Kids' dressing gown

Start with what the garment is for: a dressing gown is for the hours either side of sleep: the kettle at seven, the sofa at ten. Cotton is the natural fibre everything else is measured against: it breathes, it takes a hot wash, and it does not hold on to smells the way a synthetic does. That is the difference between a cotton robe and one that only looks the part.

In use it shows up as one thing: it breathes properly — no clamminess after twenty minutes, which is what makes it the sensible choice for a warm bedroom. That is also what our kids dressing gown range is for.

Parents ask about warmth straight out of the bath and a belt they can tie themselves before anything else, and they are right to — it is where most robes fall down.

• It takes a hot wash — 60°C when it needs it, without the fabric giving up
• It stays comfortable against skin all day — the reason it is the default for anyone with sensitive skin
• Easy on, easy off — one hand on the shoulder and it is done, which is the whole test with a child who will not stand still
• It survives the wash — no shrinking at the cuff and no shape lost at the shoulder, however often it goes through

Cotton creases, and it takes longer to dry than a synthetic. Neither matters much on a dressing gown, but it is worth knowing before you buy. Machine wash at 40°C. Treated that way, a cotton dressing gown lasts five winters rather than one — the difference between a robe you keep on the back of the door and one you replace every autumn.