Best Duvet for Toddler Beds

Cooler nights call for additional layers, and when it comes to your children, you want to ensure they get a good night’s rest, uninterrupted by fluctuations in temperature. Once your child reaches the toddler stage around one year of age, they are considered strong and in control enough to have blankets and pillows placed in their beds.

A duvet is a perfect choice for your toddler’s bed. Not only are they available in varying weights, but also come in material choices and decorative styles to match your nursery decor. The best duvet for toddler beds is those that are easy to launder and are of durable quality. Below we explain why they are an excellent choice compared to other types of bedding and why they are well worth considering.

Best Duvet for Toddler Beds

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Child Development

Children under 12 months are considered too young to have blankets or pillows in their crib with them. Any loose materials (blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc…) can create hazards under which a baby’s airways may become covered- and those under a year are considered not strong enough to move these materials or get out from under them without help. They also can create situations in which the child overheats. 

But once a child is a year or older, you can begin adding blankets and pillows to a child’s bed and release that decorative energy you have been waiting for. Rather than piling on more than one blanket for warmth, it is best to choose one that is both insulating and lightweight. This keeps your child from being tangled up in multiple layers, and provide insulation for both warm and cool nights for year round comfort. 

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What is a Duvet?

In short, a duvet is a lightweight quilt that is filled with down, feathers, or similar soft synthetic (or blend of these) to provide an insulating cover. They are used in place of a sheet and blanket combination to provide. Plain in nature, the duvet is generally has a cotton casing that is encased within a duvet cover- allowing you to quickly and easily launder the cover, and change it up to fit your decor variances.

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Duvets vs Other Blankets

As mentioned, other blankets or comforters are generally made to be used with a top sheet. Although a duvet is made to work on its own, it can be layered with a blanket as well, but it serves as a sheet and blanket all in one. Comforters and blankets are stylized all their own and bought to match your decor. A duvet cover can be easily, and cheaply, traded out- plus you rarely have to wash your entire duvet unlike having to wash a full, heavy blanket. Simply toss the cover in the wash on laundry day. This is incredibly convenient for young children who seem to create dirt wherever they roam (speaking from experience as a mom on two boys)!

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Best Material Choices for Toddlers

As mentioned, duvets come in a choice of filling, either natural down and feathers or a synthetic polyester that is designed to mimic the softer feel of down (you may also find silk and wool fillings as well). All are excellent choices that provide years of insulating protection, but be aware that synthetic fibers do break down faster than natural, and may eventually clump or compress and not be as soft over time. 

— Fill Power

The fill power of a duvet should also be taken into consideration. These numbers are related to how much weight of a filling covers a square inch of space. The larger the number the loftier, and airier the duvet will be. It is these pockets of air created by the higher fill that provide more insulating power. If your home is generally cooler, or you live in a colder climate, then choose your fill accordingly. A lightweight choice generally falls around a 450 fill, with the number rising to 900.

— Tog Rating

You may also see the word ‘tog’ used in relation to child’s duvet choices. The tog of a duvet refers to the overall warmth provided by the cover. The higher the tog, the warmer the duvet. Children generally have a warmer body temperature and so the tog rating is somewhat related to their age range. Tog ratings between 1 and 4 are generally chosen for toddlers, with a 10 rating for children 10 years of age and older are considered acceptable.

— Cover Materials

Almost all duvet covers are made of cotton. This natural, breathable material allows for excellent airflow. Be sure to shoot for a 200 thread count or higher cotton to ensure good structure and to keep from losing any fill especially down and feather which may have small quill ends that work their way through more loosely woven material. Occasionally you may find a polyester or polyester blend, but these may denote a less quality product.

— Style

Most duvets come in a baffle box or Bavarian box style to help keep the filling more evenly dispersed and from shifting into only one area. Bavarian boxes are seen through the entire cover and keep everything very well spaced out. Baffle boxes are seen through as well, but provide ‘walls’ between each box to be used with thicker, more highly filled covers. Both styles also help keep the filling from becoming compressed and provide room to be fluffed back up.

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The following options are some of the most popular duvets with consumers with young children. Their reviews reflect a high quality of workmanship and material choice and are chosen due to comfort and style. Duvet sets are also popular, but rarely include the actual duvet itself and only a matching cover and pillowcases. Sets are popular if you already have the duvet insert to match colors, characters (such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse), or decor as your child grows.

Conclusion

When it’s time to begin providing bedding for your young children, it’s smart to add a simple layer for warmth and comfort rather than piling on multiple options which can tangle them up or create overheating. Duvets come in various weights for easy insulating warmth through the seasons and are lightweight and easy to kick off with little toddler legs if discomfort ever occurs. 

The options provided above allow you to see the range of quality and cost offered, as well as the size and use for your child’s needs. All come highly recommended for their uses and are well made with various materials and top-notch workmanship.