A baby comforter (also called a lovey, sleep toy or security blanket) is a small soft toy your little one keeps as a settling cue. The good ones get used every night for years, so it is worth choosing carefully. Here is the checklist we use, in the order that matters.

1. Can it be washed properly?

This is the first question, not the last. A comforter gets dribbled on, dragged through daycare and dropped in car parks. If it has a sound unit, check whether the unit comes out. A sewn-in speaker means wipe-clean only, which is not enough. Love By Emi comforters have a sound box that lifts out through a zip, so the plush goes in the washing machine.

2. What does it actually play?

More sounds is not better. A settling cue works because it is the same every time. Look for a small number of sounds that suit sleep, a volume you can turn down, and a timer so it is not playing all night. Love By Emi comforters play white noise and a classic lullaby, with two volume levels and a 20 or 40 minute auto shut-off.

3. Is it safe for your little one's age?

No soft item should be in the cot before 7 months (Red Nose Australia) and ideally 12 months (American Academy of Pediatrics). Love By Emi recommends 12 months. Before that, a comforter is for supervised settling and the pram, then out of the cot once asleep. Check the toy has no loose parts or long ribbons, and that any battery compartment is secured with a screw. See our safe sleep page for the full guidance.

4. Will it go where you go?

The whole point of a comforter is portability. Look for something light, a size that fits a nappy bag, and a way to attach it to the pram so it does not end up on the footpath. Love By Emi comforters have a strap at the base that holds a dummy or clips to a pram, and the mini comforters are the nappy-bag size.

5. Can you get a second one?

If a comforter works, you will want a backup: one for daycare, one for home, one for when the first is in the wash or lost. Choose a brand that keeps the same characters in stock year after year. Love By Emi sells two-packs of most characters for exactly this reason, and replacement sound boxes and plush separately so a worn part does not mean starting over.

6. What happens if it breaks?

Sound units fail occasionally, usually from a drop or a dunk. Check the warranty before you buy. Every Love By Emi product has a 12-month warranty, and spare sound boxes are sold on their own.

7. Batteries and power

Most comforters with sound run on batteries. Check which type, whether they are included, and whether the compartment is screw-fastened. Love By Emi musical comforters take 2 x AAA (not included); the interactive plush take 3 x AA (not included).

8. Does your little one like it?

Last on the list, but it decides everything. Colour and face matter more than you would think. Newborns notice strong contrast first, which is why black-and-white characters like Delly the White Tiger and Lylah the Cow are so often the one a little one bonds with. Toddlers choose by animal: Shay the Giraffe, Dash the Dinosaur and Maisie the Unicorn have strong followings. If you can, let them pick.

The Love By Emi range at a glance

Product	Sound	Age	Best for
Musical comforter	White noise and lullaby, 20/40 min timer	Settling from birth, in the cot from 12 months	The everyday sleep cue
Two-pack / sleep bundle	As above	As above	Home plus daycare, or a backup
Mini comforter	None	Settling from birth, in the cot from 12 months	Nappy bag, pram, a lighter option
Interactive plush	Songs, voice recorder, touch sensor	3 years and up	Play and the bedtime wind-down for older children

All designed in Western Australia with a 12-month warranty. Questions before you buy are answered on the FAQ page, or get in touch.