Sleepwear Warnings

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges parents to make sure their children’s sleepwear is either flame-resistant or snug-fitting. Loose-fitting T-shirts and other loose-fitting clothing made of cotton or cotton blends should not be used for children’s sleepwear. These garments can catch fire easily, burn rapidly and are associated with nearly 300 burn injuries to children each year treated in emergency rooms.

Children are most at risk from burn injuries that result from playing with fire (matches, lighters, candles, burners on stoves) just before bedtime and just after rising in the morning.

As of June 28, the safety commission requires tags and permanent labels on snug-fitting children’s sleepwear made of cotton or cotton blends, to remind consumers that because the garment is not flame-resistant, it must fit snugly for safety. The new yellow tag for snug-fitting garments reads, “For child’s safety, garment should fit snugly. This garment is not flame resistant.”

A loose-fitting garment is more likely to catch fire. The permanent label reads, “Wear snug-fitting. Not flame resistant” and is sewn into the neck of the garment. Parents should look for tags that say the garment is flame-resistant or snug-fitting.

Source: Consumer Products Safety Commission