Alphabetic Guide to Child Care - Clothing

Clothing

Standards have been set up the U.S. government for infants’ and children's sleepwear to be flame retard-ant or flame resistent. Even flame retardant material, though, will burn when fire is held against the cloth. The difference is that when the flame is removed, the retardant material ceases to burn. Nontreated material will continue to burn and fuel further flames.

Until recently this meant that sleepwear for small children had to be non-natural fibers. Synthetic material could be coated so that it would not continue to burn after the flame was removed. Cotton does continue to burn and increases the likelihood of serious injuries to a child in case of fire. However, recent improvements in chemical treatment of cotton has provided the clothing industry with flame retardant cotton. Check clothing labels to see if the cotton is treated. If it is not labeled as flame retardant or resistent, it should not be considered for sleepwear.

Many manufacturers produce clothing for infants that looks like sleepwear but is labeled daywear or playwear to avoid the need for flame retardant treatment of the cloth. If the clothing is not marked flame retardant, or is not specifically labeled as sleepwear, it should not be used to clothe a sleeping child.