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.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
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