How to Choose your Child's Duvet
How to Choose your Child's Duvet

Children and Goose Down Duvets


Children... Our little darlings... the apples of our eye... Elysha Charles believe that they deserve the very best and so we have a delightful range of goose down duvets and cotton bed linen especially selected for them.

Through experience we have discovered that there is not really significant information available when buying your child's duvet and so we hope that this page will offer all of the answers that you need.

"As a mother of three young children (we had three children in three and a half years!) I have added both professional advice and motherly advice and I hope that the combination of the two will help you in deciding the very best duvet for your child.

Our children love their bedding - the sumptuous goose down duvets - the silken delight of slipping between cotton sheets, in fact whenever we go away we have to take their duvets and pillows as they often comment on 'scratchy' bed linen and uncomfortable pillows... it can all be a little embarrassing when the host is within earshot.

The wonderful years that I have spent with my children have taught me many things.. one of them being just how precious sleep is. I am sure you will agree that once you have children you will do anything... absolutely anything... for a good night's sleep.

Your bed is a wonderful place to start. Create a haven of natural , fluffy softness for yourself and your little one and it may just be the help that you need to the perfect night's sleep.

I hope that the questions and answers below will help you but if you still have more questions, please do just give me a call ." Kerry

At what age can my child use a goose down duvet?


Babies under the age of twelve months must never use a duvet or a pillow as this can cause them to overheat and has been connected to cot death. Advice on putting your baby to bed is available on the NHS website.

Once your child has reached the age of one and you have sighed a big sigh of relief (it really is a turning point and gets a little easier now) then you may use a duvet and a child's pillow should you so wish.

"We always found the baby sleeping bags to be a blessing in disguise. Sheets and blankets tend to fall off leaving a cold, crying baby.

If your child is going from a cot into a cot bed it is a good idea to use a single duvet but place it across the bed so that there is a large overhang on each side. Using the duvet this way ensures that the duvet is more likely to stay on the bed, keeping your child covered through the night"

Is goose down suitable for a child?


Absolutely, goose down is a natural product and works sensitively with your child's own body in order to help regulate their temperature as they sleep. Air becomes trapped within the fluffy arms of the down and heats up with your child's body.

Goose down is hygroscopic and so it draws away any moisture on the skin ensuring that the skin stays drier through the night. Synthetic duvets are unable to absorb moisture and so any moisture will stay on your child, eventually cooling them down and making them wake because they are cold.

Goose down is also very light and so does not hinder movement during the night as a synthetic duvet would. Its drape is like no other and will fall around your child's body eliminating large exposed areas that cold air can get through.

The fluffy, snug feeling that only a goose down duvet can give makes children feel secure and cosy... the perfect recipe for falling to sleep.

" I have a friend whose daughter, at the age of six had never slept through the night. I recommended that she try a goose down duvet and for the first time ever Libby woke in the morning after a full night's sleep. When I asked Libby if she liked her duvet she said that it was, "Like sleeping under a fluffy cloud." It was not a miraculous cure, she does not sleep through every night but the improvement is extremely significant."

Which tog should I choose?


You should always buy one of the lower togs when buying a duvet for a young child. It is far better to layer than to have one thick duvet as the layers can be peeled off if necessary.

Children are unable to regulate their temperature as we, as adults, are able to do. A lower tog 3, 4.5 or 6 should be sufficient as an all year round duvet for a young child. If your child is cold one night then it may be necessary to add a throw. Die Zudecke have a lovely Canadian snow goose down duvet which is perfect for children and available in a 3,6 and 9 tog. Only use a 9 tog for older children 6 plus and only in the middle of winter.

"Our house is a new, insulated house which is neither particularly warm nor cold at night, all of our children use either a 3 or a 4.5 tog most of the year. I do find that on cold nights I have to add a throw and if we have a cold spell then I will use a 9 tog for my six year old but I do find that this higher tog is too much for the younger children."

Can I wash a goose down duvet?


Obviously little children have accidents and it will more than likely be necessary to wash the goose down duvet. This is not a problem at all - all goose down duvets may be washed in a washing machine with a natural based washing detergent (soap flakes), conditioner is not to be used.

The duvet must be dried thoroughly after washing as any moisture left may turn to mildew. It is recommended that a commercial laundry is used as they have larger drums that can accommodate the duvet, ensuring that the down is not damaged. Washing can be detrimental to the life span of a duvet.

A good airing on a washing line a few times a year will ensure that the duvet stays fresh if washing is not required. Airing within the home by pulling back the duvet and opening the windows will also help to prolong the life of your duvet.

" My children have had many accidents over the years and I have to say that I have always washed the cot bed and single duvets at home in a 6kg washing machine, dried in a 7kg drier. The duvet are still fluffy, snug and cosy."

Which pillow should I choose?


A goose down pillow is the perfect option for a child as many children perspire through their heads whilst asleep, goose down will help in absorbing this and draw it way from your child's head.

Infants will need a flat cot bed pillow which is available in out Lalelu range. Brinkhaus offer a range of goose down pillows which are perfect for children as they are so soft and luxurious.

Children obviously only have little shoulders and so a softer, flatter pillow is far better for them.

"Our children have the Brinkhaus Empress pillow - it is so lovely and plump but very, very soft so that their little heads sink in and dream way."

Which bed linen is the best?


Cotton bed linen is the best, especially for a child. many companies market 'easy care' bed linen for children but it contains synthetic fibres in order to be easy care. Synthetic fibres can be 'scratchy' and are unable to absorb moisture which is a valuable property for regulating heat. Beware of 'easy care' cotton bed linen it generally has a coating which will wash out after several washes.

100% cotton bed linen allows the air to circulate promoting a much healthier sleeping environment for your child. Cotton is smoother and silkier and will wash superbly, lasting much longer than poly/cotton mixes.

Avoid excessive creasing by drying in a dryer, taking the bed linen out and folding it before it is completely dry. Fold and place in an airing cupboard to complete the drying process, ironing will still be necessary for a pristine look but it should help to eliminate many creases.

" We have some lovely designs from Babyface which we have just introduced - more shall be added each week. Belledorm also do a beautiful range of plain dyed cotton bed linen which is perfect for little ones. Their 400 count comes in some lovely colours and washes beautifully."