The Consumer Product Safety Commission relaxed its standards on children's cotton pajamas, allowing snug-fitting cotton underwear to be sold legally as sleepwear. The CPSC concluded that many parents had been rejecting flame-resistant polyester sleepwear altogether in favor of billowy cotton daywear, which offers more comfort but is relatively flammable. (Scientists had also found that one of the flame-retardant chemicals used in synthetic sleepwear was a potential cancer cause.) In response to criticism from consumer groups, the agency said burn injuries almost never involve pajama tightness. Some industry critics complain that the new standard calls for pajamas that are uncomfortably tight.

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