Are flame retardant chemicals in children's pajamas safe?

What's actually in it

Children's pajamas often contain organophosphate ester flame retardants and brominated flame retardants. These chemicals are added to fabrics to slow down fire. They do not stay in the fabric. Instead, they move out of the material and into the air or dust in your home. From there, they enter your child's body through the skin or by being breathed in.

What the research says

The science is clear: these chemicals are not safe for growing children. A 2026 study in Environ Res found that exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants during pregnancy is linked to changes in a child's weight and body mass index between the ages of 2 and 10.

Cognitive health is also at risk. A 2026 study in Environ Pollut shows that prenatal exposure to these same chemicals is associated with negative impacts on child cognition. Furthermore, a 2026 study in J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol connected these flame retardants in house dust to behavioral issues in children.

Your child's immune system may also suffer. A 2026 study in Sci Total Environ found a clear link between brominated flame retardants and the diagnosis or symptoms of allergies in a nationally representative sample of people in the US.

Even when you try to remove these chemicals from your home, they persist. A 2026 study in Environ Pollut shows that flame retardant levels in the body change only after furniture is replaced, highlighting how difficult it is to escape these substances once they are brought into your living space.