A prospective trial of layered versus mass closure of laparotomy wounds was performed on 507 infants and children over a 33 month period. All wounds were sutured using polyglycolic acid sutures. There were four wound failures including one disruption in the layered closure group and one wound failure in the mass closure group. The incisional hernias healed spontaneously. Either method of closure yields good results and non-absorbable sutures are unnecessary.