Approximately 90 children are burned yearly while wearing sleepwear.

Did you know

• Pre-school children are twice as likely to die from a fire than other age groups.
• Approximately 90 children are burned yearly while wearing sleepwear.
• The risk for burns can be decreased if children wear flame resistant or 100% polyester sleepwear.
• Three hundred children are burned yearly while wearing loose-fitting T-shirts or other loose-fitting clothes to sleep.
• Tight-fitting (skin tight) sleepwear that is not flame resistant also reduces the risk of burns.

Flame Resistant Sleepwear

Material that is 100% polyester is flame resistant and is the safest choice because:

• Ignition is difficult.
• Resistance is not decreased by repeated washings.
• The fire goes out once the flame is removed.
• Spread of flame is slow and self-extinguishing.
• Material shrinks away from the heat source, metals and forms holes.
• Potential for burn to be small if one does occur.

Tight-Fitting Garments

Long underwear or ski pajamas with a tight fit at the wrist, waist and ankles is a good alternative to flame resistant sleepwear because it:

• Reduces the risk of contact with flames.
• Decreases amount of air between garment and child’s body. (Air is required for flames.)
• Burn injuries with tight-fitting garments may be less severe than with looser garments.

Garments should be:

• Almost skin tight.
• Fitted at wrist, waist and ankles.
• Purchased to fit the child now.
• Not purchased to accommodate a child’s growth.

Cotton or Cotton Blend Sleepwear

Loose-fitting, oversized clothes (i.e., T-shirts, nightgowns, sleep shirts and robes) are dangerous for children to sleep in because they are:

• Extremely flammable
• Ignite easily
• Allow flames to spread rapidly and easily

Ornamentation on Sleepwear
(Trim, Lace, Decorations etc.)

• Should be made of flame resistant polyester.
• All trim, regardless of material, should be no more than 1/8 inch long.