A debate that has bothered me for years is about to come to an end with this article. I’ve always been turned off by polyester PJs for my kids. It’s something my mom always re-enforced with using cotton at bedtime, but it’s always bothered me and now I know why. It’s not the fact that polyester PJs don’t breath well or provide the same level of softness that cotton or bamboo material does. It’s the fact that polyester sleepwear is infused with ‘natural’ flame retardants – bonded right into the fabric. So a company can state that their sleepwear doesn’t contain flame retardants (they have been banned since the late 70′s because they were found to be so carcinogenic) but since polyester is ‘naturally’ fire resistant, this labeling doesn’t need to be added to the tag.
Confused? Don’t know anything about flame retardants? They aren’t something we are not familiar with as parents today, because the year I was born (1973) the US Department of Commerce declared mandatory fire-resistance standards for kid’s sleepwear. So flame retardants were brushed onto children’s PJs, chemically treating them (without any testing) and were later found to be a mutagen and a carcinogen. How potent was this ‘coating’ of flame retardants? The National Cancer Institute testing Tris-BP showed that it was one hundred times more powerful than the carcinogens in cigarette smoke. (!!) Four years later this chemical was banned from children’s products which is pretty quick turn-around time for a ban proving just how dangerous Tris-PB (type of flame retardant) was.
So after absorbing all this information from the chapter in Slow Death By Rubber Duck I felt quite safe that the problem of the government sticking flame retardants in children’s sleepwear is an issue I don’t have to concern myself with. Only something Rick mentioned in the chapter has been bugging me for months since I read it ~ the fact that polyester has naturally ‘built in’ flame retardants and because of this is a popular fabric choice for large manufacturers of sleepwear. I’m in no way suggesting that the flame retardants that are found ‘naturally’ in polyester are as dangerous as the ones that were banned in the 70′s, but the author of Slow Death By Rubber Duck tried to get answers from one of the largest kid’s sleepwear retailers (Carters) asking what type of flame retardants are mixed into the polyester they use and couldn’t get his question answered. If one of the leading Environmentalists in Canada couldn’t get answers – I won’t even attempt. And rather than frustrate myself with trying to investigate further, I’m opting to remove any sleepwear from my kids PJ drawer that are made from polyester. And this isn’t a slag on Carters – every big name that produces sleepwear for children uses either polyester or cotton.
Your children spend close to 10-12 hours a night sleeping in their PJs – that is the longest stretch of time they spend in clothing throughout the day. I went through my boy’s PJs drawer this weekend and couldn’t believe how many PJs were 100% polyester. Before you think this doesn’t apply to you…go check. You’ll be surprised at how many soft fabrics are actually polyester – not cotton. I’ve removed the polyester PJs from my sons’ PJ drawer and with Christmas on the near horizon – a new item on everyone’s Santa list will be either 100% cotton or bamboo PJs. And while we are talking about it – watch for decals, plastic, sparkles, etc. that are decorating your child’s sleepwear….these appliques are made from PVC. This is the ‘poison plastic’ that has no business being near your child while they are sleeping. I know the Superman and Disney Cars decals are fun on PJs but really, night-time sleepwear is the perfect place to reduce toxic materials. The sand man is easily impressed and children don’t have any pressure to wear commercialism laced products to bed.
Related Articles:
Little Inkers – Growing PVC & Phthalate Free Kids
Toxic Experiment With Everyday Products ~ Slow Death By Rubber Duck
PVC Items In Your Every-Day Life
PVC Plastic ~ The Poison Plastic In Your Home
The flame retardants woven into the fiber aren’t really “natural” – they are added to make the fibers inherently flame resistant.
Also, unfortunately, need to be careful of natural fibers, incl. cotton. Carter’s and some others sell flame retardant treated cotton. These pjs will be advertised as flame resistant cotton, or Proban cotton.
Good to know about the flame retardant treated cotton PJs too – scary to know another product needs this kind of investigation before I feel safe putting it on my kids. Thanks Jennifer!
Jennifer, Interesting re the Proban cotton. EWG recently put together a tip sheet on avoiding flame retardants if it adds to this conversation: http://www.ewg.org/Healthy-Home-Tips-03. Best, Lisa
I’m confused. I thought that most cotton PJs were coated with flame retardants (along with our pillows and mattresses)? when you buy flannel at the fabric store it is often stamped “not suitable for sleep wear” and I always figured that this was because it was not coated in flame retardants.
Were all flame retardants band or just some?
Thanks
Hi Jenn ~ I have asked Old Navy and other large companies that sell cotton PJs if they coat with flame retardants and the answer is no. I’m not asking experts, but district manager types so I hope this information is correct. Yes, using a cotton or flannel is a much better material because unlike polyester, these materials don’t have flame retardants interwoven into the fabric (like polyester does) and why 80% of the PJs on the market are always made from polyester. So while the cottons PJs sold will come with a warning ‘not suitable for sleepware’, green minded mamas embrace this warning because they are actually made without flame retardants. It’s hard thinking the opposite of what is recommended but since the large companies are not looking out for consumers, we will continue to read labels and ask questions.
Suzanne
Mommy Footprint
Pvc = poison plastic? Seriously? SERIOUSLY? You realize Pvc is used in house hold plumbing right? Its safe to carry drinking water…. Just sayin….
Great article, Suzanne!