The Best Non-Toxic Pajamas for Babies and Children

Let’s start from the beginning. Toxic pajamas?! Why are kids’ pajamas toxic? Did you know that many pajamas for babies and children that are currently being sold in stores are treated with flame retardants?

Why are there flame retardants in kids’ pajamas?

Here is a super brief summary of why there are even flame retardants in kids’ pajamas in the first place:

Back in the 1970s, smoke detectors were not required in homes, but Congress passed an act which required children’s pajamas (ages 9 months to 14 years) to be flame resistant. This was because children’s sleepwear was commonly made to be very loose fitting and could easily catch fire when exposed to flames. Because of this new requirement, children’s pajamas made from cotton were treated with flame retardants (brominated and chlorinated tris).

Eventually, studies were conducted which demonstrated that these flame retardants were easily absorbed into the bloodstream and can cause harm. In 1996, the Consumer Product Safety Commission updated the requirement so that pajamas must either be flame resistant OR fit snugly.

Many pajamas are made with synthetic fabrics, such as polyester. These fabrics are chosen because they are considered to be “naturally flame resistant”, and companies claim that the fire safety standards can be met without the use of harmful flame retardants. However, the reality is that while these polyester may not immediately ignite when exposed to flames, it will melt without flame retardants because it is plastic. Furthermore, flame resistant/retardant chemicals are often used on the fabrics at the manufacturing stage, which means that clothing companies who sell the clothes may not always know exactly what chemicals are being used in the manufacturing process, despite claims that no flame retardants are present. So unfortunately, there isn’t really a way of truly knowing whether these polyester pajamas contain flame retardants.

Why I don’t like polyester pajamas

In addition to the above, I personally avoid polyester for pajamas because polyester is not breathable and can cause overheating.

How to find non-toxic pajamas

Natural fabrics, like 100% cotton and wool are the best option for pajamas. These fabrics are breathable and help with temperature regulation. It is also important for pajamas to be tight fitting. Children’s pajamas that are not flame resistant will come with a yellow tag that states the pajamas are not flame resistant and need to be worn snug-fitting. You want this tag!

Additionally, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification ensures that the fabrics have been rigorously tested for the presence of 100+ chemicals that are known to harmful to humans and the environment. The GOTS certification also ensures the lack of presence of many harmful chemicals.

Where to buy safe, non-toxic pajamas

I’ve been on the hunt for affordable, non-toxic 100% cotton pajamas, and here are some of the stores I’ve found them at:

Walmart carries an amazing 100% organic cotton brand that is both OEKO-TEX and GOTS certified called Little Star Organic. These are some of the most affordable pajamas I’ve found!

Target carries a few organic cotton options including Burt’s Bees and Touched By Nature. Target also carries a line of organic pajamas for older kids called Mightly.

Burt’s Bees is one of my favorite brands for kids’ pajamas, and I love that their sizing goes up to 12Y. I try to wait for sales, which they usually have periodically.

Amazon carries several brands of non-toxic, 100% cotton pajamas including Burt’s Bees, Little Planet by Carter’s, and Honest Baby.

Those are some of my favorite brands, but not all inclusive! Check out this list to find more 100% cotton, non-toxic children’s pajamas from a variety of different stores.