Is polyester safe for my baby?

The lowdown: The debate over the level of toxicity of polyester continues, but studies are beginning to show that polyester contains endocrine disrupting chemicals and carcinogens that can be absorbed through the skin. Polyester also creates micro-plastics, which are bad for the environment and for your baby. The production of polyester commonly requires use of carcinogenic chemicals. When weaved heavily into clothing, polyester does not allow your baby’s skin to breath, which can cause overheating and increases your baby’s risk of SIDS.

What is polyester?

Polyester is a plastic fibre. Its technical name is PET. It is woven into fabric or used as a primary clothing to create clothing that is more durable, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, and stain-resistant.

Is polyester harmful to my baby?

It can be toxic. Polyester is manufactured using a wide range of toxic chemicals that may become trapped in the fibers during production. These chemicals have been known to cause respiratory issues, skin rashes and irritation, hormonal imbalances and cancer.

• BPA may used in the synthesis of polyester. BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical. Research by the National Library of Medicine links polyester with causing infertility in humans and dogs.

• Antimony, a known carcinogenic chemical, is often used during the production process of polyester. Antimony can be release into the air and water when heated. Antimony can impact the heart, lungs, stomach, and irritate eyes.

• Antimony trioxide, which may be in containers made of polyester, can degrade at high temperatures (especially above 110 °F). During pregnancy, antimony trioxide can pass from mother to baby.

It can cause your baby to overheat. Be careful of using polyester in the summer or warm nights. It can be hard to tell if your baby is overheating at night as overheating will generally just cause your baby to become lethargic.

How do I know if something I purchase contains polyester?

In person be sure to check tags or website descriptions for material content. Watch wording of advertisements especially when purchasing baby clothes. For example “made with organic cotton” may still contain up to 30%polyester, while 100% organic cotton ensures there is no polyester.