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Original poster

Duvet togs!

54 replies

geraniumthefirst · 08/10/2022 22:08

Ok, help me out here, with a very random question about duvet togs...

Trying to decide what tog to get dd for her new bed, can anyone tell me what sort of tog will do for all year round for a child that doesn't run particularly hot or cold. I am SO confused. According to my Amazon order from years ago, she currently has a 4 tog... what's the difference between a 4 tog and a 10.5 tog, which seems to be the next step in most retailers?

What does a tog mean? WHAT DOES IT EVEN MEAN?!? 🤯🤯🤯

Any advice on togs appreciated!

OP posts:
mrsjimhopper · 08/10/2022 22:55

I have around a feather one much more versatile as it's breathable so can have it in all year round and not get to hot. It is a 10,5 tog from Marks'. (Even I'm the heatwave)

I was going to say toddlers need different ratings not sure about 4/5 years old.

Previously I've had the all season ones that snap together so you get a 4.5 and a 9 tog that snap together to make a 13.5 tog that was a double size.

Then i got a king size bed and I stupidly went and got a very cheap 4 tog for summer which was a sweaty synthetic nightmare. Then i got the feathery dream!

TheSmallAssassin · 08/10/2022 22:57

I don't think one duvet will do all year round, we do 4.5 in the spring and summer and will switch to a 7 when we get colder. They're not expensive and pack down well for storage, so I'd go for another 4 if she's been ok with that and get a warmer one later in the year if she gets cold.

Lizzy1980 · 08/10/2022 22:59

I have a 13 tog Fogarty duvet. It’s a little too warm for me and I’ve had to sleep with my bedroom window open the last few nights but I think my peri menopausal night sweats have something to do with that. Under normal circumstances I think 13 tog is perfect for winter, nice and toasty without being too heavy

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DrMadelineMaxwell · 08/10/2022 22:59

We have a 4.5 on permanently all year. In the winter we wear longer and warmer PJs and I stick a blanket on top if needed. I've just spent the night in a hotel with a big poofy duvet and it's just weird as it's not what we are used to.

Originally it came as part of the all-year set and we got rid of the 10tog as found it too warm on its own.

gogohmm · 08/10/2022 23:00

10.5 is normal for a decently insulated house, you can add a blanket on top in midwinter

WireSkills · 08/10/2022 23:24

DSGR · 08/10/2022 22:10

4 is a light summer weight, 10 tog is autumn going into winter and 13 is very warm. I would get an “all seasons” one made up of two duvets that you can fasten together. We have them and it means you have duvets for any weather. Everywhere sells them

Same. It does seem a big variance between 4 and 10 but we have an all seasons duvet too.

I've never put the pair together and it would have to be a very, very cold mid-winter's night to even go to the 10. Most of the winter the 4.5 is enough and in summer we have a 2.5.

It is different for kids though. If you went for the lighter weight you can always top it up with blankets and/or thicker pyjamas.

Cookerhood · 08/10/2022 23:25

We have 4.5s in the summer & 10.5 in the winter (I like the comfort of the weight in winter). We could button then together but have never needed to.

PickAChew · 08/10/2022 23:29

PriamFarrl · 08/10/2022 22:17

I personally used to have a 4 in the summer and a 9 in the winter, with a blanket of I was chilly as it’s easy to move if I warm up. However I switched to a wool duvet a couple of years ago and I’ve kept the same one all year round, even this summer!

Same here. I have a quilted throw that my mum made for my 50th birthday that I throw over it on really cold nights but otherwise it stays the same.

Ds1 is still on his 4.5 tog one, as his room is warmer than the other bedrooms but once the first frosts hit, I'll swap it for his 10.5 tog.

Rookie93 · 08/10/2022 23:35

Good old Wiki had the following:-
The tog is a measure of thermal insulance of a unit area, also known as thermal resistance. It is commonly used in the textile industry and often seen quoted on, for example, duvets and carpet underlay.

The Shirley Institute in Manchester, England developed the tog as an easy-to-follow alternative to the SI unit of m2⋅K/W.[1] The name comes from the informal word togs for 'clothing', which itself was probably derived from the word toga, a Roman garment. The backronym thermal overall grade is also attested.[2

Adult comfort ratings against temperature.
Minimal 1.0–2.5 tog
Summer 3.0–4.5 tog
Spring/autumn 7.5–10.5 tog
Winter 12.0–13.5 tog

ChickinMarango · 08/10/2022 23:54

@geraniumthefirst so my girl is 5 in February. She’s had a 4.5 tog on for the Summer which is recommended all year round until age 6 I believe. She then had a 7.5 tog during Winter last year but this year has a 13.5 and loves it. We’re in the East of England and her room is chilly although double glazed there is sloping from the roof and it feels so cold. (Old Edwardian end terrace)

If you’re confident DD will be able to move the duvet if she overheats I’d aim higher rather than lower.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 08/10/2022 23:56

Honestly I prefer a light duvet and then layering up on blankets when it gets colder. Easier to wash too.

