Blankets and Duvets for Babies – Nursery & Bedroom Essentials

Blanket for a Baby: Guide to Picking the Right Duvet

When deciding on types of bedding for your room you look for comfort, durability and affordability. The same standards apply when you are looking for crib bedding, blankets and duvets for your baby, as they provide an extra layer of comfort and security for your baby. Since your baby spends more time on his/her bed and in your arms, choosing the right blankets and duvets for your baby is a worthwhile investment. But, what makes a good blanket for a baby?
When you go to the baby store or look online for nursery and bedding essentials, there are a wide variety of blankets, from soft-sided, crocheted and fleeced blankets to swaddlers and much more. How do you decide to pick the right duvet and blanket for your baby with so many available options? Here is our guide to picking the right duvets and blankets for your baby to keep them safe and secure while sleeping.

Top pointers to keep in mind when picking the right duvet and blanket for your baby

Comfort is Priority

Babies sleep through most of the day, in between feeds and playtime. You need to make sure your baby stays comfortable and secure when sleeping. Babies under the age of one cannot maintain their own body temperature and hence need an external source to regulate their body temperature. Use your judgement to decide if your baby needs a blanket in addition to the layer of clothing on him or her, in order to avoid the risk of accidental suffocation during sleep or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
According to the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), babies under the age of one year should not be sleep with a blanket in the crib. Duvets and pillows are not recommended for babies under the age of one, as they may pose a risk of accidental suffocation and overheating. You may wish to choose a duvet to cover your baby, once they are over a year old.
Mothercare believes in creating a safe sleeping space for your baby and makes ideal baby blankets to keep them safe and comfortable while sleeping. Cellular cotton blankets and swaddle blankets are ideal for babies under one year. For older babies and toddlers, fleece blankets are best for keeping them warm and cosy in their crib or bed.

Size Matters

It is important to consider the size of the duvet and blanket in order to buy one that best fits your baby’s sleeping space. You will need to keep the basic measurements of length, width and depth of your baby’s crib or bedding handy while shopping.

The dimension specifications will depend on the type and pattern of blanket or duvet you choose:

A 20" x 20" blanket would be ideal to wrap newborns.
For babies older than one, the size can range from 24" x 24" to 36" x 36" to perfectly cover the crib or bassinet.
The average size of a toddler blanket be 40" x 60"

Duvet size would depend on the size of your baby’s crib or cot bed. Ideally, duvet size of 32" x 48" and 40" x 48" would be good for a baby cot and toddler bed respectively.

Soft or Firm?

The right level of duvet firmness matters a lot when it comes to ensuring you baby gets the best sleep possible in a safe and ergonomic space. When buying a mattress or duvet for the crib or bed, keep in mind that it should neither be too soft for your baby to sink down in, nor too hard to make them roll over or prevent them from sleeping.
The AAP recommends using a firm mattress with tight fitted sheets for babies younger than one to prevent the risk of SIDS from rebreathing exhaled carbon dioxide that would otherwise be trapped in the folds of the duvet cover.

Assess the Fabrics and Materials

Many paediatricians and child-care experts tout organic cotton and natural fabrics as the best material for baby blankets and duvet fabrics. However, it is important to choose fabrics appropriate to the weather or season to give your baby a good night’s sleep.
Parents and caregivers need to ensure the following:

For babies under one year – use cellular blankets made of 100% cotton. It is best to keep blankets, duvets, comforters and quilts away from the sleeping space of an infant and newborn to create a safe sleeping environment.
For bigger babies & toddlers – use blankets made of cotton, wool, cashmere, satin, natural fleece and a blend of these fabrics. Organic cotton and wool are best for duvets, and cotton for duvet covers.

To prevent any kind of allergic reactions or irritations on your baby’s sensitive skin, stick to cotton and acrylic duvets made of anti- bacterial and anti-allergic (hypo- allergic) materials. The benefits of cotton and natural fleece-based blankets, duvets and duvet covers is that they are machine-washable and can be easily tumble-dried.

Make sure to check Mothercare’s collection of safe and comfortable baby blankets and duvets.

For easier shopping, browse through our full range of Baby Nursery & Bedroom essentials for all your baby’s needs.