Is stain-resistant children’s clothing safe to wear?
Use caution. A 2025 textile study found PFAS and organophosphate esters in children’s garments and showed sweat can greatly increase modeled skin transfer.
What's actually in it
Some stain-resistant and water-resistant clothing uses PFAS or other chemical finishes. These treatments help fabric repel water or stains.
Children sweat, crawl, play, and wear clothing close to the skin. That makes skin contact important, especially for treated fabrics.
What the research says
A 2025 study in Science of the Total Environment tested household textiles and children’s garments for 28 PFAS and 9 organophosphate esters.
PFAS were found in 87.9% of samples. Children’s garments had lower median PFAS levels than household textiles, but durable-water-repellent garments had about 3x higher PFAS and organophosphate ester levels than conventional functional items. In exposure modeling, sweat greatly increased dermal transfer: up to 3252x for PFAS and 835x for organophosphate esters compared with dry contact.
This does not mean every stain-resistant shirt is equally risky. It does mean treated textiles deserve caution, especially for kids who sweat and wear clothes for long periods.
What to do
Skip stain-resistant finishes for everyday kids’ clothes. Choose untreated cotton or wool when you can. For babies, start with organic cotton baby swaps.