When it comes to bedding for small children, it can be a bit of a minefield.
There are strict rules and regulations when it comes to sleep arrangements for babies – the NHS recommends that infants under 12 months should never use a duvet, cot quilt or pillow in their cot as it could put them at risk of suffocation – but quicker than you can believe your tiny newborn will turn into a toddler, who’s suddenly outgrown their much-relied-upon sleeping bag, which never failed to get them to sleep in record time. So now what?
If they haven’t already, pretty soon your toddler will be moving into a cot bed for the first time, and they’ll be looking for the more grown-up bedding to match. But buy a regular kids’ duvet and they’re likely to be swamped by the thing, or it might not fit in their cot bed at all. Luckily, there are plenty of great toddler duvets and pillows on the market that are tailor made for little ones and will ensure they get a good night’s rest.
What should you look out for in a kid’s duvet?
There are a few things to consider when choosing the right duvet for your little one.
Tog
Which tog do you go for? Notoriously active toddlers move almost as much at night as they do during the day, meaning they can easily overheat if their bedding is too warm – it’s also worth remembering that at such a young age, they can’t regulate their temperature as well as we can.
Taking that into account, it’s recommended you opt for a fairly lightweight option for their first duvet, with a 4/4.5 tog for the summer and a 7/7.5 tog for the winter. If your home is fairly toasty, you might be able to get away with a 4/4.5 tog duvet all year round, and simply add on an extra blanket for particularly cold nights.
Washable
Is the duvet washable? This one’s a no-brainer where toddlers are involved, particularly when that night-time potty training kicks in. It can also be a good idea to invest in one made with natural fibres like cotton, which will be softer on children’s more sensitive skin.
Size
Lastly, make sure it’s the right size - the most common and universal size for a toddler duvet is 120 x 150cm, but it’s worth double checking that against your child’s bed, as any excess material could cause them to overheat. It’s also important to invest in a pillow specifically designed for toddlers and little children, as these are likely to be smaller and less thick.
Here we’ve rounded up the best toddler duvets and pillows available to buy now.
Best duvets for kids that will keep them cosy through the night
Best extendable toddler beds that grow with your child
Best babies and children’s mattresses UK for a great night’s sleep
Best kids beds: Single, cabin and bunk beds for children
Best nursery furniture sets including cot beds, wardrobes and chests of drawers
Bedfolk toddler duvet and pillow
Husband and wife team Nick and Jo James founded Bedfolk after struggling to find the sort of super-soft bedding they were hunting for. Then, in 2021, when Jo found herself pregnant with her daughter, she came up against the same issue again, only this time it was for baby bedding. So, they decided to launch the Baby & Toddler collection, featuring the same cloud-like duvets and pillows the brand has become known for, only in miniature.
The super-soft toddler duvet is made in the UK with a 100 per cent cotton sateen baffle wall casing that’s been designed to mimic the lofty feel of down, with an entirely recycled plastic fill. It comes in a toddler-friendly lightweight tog of 4, to avoid little ones overheating in the night, and the toddler pillow is just as luxuriously soft, especially when paired with one of the all-cotton covers, which are all made in Portugal and come in a range of chic muted colours (no bright pink or baby blue here). Both items are recommended for use from 24 months+ and can be washed and dried in the tumble dryer.
Toddler duvet, £60; toddler pillow, £30.
Buy now £60.00, Bedfolk
Silentnight Safe Nights anti-allergy cot bed duvet and pillow set
Silentnight really knows its stuff when it comes to bedding, and the same can be said for its kids’ range, Safe Nights. The anti-allergy toddler and duvet combo makes a great first set for your little one, and comes at a pleasingly affordable price point too. Specifically designed for cot beds, the soft duvet comes in a light 4.5 tog rating, while the extra slim profile of the pillow offers just the right amount of support for tiny heads.
Both the duvet and pillow are made from a smooth polyester cotton mix that’s breathable due to the weave of the fabric, and they’re filled with an hypoallergenic hollowfibre that actively defends against the bacteria and dust mites that can cause reactions, making it a great option for little ones that are more prone to allergies or who suffer from asthma. Machine washable and suitable for tumble drying, it’s a great all-rounder set at a brilliant price.
Buy now £19.00, Argos
Little Green Sheep organic wool duvet and pillow
This British brand is best known for its all-natural mattresses, which were the very first certified organic baby mattresses in the UK. They’ve now branched out into becoming the experts for all things related to natural kids bedding, whether you’re looking to invest in a gorgeous Moses basket or pick up a luxurious cot bed duvet for your little one.
While the organic cot bed duvet might be one of the pricier options on the market, there’s a good reason for that - crafted in the UK from certified British wool, it’s naturally temperature regulating, meaning it can be used all year round as the wool keeps your child warm in the winter and cool during the summer.
Anti-dust mite and hypoallergenic, the use of wool also creates an anti-allergy environment, which helps to reduce symptoms of sniffles. The organic wool pillow is similarly free from any harmful chemicals and gently moulds around your child’s head to provide super comfortable support for a good night’s sleep.
Organic wool duvet, £69.95; organic wool pillow, £39.95.
Buy now £69.95, Little Green Sheep
John Lewis Anyday toddler duvet and pillow set
You can’t go wrong when it comes to the ever-reliable John Lewis bedding, and the same can be said for the more affordable Anyday range. This easy wash set is one of the retailer’s bestsellers. Designed for supreme practicality, the set is made from soft polyester and was specifically created to be quick-drying, making it easy to wash and dry at home.
