CPSC Warns About Flammable Loose-Fitting Garments Used As Children's Sleepwear

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 1998
Release # 99-025

CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

CPSC Warns About Flammable Loose-Fitting Garments Used As Children's Sleepwear

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns people not to put children to sleep in loose-fitting T-shirts or other over-size clothes made from cotton or cotton blends. These garments can catch fire easily and are associated with 200 to 300 emergency room-treated burn injuries to children annually. Loose-fitting clothing stands away from the body, making contact with an ignition source more likely. Loose-fitting, non-flame-resistant clothing allows an air space next to the body that helps keep the fire burning, possibly injuring children.

CPSC Vice-Chairman Thomas Moore said, "It is safer to put your children in flame-resistant or snug-fitting sleepwear, not over-size, loose-fitting cotton or cotton-blend garments."

CPSC sets national safety standards for children's sleepwear flammability. These standards protect children from serious burn injuries if they come in contact with an open flame, such as a match, lighter, or stove burner. The standards have prevented thousands of serious burn injuries since the early 1970s. Under federal safety rules, garments sold as children's sleepwear for sizes larger than nine months and up to size 14 must be either flame-resistant or snug-fitting.

Flame-resistant garments do not continue burning when removed from a small open flame. Snug-fitting garments need not be flame-resistant because they are made to fit closely against a child's body. Their stretchy fabrics make them comfortable. Snug-fitting sleepwear does not ignite easily and, even if ignited, does not burn as rapidly because there is little air under the garment to feed a fire.

Most manufacturers are using hangtags on their snug-fitting sleepwear to tell consumers that the product meets federal safety standards. The hangtags remind consumers that a snug fit or flame resistance is necessary for safety.

Consumers can also view a video clip about this press release (Transcript). It is about 8 megabytes long and the download time depends upon the speed of your Internet connection.