April 2007
Safe sleepwear
Fabric and fit are important safety considerations for your baby's sleepwear. For infants to children's size 14, Consumer
Product Safety Commission regulations dictate that sleepwear must either be made of flame-resistant fabric, or fit snugly.
Flame-resistant fabric must not ignite easily and must self-extinguish quickly when removed from a flame to meet government
flammability requirements. Sleepwear that fits snugly does not trap the air needed for fabric to burn and reduces the chances
of contact with a flame. Flame-resistant fabrics may be worn either loose or snug-fitting; they're often made of polyester,
but cotton can be treated so that it's flame resistant. When you're shopping for sleepwear, keep these ground rules in mind:
- Don't buy oversize sleepwear that's not flame-resistant (look for a label on the garment indicating flame resistance).
- Don't allow your baby to sleep in loose T-shirts, sweatshirts, or other apparel made from non-flame-resistant fabrics.
- Don't buy snug-fitting sleepwear a size or two larger so your baby has growing room. That defeats the purpose of the garment
and puts your baby at risk. Snug-fitting sleepwear looks tight, but it stretches. It must have a prominent warning on the
label that states: Wear snug-fitting, not flame resistant.
For infants, we recommend a wearable blanket, or sleep sack, to replace loose blankets in your baby's crib. Sleep sacks don't
fit snugly; there's plenty of kicking room. They're typically made of flame-resistant fabric, but check the garment's label
to be sure. For more on sleep sacks, see Crib Bedding.