The lightweight set features a 4 tog duvet and a slim pillow that provides just the right amount of cushioning for little ones. Available in both cot and cot bed size, this is a fairly basic, no-frills set but it more than gets the job done, and the quick-drying feature is a god-send during those inevitable sickness bugs and late-night accidents. It’s also worth noting that unlike some other duvets on the market, it can be washed at 60 degrees for a hygienic clean that will kill off dust mites.
From £15.
Buy now £15.00, John Lewis
Fogarty Little Sleepers Forever Fresh antibacterial duvet and pillow set
If you’re looking for a slightly warmer option for winter nights, this Fogarty set is a great choice. The 7 tog duvet is noticeably thicker than many of the other options on the market, and is wonderfully cosy on chilly nights. Featuring a 100 per cent cotton cover and a hollowfibre filling that keeps things nice and toasty, it feels a lot snugglier than some of the lower tog options.
As well as featuring cotton covers, both the duvet and pillow have been finished off with a Micro-Fresh treatment that inhibits the growth of bacteria for at least 50 washes, keeping your little one’s bedding fresher for longer. That’s music to the ears of any toddler parents who already spend more hours than they’d like to admit in front of the washing machine.
Buy now £35.00, Dunelm
Panda Kids Cloud duvet and pillow
There’s a lot of hype around Panda’s bedding at the moment, and with good reason. Made from ultra-sustainable bamboo, it more than lives up to its ‘cloud’ name. The 100 per cent bamboo cover is soft as silk, while the filling is a blend of 50 per cent bamboo and 50 per cent Nano-Microfibre (from recycled water bottles). That means it’s 100 per cent hypoallergenic, so it’s perfect for sensitive skin and those prone to eczema.
Bamboo is naturally thermo-regulating, so while the duvet is a light 4.5 tog, it can be used all year round as the fine fibres insulate in the winter, but are breathable and cool in the summer. It’s easy to machine wash too, and dries naturally in half the time of regular duvets. Order it with the kids memory foam bamboo pillow, which is hypoallergenic and has been recommended by orthopaedic experts and doctors for supporting neck and spine alignment.â¯
Kids cloud duvet, £50.96; toddler bamboo pillow, £27.16.
Buy now £50.96, Panda
Marks and Spencer antibacterial cot bed duvet and pillow set
The toddler bedding sets from M&S are often touted as some of the best-value options around, and we can see why. We particularly like this antibacterial cot bed duvet and pillow set, which has been specially treated to protect against harmful bacteria, and will keep both the duvet and pillow fresh wash after wash.
The lightweight duvet comes in a 4 tog and features an all polyester filling, with at least 30 per cent of the filling made from recycled materials. The synthetic fibres have been specially treated to make them super soft to the touch, and also make it easier to wash and dry. With a pleasingly affordable price point, this makes a great easy starter set for little ones.
Buy now £22.50, Marks and Spencer
The Fine Bedding Company In the Garden coverless duvet and pillowcase set
This fourth-generation British brand has been making fine bedding for over 100 years, so they know a thing or two about longevity and quality craftsmanship. Both are on show in this beautiful toddler set, which comes with a clever coverless duvet – so there’s no more wrestling with duvet covers on laundry day. There are several different designs to choose from, but we love this sweet floral motif that’s complete with tiny bunnies and squirrels.
The 4 tog duvet is filled with the brand’s patented Smartfil polyester, made from recycled PET bottles, while the innovative built-in cover is made from peachskin microfibre, which is super soft to the touch. Home washable and quick to dry – you can bung it in the tumble drier without worrying about it losing its shape.
It’s also kind to the environment, having been made in the brand’s award-winning, zero waste European eco-factory in Estonia that is powered by entirely by certified renewable energy.
Buy now £45.00, The Fine Bedding Company
Littens Hungarian goose down toddler duvet and pillow
If only super luxurious goose down will do for your little one, this is the duvet to go for. Each one is filled with the highest quality Hungarian goose down filling, hand-picked for its outstanding softness and cushioning. As if that wasn’t enough, the fabric is a 300-thread count cotton jacquard with a sateen stripe, giving it a silky smooth feel.
All the materials used are 100 per cent natural and have allergy-combatting properties, while the naturally breathable qualities of down will regulate your toddler’s body temperature through the night. The duvet comes in four different togs, from 2.5 for warm summer’s nights all the way up to a seriously toasty 10.5 tog. Pair it with the matching Hungarian goose down pillow for the ultimate luxury bedtime experience.
Hungarian goose down toddler duvet, from £49.95; Hungarian goose down toddler pillow.
Buy now £59.95, Amazon
Kabode organic wool duvet
This British brand was founded by two parents who wanted to make bedding that was better for children and better for the planet, which is why all of its products are made using only organic cottonâ¯and other sustainably produced materials. The toddler duvets are filled entirely with Australian wool certified by Woolmark, which will keep your little one cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s not. The cover, meanwhile, is made from certified organic cotton, which perfect for sensitive skin.
Anti-allergy and naturally temperature regulating, the duvet comes in two different sizes – cot and cot bed – so they’re great options for when your child is transitioning from their cot to their very first toddler bed. The organic wool pillow is made with the same sustainable ethos in mind, and has been designed to naturally support and contour to your child’s head.
Organic wool duvet, from £59.95; organic wool pillow.
Buy now £59.95, Debenhams
Verdict
Our top pick slightly depends on your budget – if you’ve got a bit of extra cash to spend, we’d go for the Bedfolk duvet and pillow, which are luxuriously soft and come with a great range of cotton covers to choose from in a variety of chic colours.
For a more affordable option, the Silentnight Safe Nights anti-allergy cot bed duvet and pillow is a great starter set at a hard-to-beat price.
