and the tip-over protection allows the space heater to automatically turn off in the event of it being knocked over.

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#5: Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater (Best Decorative Heater)

This ceramic space heater is perfect for those who don’t like the look of traditional space heaters because this is the only heater that you can incorporate into your home’s décor. This one will look more like a piece of decorative art in your baby’s nursery than an unsightly heater. If you’re looking for the best looking space heater for a baby, this is it.

Oscillating Convection Heater

This heater oscillates, which means it moves back and forth to evenly distribute heat throughout your baby’s room.

Adjustable Thermostat

Similar to the Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater, the Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater comes with a 1500-watt heating element and an easy-to-read LED display setting. Select from a heat setting that ranges from 60 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, or max heat for maximum warmth.

Built-in Timer

The built-in timer can be set for one to seven hours. It’s as simple as pressing the timer button and programming in one-hour intervals. This way the heater will shut off once the programmed time is up, and it gives you added safety features for overheating protection.

Remote Control

Similar to the Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater, this item comes with its own remote control. This feature makes life so much easier when you’re dealing with a newborn or small child. Simply adjust the heat settings from the doorway, and you’re good to go.

Safety Features

An overheat protection ensures the heater won’t overheat, making it best for a baby’s room. The cool-touch exterior keeps the heater cool even after running for hours, so you won’t have to worry about your child being burned.

Product Reviews

This is a fairly quiet heater that is of good quality and provides great heat for a baby room. It’s the perfect solution for heating a small room.

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Safety Tips

Below is a list of safety tips to keep your family and your home safe while using a space heater.

Keep it away from water. This should go without saying. Water and electricity don’t mix, and it’s no different for a heater. Don’t keep your heater in the bathrooms or kitchen areas.

Avoid placing your heater near flammable objects. In particular, do not place them near curtains, draperies, or furniture. It’s recommended to keep a minimum three-foot distance between the heater and any flammable objects. This includes your kids and pets. While they aren’t exactly flammable objects, their clothes and toys may be.

Don’t leave your heater unattended. Children and pets have a bad habit of running into things. If one of them were to run into the heater and knock it over, this could potentially become very dangerous, very fast. This is even true if the heater is turned off. Because we all know children are curious creatures, they may find the cord to be interesting, and yet not know about the risk of electric shock. And I’m sure we’d all like to keep them from having a frightening incident.

Only plug the heater into the wall outlet. And by wall outlet, this doesn’t mean to use an extension cord, surge protector, G.F.C.I., or plug timers. These can add extra layers of electrical connections that can potentially overload the circuit, or increase the resistance that builds up and creates a fire hazard.

Are Space Heaters Safe in Baby’s Room?

Simply put, yes, you can use a space heater in a nursery or baby room. Follow the above tips and look for models that have tip-over and overheat protection. Also, consider a heater for baby that has an automatic on/off switch or a timer that you can set. And remember, do not use an extension cord or anything that resembles an extension cord because of the risk of fire.

As stated before, you should leave three feet between the heater and any flammable items, such as toys, curtains, blankets, or bedding, and make sure the cord is plugged directly into the wall outlet. It’s also imperative to regularly check the heater for any damage to the unit, cord, and wall outlet.

What Temperature is Best for Baby’s Room?

You want your baby to stay cool but comfortable. The desired temperature of a baby room is recommended to be between 68 degrees and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Overheating a baby is a safety hazard that has been linked to an increase in the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

A good way to gauge the desired temperature of the room is to see how you feel in their room. Most adults want to sleep in a room that’s not too hot, but not cold either, in order to get the best rest. Babies need the same thing. They should be able to sleep peacefully and get plenty of rest.

Also, consider what your baby is wearing to bed. It’s important not to overdress him or her. Don’t put them in heavy layers of clothing, as this could cause overheating as well.

When you use a heater in your nursery, be sure it’s not too hot for your little one to get a good night’s sleep. One of the best settings for a heater in the baby’s room is a fan mode. Most of these heaters emit a soft white noise that will also help your baby to sleep peacefully.

Is it OK To Leave the Space Heater On Overnight?

The answer here is a no. You should never leave your space heater on overnight. I sometimes get the urge to heat a room on a cold night, but it’s just not worth the risk of a fire or other disaster. Your heater could overheat. A draft could move the curtains or draperies toward the heater. It could be tipped over by a child waking up in the middle of the night or a pet wandering around and accidentally knocking the heater over. The heating elements could get too hot. The list goes on and on.

Worse yet, your family could fall victim to carbon monoxide poisoning. Unvented space heaters or those that aren’t working properly are among the top source of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is because space heaters release carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes that can overtake the oxygen in a room. This is especially true of heaters that use kerosene or natural gas as a form of fuel. Electric space heaters are going to be fairly safe, but even electric heaters should not be left on overnight.

How Do I Babyproof a Space Heater?

There are several steps you can take to babyproof your space heater.

Start by blocking off the area where the space heater is located. Consider investing in a safety gate or two to put a barrier between your children and the heater.

If your children are old enough to understand, teach them caution and the importance of safety around the heater. Talk to them about not touching the heating elements or the adjustable thermostat. Make sure your children know that the space heater is not a toy and shouldn’t be played with at any time.

Verdict: Your Best Space Heater for Baby’s Room 

If you want a heater that’s the best value for your money, pick the Vornadobaby Tempa Nursery Heater. It’s cool to the touch, comes with some of the best safety features, and has a five-year promise to go with it.

If you the best premium heater, pick the Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater. Not only is the heater safe for the baby room, but it also features HMS technology, which combines the humidity in the room without reducing oxygen or humidity.

If you want a heater to match your home décor, pick the Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater. This is a great choice if you’re wanting a heater that blends with your existing home décor.

If you want the best low-cost heater, pick the Honeywell UberHeat Plus Ceramic Heater. This powerful ceramic fan-forced heater has tip-over protection, adjustable settings, and will keep the cold away from your little one in their nursery or bedroom.

If you want a heater for wide spaces, pick the Honeywell HeatGenius Ceramic Heater. This oscillating, energy-efficient heater for the baby room is perfect if you have a large nursery or area that you want and need to keep comfortable for your baby.

If you’re looking for nursery space heaters to keep the chill away from your baby, or maybe you are just trying to get away from a radiator space heater, make sure to evaluate the individual safety features of each heater. Also, it’s important to make sure to find heaters with tip-over and overheat protection, and a child lock. Find the location of the heating element and determine if your child will be able to touch it, as well as how much heat it may produce. The goal here is to get your child the heat and warmth without them allowing them to be injured or burned.

It’s also important to keep in mind that when you order a heating unit through an affiliate site, such as ours, we may earn from qualifying purchases. This just means we trust the products we’ve listed here and have done our research and due diligence to promote only the best of the best space heaters for your baby room.