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I grew up in the northern part of China when there were no central  heating or hotwater faucets. Going to bed during winter time requires one to use body heat towarm up the bed under heavy cover. One often has to wear thick socks and pajamas to bed. The first ten minutes in bed can be a  rather uncomfortable experience. I can remember using brass made bed-warming bottle  that are filled with boiling water and wrapped with cloth to help warm  the cold bed. Later on we also used more flexible rubber hot water bottles.  But these devices are subject to spills and leaks that can make a mess  of a wet bed and cover. Later on electric heating pad or blanket are used.  However, electrical hazards can result. I personally know of cases which led to  injury and a house being burndown due to problems with electric blankets  and heating pads (what's more, there is the unproven conjecture that prolonged use of electric blanket can cause cancer). Also having gotten use to  a heavy cover while sleeping I  personally find using a light electric blanket unsatisfactory to induce sleep.  Thus, going to bed in Boston during winter time is still somewhat a problem  for me unless one turns up home heating to above 80^oF which is very  wasteful.  However, this winter we came across an ingenious solution  which is applicable everywhere in the world including China (may be  it is already well known in China).

1. You go to the market or dry food store to buy a pound  of red beans.

2. You sew a flannel bag in the shape of a pillow to  contain these red beans

3. You put this bag of red beans in your microwave and heat  for 2 minutes or more.

4. You will then have a hot bag that will stay warm and  comfortable to touch under your bed cover for at least two hours.

5. You can also make cover for such a bag very much in the  spirit of pillow covers which can be washed.

6. The bag stays dry, smells good, and gives off moist heat  – a perfect solution to my problem of sleeping  warm and cozy in Boston winter.

7. Of course this dry hot bag can also be used to sooth any muscle or joint aches during day time. It also molds to your body much better than a rubber hot water bottle.