How To Choose The Right Duvet/Comforter For Babies And Kids

There are many different types of duvet fillings to choose from, each with its pros and cons. Hollowfibre or feather and down are very popular choices while silk and wool is also in trend and welcomed by a lot due to its health-related benefits.

Price can dramatically vary depending on the type and quality of filling, the tog rating, the size and many other features. There are plenty of resources and tips to refer to when choosing a proper duvet for adults, but what are the key things to consider when searching for the best toddler duvet ?  At alanünü, we believe a duvet for kid should be lightweight, temperature regulating, breathable,  natural and anti-allergy.  Below, you’ll find the best advice on toddler duvets from our own experience as parents.

1. TYPES OF DUVET FILLING

There are two main types of duvet filling to choose from, natural or synthetic. Natural fillings are soft, warm and more breathable than synthetic materials, thus more suitable for babies and young children.

      -  Natural Filling

• Down
• Silk
• Cotton
• Wool

      -  Synthetic Filling

      2. OVERALL COMPARISON

When choosing the right duvet for kids, there are a lot of criteria to consider. Here at alanünü, safety always comes first. The other qualities that make a duvet suitable for the little ones include breathability, weight, hypoallergenic properties and etc. The below chart gives an overall comparison in regards to the aspects in safety, performance, health and care.

      3. PROS & CONS OF DIFFERENT DUVETS FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN

• Down Duvet

         Feather, down, feather and down mixture are the 3 types that are used to fill down duvets.

         - Feather: Tougher texture making is the least popular in the market. Not recommended.

         - Down: Comes from the fluff from the abdomen of ducks and gooses. It is fluffy and soft, much lighter and warmer than feather fillings. The more percentage of pure down filling, the better the quality, as well as more expensive.

         - Feather and down mixed filling: The most commonly seen on the market. The filling is a mixture of down and feather. The price range of this type of duvet is wide due to the ratio of down and feather filled. Pay attention to the percentage of pure down filling when purchasing.

Suitable for:  people who do not like to sleep with weight, people who are tend to feel cold, people who suffer from heart disease or poor blood circulation

Not suitable for:  babies, toddlers and children, people with asthma and allergies, people who tend to be hot and sweaty that prefer to sleep with cool temperature.

• Mulberry Silk Duvet

         Silk duvet comes from China, with more than a thousand years of history. Ancient Chinese understood the health benefits of natural silk and throughout Chinese history and culture, silk products have always been deemed as premium quality and royal status.

         With pure natural materials and a unique handmade method, mulberry silk duvet provides people with ultimate comfort in sleeping experience, health benefits in human skin and body, reduces the concerns of overheating and sweaty nights, keeps people away from dust mites and allergy reactions.

Suitable for:  people who pursue high-quality sleep experience, people who do not like to sleep with weight, people who tend to sweat at night and easy to get hot, people with sensitive skin, people with asthma and allergies, babies, toddlers and children

Not suitable for:  people who prefer washable duvet that does not require extra care

• Wool Duvet

          Human has been using and understanding the qualities and benefits of wool for thousands of years. It is breathable and and can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture before it transfers that moisture and heat. It is heat regulating and hypoallergenic.

Suitable for:  people who suffer from rheumatic health issues or arthritis, people who sweat a lot, toddlers and children

Not suitable for:  people who are sensitive to wool odor, people who are allergic to lanolin

• Cotton Duvet

          The biggest advantage of cotton quilt is that it is natural, healthy, and friendly to the skin. It is anti-static, soft and comfortable. Being able to wash and the resiliency is a plus.

Suitable for: people who prefers natural and affordable duvets, people who are allergic to synthetic materials or sensitive to down or wool products, thin and lightweight cotton quilt/comforter is suitable for babies and toddlers 

Not suitable for: people with heart disease or poor blood circulation, pregnant women and infants should avoid thick heavy cotton duvet

• Synthetic Duvet

          Synthetic duvets made with polyester and other man-made materials. They are designed to give you the softness and loft of a  down duvet at a much lower price. Synthetic duvets are easy to care for and a good choice for people who are sensitive to certain natural fillings like down, feather or wool.

Suitable for: people who prefers convenience in duvet care, people who do not want to spend too much on a duvet

Not suitable for: babies and children that have sensitive skins, people who are prefer natural product, people who want their duvet to be durable

      4. DUVET FILLING RECOMMENDATION FOR BABY, TODDLER, CHILD

• Baby (under 12 monthes):

In North America, duvets are not recommended for babies under 12 months of age. Because babies are not able to regulate their body temperature and can easily overheat. There are also concerns about small particles such as down filling that may cause suffocation. Allergy is another issue when using duvet for babies. Depending on your baby and their preferences, we recommend a combination of quality cotton blankets and sheets, or a customized mulberry silk duvet that is specifically designed for infants with a very low tog rating and premium quality material.

• Toddler (age 1-3):

For toddlers, they are still not efficient at regulating their own body temperature and same as infants, they might be easily overheat. Thick duvets are simply too hot and heavy for them. We recommend a light and thin cotton/wool/silk duvet that are breathable and airy, comfortable and soft. If the room temperature gets lower, you can give them extra blankets or put them in some extra cozy pyjamas. Because of its excellent temperature regulating abilities, mulberry silk duvets are almost the perfect choice for these little ones,  keeping them warm but preventing them from getting too hot, and most importantly, no irritation on their delicate skins and no allergy concerns at all.

• Child (age 4+):

While it’s okay to use heavier and thicker duvets for older children, it is important to consider the warmth of their bedroom and the fact that their little bodies just get hotter more easily and faster than our adults.

For young children, we recommend wool or mulberry silk duvet. It keeps them warm in winter and cooler in summer and  a quality wool or silk duvet greatly increase the quality of their sleep. Better rested children are happier children!

For children that have sensitive skins and allergy issues, mulberry silk duvet is the ideal go to. It is skin-friendly and hypoallergenic, anti-dust and anti-insect that minimizes the possibility of causing asthma. The animal protein in the silk fibre is self-extinguishing and naturally fire-repellent, making it safe for children to use.