How to Pick Flame-Resistant Sleepwear

No parent wants to risk a burn to their child and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) encourages parents to choose flame-resistant sleepwear for children to help prevent a tragic accident. When you shop for sleepwear for your child, keep some guidelines in mind.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Steer clear of untreated cotton and cotton blends. Although soft cotton t-shirts are fun to cuddle and snooze in, they are a fire hazard. Cotton catches fire easily and burns quickly. Many childhood burns seen in emergency rooms are associated with cotton clothing.
2. Choose snug-fitting sleepwear instead of big, baggy items. Loose-fitting sleep apparel is much more likely to catch fire from hanging over an open flame or the stove. Keeping sleepwear close to the body helps reduce fire danger because there is no underneath airspace to feed a flame.
3. Read the label closely before you buy. The CPSC requires clothing manufacturers to reveal whether or not the fabric contains fire-retardant chemicals. Treated fabric will not burst easily into flame.
4. Educate yourself about PBDE, a common chemical used in treating children’s sleepwear. Not only does it resist fire, it actually reduces the spread of an existing fire, giving family members a better chance of escaping a house fire without injury. (See Resources below.)
5. Realize that flame-resistant does not mean fire proof. Even with treated sleepwear, be vigilant when allowing children near flames. The greatest time of risk to a child is just before or after their bedtime, when parental supervision is lower and they may try to cook and play with matches or lighters.
6. Purchase new sleepwear after numerous washings. Read and follow the care instructions on the garment label carefully.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that some environmental groups have asserted that the chemicals used to treat children’s sleepwear contributes to the incidence of liver and thyroid conditions.
• The best way to ensure that your child is safe is to keep him or her away from fire, stoves, matches, lighters and all flame sources.