The Best Comforters in 2022 (original) (raw)

Comforters will give your baby some extra warmth and added comfort to your baby. They come in a variety of styles and materials, making the perfect gift for a new addition to your happy family. With so many different comforters to choose between, considering a few factors will help you narrow down your choice.

To help you figure out which sort of comforter you need, we have created this handy buying guide.

Read on to see what we recommend.

What is a comforter?

Stereotypically, comforters are small blankets that are used to help your baby sleep. Seeing, feeling, and smelling the blanket whenever it is time to sleep will make the baby associate the blanket with sleeping. This in effect causes the baby to feel tired when it is near the blanket. It is a good tool for helping a baby relax when they are feeling anxious - alongside an excellent pH-balanced baby lotion. Adding the parents’ scent to the blanket will give the baby an added sense of security. However, some parents choose other objects that can be classed as comforters such as teddies but for the sake of this buying guide, we will concentrate on blankets.

Alternatively, you can also buy adult comforters. These are soft, thick, quilted blankets that cover a bed. They are similar to a duvet without the need for a duvet cover. Both adult and baby comforters come in a variety of prints, patterns, and textures.

Why do you need a comforter?

Babies go through a variety of milestones and transitional periods. It can only help to have an added tool to guide your baby through these challenging times. There is no doubt about it - raising a child is hard but rewarding work. Why not utilize a baby comforter to make life a little easier for both you and your baby?

IMPORTANT NOTICE: You should only use a comforter when you are there to watch the baby. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that the crib should be left bare in case of suffocation. A blanket may be placed in the crib over the age of 1 years.

In terms of adult comforters, these are great if you are physically struggling to change your duvet cover. If you get a machine washable comforter, it stays just as clean with much less effort.

Things to consider before buying a comforter?

If you want to buy a comforter that your baby really connects with or you want a comforter for your own bedroom, you may want to consider some of the following factors before rushing out to the store.

Materials

Your baby comforter should be made of breathable light fabric. Cashmere, wool, or cotton are the best options for your baby’s sensitive skin. Bamboo is also a great choice as it is non-toxic and skin-friendly. You do not want a fabric with synthetic fibers. Preferably you should choose an absorbent material so that your baby remains warm during any little accidents or spills.

Bed topping comforters can come with many different fillings. Usually, they are stuffed with a synthetic fiber filler. Natural materials include cotton, wool, and down. Cotton is best for the warmer months. Wool is ideal for cooler months. Down is as warm as wool, but fluffier. Down is pricier to buy and expensive to maintain than those synthetic counterparts, as it is not machine washable.

Size

The size of your comforter depends on the size of your child. The comforter must be small enough for your child to manipulate so it does not cause suffocation. The ideal comforter might average between 30 and 40 inches.

Much like duvet covers, you can buy bed topper comforters that correlate to the size of your bed. For example, bed topper comforters can be found in single, double, queen size, and king size.

Stitching

When shopping for either a baby comforter or a bed topping comforter, be sure to check the seams. Any fraying can lead to rubbing or wrapping around your child’s small fingers. Fraying seams are a sign of poor quality craftsmanship. If the seams are already fraying, your comforter will not last very long.

Shape

Many comforters often come as a blanket attached to a stuffed animal. Some are designed to look like a piece of clothing on a soft toy. You can also buy comforter blankets made from a variety of materials and textures which combine to create a pleasant sensory experience for your child. Tag blankets are very popular as they are visually appealing and keep the baby occupied as well as soothed.

Machine Washable

Your baby comforter is going to get very dirty. You will want to make sure the material is machine washable or you will spend a lot of time hand washing and drying it.

Bed topping comforters do not have detachable duvet covers. To save money on dry cleaning bills, make sure the comforter is machine washable.

Age of Child

If your child is under 1 year old they should not have a comforter in their crib whilst they sleep. As your child gets older you can increase the size of the comforter. The older the child, the more stimulation you may wish to look for when considering comforters, such as different colors and textiles.

Color

Children are perceptive to color. At the University of California, researchers found that young children chose dark colors to represent negative feelings. Positive feelings were represented by bright colors. They found that the children in the test group had universal feelings associated with certain colors. Red represents anger, blue represents sadness, yellow represents happiness, and the green represents being glad. Although blue represents sadness in this study, it is known to represent feeling calm in others. You will want to consider this when you choose the color of your baby comforter.

Comforter price range

A baby comforter will cost you anything between 10and10 and 10and30 depending on the design and brand.

FAQ

How do I wean my baby off a comforter?

Only use the comforter at very stressful times. Reward your baby when they return the comforter.

What are some famous brands for baby comforters?

Hudson Baby, Stork Wares, TILLYOU, JJ Cole Urban, Boritar Baby, and Aden + Anais, Parade. There are countless more you will find with a simple Google search.

How many comforters should my baby have?

We recommend buying two comforters in the same design so you have an alternative whilst the other is cleaned and dried.