Overview

Your baby is going to spend a lot of time sleeping. Today, sleepwear can go beyond PJs - and now includes swaddling blankets, and "sleepsacks" (wearable blankets).

Hidden Hazards

A big question for sleepwear focuses on flame retardancy: Pajamas for babies from zero to nine months do not have to be fire retarded. After that, loose fitting cotton nightgowns and pajamas may be treated with a chemical. Polyester pajamas are inherently flame resistant and appear not to be treated with chemicals. Tight-fitting cotton pajamas are also not treated. Otherwise, sleepwear carries the same potential chemicals of concern as other clothing: 13 chemicals were reported by companies to Washington state, including antimony, nonylphenols, eight phthalates, solvents like methyl ethyl ketone, phthalic anhydride and styrene.

Other Considerations

Make sure you don't allow open flames like candles around babies and toddlers in sleep clothing. Modern common-sense methods of preventing house fires like well-maintained smoke detectors are better methods for protecting your children from burns in a fire.

Recommendations

Consider close-fitting natural fiber sleepwear. As with all clothing, wash sleepwear before babies use it. Avoid fabric softeners, as they remain on the fabric and can reduce flame retardant properties. Whenever possible, choose organic textiles for items that will touch your baby's body. Products made of fabric are certified organic by GOTS (the Global Organic Textile Standard). Avoid latex to avoid possible allergies.

MakeMake Organics

• Organic Cotton Kimono Sleep Gown ($28.99)

  • Pattern Options: Rainbow, Blue Flecks, Brown Dots, Yellow Stripes, Pink Flecks, Blue Stripes

  • Size: Newborn

• Organic Cotton Knotted Sleep Gown ($28.99)

  • Pattern Options: Blue Flecks, Blue Stripes, Yellow Stripes, Brown Dots, Rainbow, Pink Flecks

  • Size: Newborn

Burt’s Bees Baby

• Market Miracles Organic Baby Gown & Cap Set ($16.95)

  • Size: Preemie

• Baby Hedgehog Forest Organic Cotton Gown & Cap Set ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 0-6 Months

• Baby Sprinkling Petals Organic Cotton Gown & Cap Set ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 0-6 Months

• Multi-Stripe Organic Baby Gown & Cap Set ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 0-6 Months

• Wyoming Wildflower Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Bear Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Sprinkling Petals Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size: 18 Months

• Wild Horses Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Seasons Change Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Bears in the Forest Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Antler Family Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Wild Autumn Floral Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-6 Months

• Sharing Squirrels Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Foothills Stripe Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size: Newborn

• Trail Treasures Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Wild Horses Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Antler Family Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Forest Frenzy Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Wyoming Wildflowers Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Trail Treasures Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Multi Stripe Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Trail Markers Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-18 Months

• Botanical Gardens Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Owls & Leaves Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-3 Months

• Counting Sheep Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Without a Paddle Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size: Newborn

• Seasons Change Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 18-24 Months

• Bears in the Forest Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Multi Stripe Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Sprinkling Petals Organic Baby Snug Fit Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Bold Blossoms Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-6 Months

• Polar Explorer Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Wild Wilderness Organic Baby Zip Front Loose Fit Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Alphabet Bee Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size: 18 Months

• Chevron Bee organic baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Baby Rugby Stripe Organic Cotton Zip Front Loose Fit Footed Pajamas (Pink) ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Baby Rosy Spring Floral Watercolor Organic Cotton Zip Front Foot Loose Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: Newborn & 3-6 Months

• Pine Forest Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Tossed Succulent Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size: 24 Months

• Rugby Stripe Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size Options: 18 Months

• Etched Evergreens Organic Baby Zip Up Snug Fit Footed Pajamas ($13.95)

  • Size: 6-9 Months

• A Bee C and Stripes Organic Baby Zip Front Snug Fit Footed Pajamas 2-Pack ($26.95)

  • Size: 18 Months

• Rugby Stripe Snug Fit Organic Baby Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

  • Color Options: Pink, Teal, Grey

• A Bee C Snug Fit Organic Baby Pajamas ($16.95)

  • Size: 24 Months

Cat and Dogma

• Armadillo Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

• Armadillo Hat ($13)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

• Avocado Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 0-3 & 18-24 Months

• Avocado Hat ($13)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

• Banana Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 0-24 Months

• Banana Gown ($28)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

• Banana Hat ($13)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

• Bee Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 3-24 Months

• Bee Gown ($28)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

• Bee Hat ($13)

