Children's nightclothes and safety

Burns from clothing that catches fire can cause serious injury and even death.

In Australia, there are special rules for children's nightclothes. The labels on nightclothes can help you make safer choices for your child. Hospital visits for children due to burns have decreased since these rules were introduced.

Almost any fabric can burn, but fabrics made with cotton and rayon burn more easily. Synthetic fibres, such as nylon, are slower to catch fire, but if they do, they melt and can stick to the skin. Silk and wool do not catch fire easily and they burn slowly.

The type of fabric and how it is made can affect how it burns when exposed to heat or flames. Fabrics that are fluffy, loose or have a raised surface can catch fire more easily and may allow flames to spread faster. 

Avoid loose or dangling features that could easily come into contact with flames or heat sources. Always keep clothing away from open flames and heat sources.

Long, loose-fitting clothing, such as nighties, can catch flames more easily. These nightclothes are a higher fire risk than close-fitting clothing. For this reason, closer-fitting nightwear is generally considered a safer option for children under Australian safety standards.

There are 2 labels to help you when choosing children’s clothing:

• Low fire hazard label — This means the garment is a lower fire risk. It is either made of a fabric that burns more slowly, or the garment is close fitting.
• High fire hazard label — This means the garment is a high fire risk. Loose clothing and clothing made from some fabrics are at risk from open fires or heaters. 

Some garments are so flammable that they cannot be given a label and are not allowed to be sold in Australia.

Learn more about product safety standards for children's nightwear (Opens in new tab).

Keep your child away from all sources of fire, including:

• open fires
• radiators
• heaters
• BBQs
• candles
• lighters and matches
• cigarettes

When you use heaters or open fireplaces in winter, you need to be extra careful. Use a fireguard where appropriate to reduce the risk.

Many parents like choosing clothing that looks nice and suits their baby or child’s style.

When choosing clothing for your baby or young child, there are other important things you should also consider, including safety and practicality for daily use.

Safety

Some features of baby and children’s clothing can be unsafe. They may increase the chance of:

• choking
• injury from sharp edges or points
• strangulation (airway being squeezed) or entrapment (getting trapped)
• danger from unsafe dyes or chemicals

When considering clothing for your child, here are some things to think about:

• Are all small parts or trims, such as pom-poms, buttons or press-studs ('snap fasteners’), firmly attached?
• Does the clothing have any drawstrings, cords or bows that could pose a strangulation risk?

Practicality

Here are some tips for choosing practical, comfortable clothing for your child:

• Look for breathable, natural fibres such as wool.
• All-in-one outfits (‘jumpsuits’ or ‘onesies’) will help keep your baby warm, stop their tummy from being exposed and allow easy access for nappy changes. Look for outfits with press-studs at the crotch or down the legs to make nappy and outfit changes even easier.
• Look for jumpers with a boat neckline or envelope necklines. These are easier to put over your baby’s head than those with a smaller crew neck. You can also consider jackets with a front closure, such as snaps or buttons.
• Most children do not need shoes until they start to walk. For older children, choose comfortable shoes that fit well with good grip.
• Look for bibs with a hook-and-loop closure (for example, Velcro) — strings are more likely to get tangled.

Product Safety Australia (Opens in new tab) has information on children's nightwear safety standards, fire hazard labels and product recalls.

Kidsafe (Opens in new tab) has the latest information about child safety.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne (Opens in new tab) has information on burns prevention and first aid for burns.