I think we've got 7.5 togs on the kids beds and a 4 tog on ours, but we're a LOT fatter and of course there's two of us in our bed.

dementedpixie · 08/10/2022 23:56

I'm in Scotland and we never go above 10.5tog

FarmhouseLiving22 · 09/10/2022 00:12

We have an all seasons one which is great from M&S - they click together to be 12 tog for super cold weather, or you can have a 4.5 tog (summer) or a 7.5 tog (autumn/winter)
My daughter has 7.5 all year round which is fine. If it's super hot she can just have the duvet cover, or if it gets very cold I have a throw or blanket for her, but usually 7.5 is a good all rounder

earsup · 09/10/2022 00:21

I have 15 tog for jan and feb but like window open...!...plus a fluffy duvet set...in summer just a 5 tog is enough.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/10/2022 07:19

Berlioz23 · 08/10/2022 22:52

Seems I’m in the minority and I live in the north but still have my 1.5 tog duvet on. In November I’ll change to a 4.5 but anything more than that I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Children don’t feel the cold as much as they have more brown fat so I’d probs go for the 4 one, especially with you living in London.

Same here. All this talk of 10 and 13 togs makes me sweat just thinking about it. I'm sure some people must be sleeping outside to need as much bedding and pyjamas as they talk about on here. We don't have the heating on overnight either, in fact, the bedroom window is open most of the year.

If she's not cold now, she'll probably be fine with the 4.5 going forwards and you can add an extra blanket if she's cold in winter.

PurBal · 09/10/2022 07:26

We have wool duvets. They don’t do them in togs. Now that’s confusing! We have a summer and winter one but because it’s wool we probably could manage with just one as they help regulate temperature so much better than our synthetic ones used to.

janedani · 09/10/2022 07:28

Just changed all my kids duvets from 4.5 tog to 10.5 tog. Kids are 12, 9 and 6 and each had the 4.5 tog once they moved from cot to bed as toddlers. I'd never given it a thought again until my daughter was complaining of being cold last month.

IamChipmunk · 09/10/2022 07:36

We all have 4 tog in our house. Would be too hot with thicker.
Kids are 6 and 8 and had 4 tog since needing a duvet. In summer they have just the duvet cover when very hot. In winter ds has a blanket on top and wears long pjs. Dd runs hot so always shorts pjs and no extra blanket!
I have an extra blanket just on my side for winter as dh doesnt like to be too hot.

We do have a warm newish build house.

I would stick to 4 and get a nice blanket to add if needed. Dd has a lovely fleece olaf frozen blanket (that she doesn't use!) As part of her bedroom decor and ds a fleece one with stars on.

BertieBotts · 09/10/2022 07:42

Younger children need different thickness of duvet, that's why baby sleeping bags are 1 tog/ 2 tog etc.

At 5 I would guess 4 tog is fine year round. Add a fleece blanket on top if she gets cold in winter.

I always just use them as a guide to each other e.g. if I had a 4 tog and was thinking this is freezing, I need more warmth, then I'd not buy another 4 tog, I'd look for a higher number.

BertieBotts · 09/10/2022 07:43

IIRC they are also equivalent to number of blankets so 4 tog is the same as having 4 layers of blanket.

Roselilly36 · 09/10/2022 07:47

We have a summer duvet each 4.5, when it’s really hot we just have the duvet cover, in the winter 10.5 suits my DS, I have a 13.5 from John Lewis that is so light, soft and warm, like sleeping under a giant marshmallow, love it. DH doesnt have the duvet over night all night, so plenty for me!

strawberry2017 · 09/10/2022 07:50

I just got out 4 year old 10.5 for winter.
4.5 is far to thin for the colder weather and I thought 13.5 might be to much

catinboots123 · 09/10/2022 07:50

I believe mine is a 7.5 🤷🏼‍♀️

DeliberatelyObtuse · 09/10/2022 07:50

We have the "multi season" ones. A 4.5 and a 9 which can be clipped/popped together for winter.

flapjackfairy · 09/10/2022 08:11

I am the worlds coldest person and I have a 15 tog duvet all year round supplemented with a couple of wool blankets and fleecy pyjamas and socks for most of the year as well. I never sleep.without warm socks on even in a heat wave !
I envy all.you people who.can stay warm and toasty under a 4.5 tog duvet even in winter.

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