• Flamingo Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 6-24 Months

• Flamingo Hat ($13)

  • 0-6 Months

• Frenchie Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 0-24 Months

• Frenchie Hat ($13)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

• Good Vibes Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 3-24 Months

• I Love You Footie ($33)

  • Size Options: 6-24 Months

• I Love You Gown ($28)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

Carter’s

• Certified Organic Snap-Up Sleep & Play (White Elephants) ($24)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Certified Organic Snap-Up Sleep & Play (Pink & Blue Flowers) ($24)

  • Size Options: 3-9 Months

• Certified Organic Snap-Up Sleep & Play (Animals) ($24)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

  • Color Options: Navy, Ivory

• Certified Organic Cotton 2-Way Zip Sleep & Play(Lions/Dinosaurs) ($24)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

  • Color Options: Blue, Green

• Certified Organic Cotton 2-Way Zip Sleep & Play (Pink Unicorn) ($24)

  • Size: 6 Months

• Certified Organic Cotton 2-Way Zip Sleep & Play (Grey Sheep) ($24)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• 2-Pack Certified Organic Cotton Sleeper Gowns (Blue and White Animals) ($30)

  • Size: Preemie

• 1-Piece Certified Organic Snug Fit Cotton Footless Pajamas (Elephant and Dinosaurs) ($26)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

  • Color Options: Navy, White

• 1-Piece Certified Organic Snug Fit Cotton Footless (Lion and Shark) ($26)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

  • Color Options: Blue, Light Blue

• 1-Piece Certified Organic Snug Fit Cotton Footless (Unicorn, Bunny, Flowers, Hearts) ($26)

  • Size Options: 12-24 Months

  • Color Options: Pink, White, Blue

Cloe and Cleo

• Knot Hat (Dotted or Striped) ($13)

  • Size Options: 0-3 Months

  • Color Options: Black, Pink

• Sleep Gown (Dotted, Striped) ($28)

  • Size: 0-6 Months

• Footed Sleeper (Dotted, Striped) ($28)

  • Size Options: 0-9 Months

  • Color Options: Black, Mint, Pink

• Footed Sleeper (Hearts) ($38)

  • Size Options: 0-9 Months

Under the Nile

• Sherpa Side Snap Footie ($36)

  • Size Options: Newborn-6 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Red Rugby Stripe ($30)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Bunny Print ($29)

  • Size Options: 0-6 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Grey Stripe ($29)

  • Size Options: 0-9 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Light Blue ($29)

  • Size Options: Preemie-6 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Twilight Plane ($32)

  • Size Options: 0-9 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Twilight Plane Print ($30)

  • Size Options: 0-9 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Bella Butterfly Print ($30)

  • Size Options: 0-9 Months

• Sherpa Sleep Sack ($38)

  • Size : 0-6 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Bella Butterfly ($32)

  • Size Options: 0-9 Months

• Baby Gown – Green 2-Pack ($52)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Baby Gown – Organic White 2-Pack ($52)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Baby Gown – Blue 2-Pack ($52)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Baby Gown – Pink 2-Pack ($52)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Snap Front Footie – Pale Pink Stripe ($28)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Snap Front Footie – Sage Stripe ($28)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Snap Front Footie – Pale Blue Stripe ($28)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Green ($27)

  • Size Options: Preemie-6 months

• Side Snap Footie – Organic White ($27)

  • Size Options: Preemie-6 Months

• Baby Gown – Green ($26)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Baby Gown – Pink ($26)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Baby Gown – Pale Blue ($26)

  • Size: 0-3

• Baby Gown – Organic White ($26)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Navy Stripe W/ Green Bean Embroidery ($28)

  • Size Options: Newborn-6 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Black Polka Dots ($27)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Popcorn Print ($28)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

• Lap Shoulder Baby Gown – Gray Stork Embroidery ($28)

  • Size: 0-3 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Grey Stork Embroidery ($30)

  • Size Options: Preemie-3 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Stork Print ($28)

  • Size Options: Preemie-3 Months

• Side Snap Footie – Veggie Stripe W/ Carrot Embroidery ($29)

  • Size Options: Newborn-9 Months

References & Resources

Learn more about the hidden hazards by reviewing the glossary or take a deep dive by reading Safer Products for Babies and Toddlers: Resources and Recommendations for Retailers.

Greenpeace has a campaign to detox the textile industry, and has a lot of information about the hazards there, including in children's clothing.