5 Best Duvets for Toddlers: Top UK Picks

Written By Connie

CPD Sleep Consultant

3 April 2024 6 min read

Suitable duvet is one of the ways to make your child's sleep very comfortable. The best duvet for toddler should be cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and this is even more important for toddlers than for adults, because the temperature regulation of toddlers is not yet fully developed.

You probably provided your toddler with a cot, a mattress and a pillow. You put a lot of effort into finding these three things so your child can sleep comfortably.

But don’t underestimate the importance of duvet. Think about how uncomfortable it is for you to sleep if the duvet is too hot or if on the other hand it is not warm enough during a cold night.

Toddlers will feel it even more than you because they don't have temperature regulation like adults. So when buying a cot duvet, you need to consider several factors. 

We have selected for you 5 best duvets for toddlers on the UK market in 2023. as well as features to look for in duvets for toddlers, tips and advantages.

Toddlers under 12 months shouldn’t use a duvet

Before we move on to the main topic, we must first warn you of the potential dangers of using duvets for children under 12 months. The United Kingdom National Health Service, commonly referred to as the NHS, reports that tens of thousands of children under the age of 5 end up in hospital each year, and most of these accidents are preventable.

Among these accidents there are many suffocations as a result of using duvets in children under the age of one, who cannot push the duvet away. So until your child becomes a toddler, and that is after the first birthday, do not use a duvet and let the baby always sleep on back to avoid accidents. Stomach and side sleeping are not safe until toddler is strong enough to move on its own.

Features to look for in duvets for toddlers

It is very important to be familiar with most important features and to know what to look for in duvets for toddlers. We will tell you more about the most important features so that you know how we chose these 5 models of this inevitable part of cot bedding. Also knowing these features will help you choose another duvet if you want to buy one that we did not single out.

Lightweight

Parents sometimes make a mistake and buy a duvet that has an inappropriate TOG rating and thus weight. Parents worry that their child will be cold during the night and then opt for an all-season duvet that has a 10 TOG rating for example. But it is suitable for adults, not for toddlers.
Toddlers need a duvet that has a TOG rating somewhere between 3 and 5.

Toddlers toss and turn a lot during sleep and this with insufficient regulation of body temperature causes them to be too hot and sweaty. Also, duvets that have a higher TOG rating tend to be heavy which is dangerous for toddlers. You should avoid weighted blankets avoid too. Although there are models for children, they are intended for older children than toddlers.

Easily washable

This is primarily advice intended for first-time parents, as those who have already had children know how many times they have had to wash the duvet. When you have a toddler, expect incidents to happen in bed often – either a cot bed duvet or cot bed sheets are going to be dirty often. And those incidents mean you'll have to wash all the bedding, mattress protector and duvet. Also you have to get rid of dust mites.

So you have to choose a duvet that is machine washable to make maintenance easy. Also, our advice is to find a duvet that is tumble drier friendly, so that the duvet is ready to use soon after washing.

Natural & hypoallergenic

Our advice is to choose natural and hypoallergenic sleep products not only for toddlers, but also for yourself. Exposure to harmful chemicals and allergens will have a negative impact on health at any age.

However, this is especially important for toddlers. As toddlers have only been in this world for a year or two, their skin, respiratory system and overall body are not yet accustomed and ready to come into contact with chemicals and various synthetic fibres. Of course, there are synthetic duvets that are completely safe. Also, allergies occur very easily in children of this age, and this can remain a lifelong problem. So choose a natural and hypoallergenic duvet like wool duvet, bamboo duvet and alike toddler pillow, best ones are made of organic cotton.

Tips for buying and using duvets for toddlers

Thermal overall grade, better known as TOG, is the most important feature of any duvet. So first you need to pay attention to the TOG rating. TOG rating should not be over 5 for toddlers, in some special cases you can buy up to 7, but our recommendation is to opt for summer models. Then check what material it is made of. Filling and cover are often made of different materials, make sure that both are hypoallergenic and have not been treated with toxic chemicals. And it is ideal if the duvet is made of natural materials as that type of baby bedding won't cause any irritations or issues.

Since you will be buying a duvet that is machine washable, pay attention to whether the cover is removable. When the cover is removable, then you don't have to wash the whole duvet every time. If it is not removable, buy a few duvet covers so you can change them often and provide your child with a perfectly clean sleep environment.

• Suitable TOG rating for toddler duvet is from 3 to 5, maximum to 7
• Best duvets for toddlers are made of natural materials and safe synthetic materials
• Wash duvet often and even more often wash cover if it is removable.

The advantages of owning duvets for toddlers

Parents are often overwhelmed with a huge number of different products for their children of all ages. Many of these products are advertised as being exclusively for toddlers and therefore cost more, although this is just marketing and there is no difference between a toddler product and a product for person of any other age. However, this is not the case with duvets. When buying a duvet, it must be suitable for toddlers.

Duvets for toddlers are first and foremost safe. They are lightweight, which means that the child will be able to move duvet on its own and thus will not be in danger. Also, duvet are made of the highest quality and safe materials. Almost every one is machine washable because manufacturers know that duvets for toddlers are washed much more often than duvets for adults.

• Duvets for toddlers are light and therefore safe
• They are made of premium materials and craftsmanship is at very high level
• Maintaining duvet is very easy since most of them are machine washable and tumble drier friendly.

Conclusion

There are numerous advantages to  get one of cot duvets. These are duvets made for toddlers, completely safe both in terms of their weight and materials, the way materials were processed and all other characteristics. In this guide, we also tried to help you learn which general characteristics are the most important, if one of these 5 models is not available to you, so you are planning to buy another toddler blanket. Remember that a baby under the age of one should not use a duvet because there is a risk of suffocation.

Spread the word

Recommended reading:

• Our best travel cots
• Buyer's guide on best kid's mattresses
• Mamas & Papas cot beds – buyer's guide
• Top sleigh cot beds

About the author

Connie

As a CPD certified Sleep Consultant I know how important sleep is. And as a combination sleeper, I have found it difficult to get products to suit my sleep style. I have more than 2 years product testing experience with The Sleep Advisors which means I have slept on, with and under more than 500 products with varying degrees of success. This is added to more than 2 years experience as a product reviewer for Closer, Heat and Grazia magazines, so I've got a rigorous process. I love sharing my sleep testimonials with our readers and hearing their experiences too.