Chemical Conscious Parents UPDATE on Non-Toxic Car Seats

UPDATE: (in December 2016 a new study tested 15 car seats for flame retardant chemicals.   To read the results, and how this Uppababy model did, read our blog post FLAME RETARDANTS CHEMICALS STILL USED IN ALL BUT ONE CAR SEAT BRAND TESTED (NEW STUDY)

It sounded promising: 2 major car seat manufacturers (Graco and Britax) promising to get rid of some of the most harmful flame retardants from their products. Parents everywhere sighed in relief: finally at least one indispensable childhood item would be a little easier to buy.... but what has happened in the last 2 years?

(to read more about the chemicals we are talking about and why you want to avoid them read our post: Who's The Most Non-Toxic Car Seat of Them All? )

According to the Washington Toxic Coalition, in March of 2012 Graco disclosed to Washington State that it had indeed removed cancer causing flame retardant chlorinated Tris... however in its place Graco is now using TBBPA... another quite harmful chemical that has been shown to affect thyroid hormone activity.

Britax states on their website “As of January 1, 2013, BRITAX required all of its suppliers to eliminate certain chemical flame retardants containing bromine, chlorine or other halogens, from all components used in its car seats and all other products — while still ensuring their ability to pass federal government standards for flammability. BRITAX is pleased to report that all of its suppliers have confirmed they are compliant .... Strollers do not have flammability standards. Therefore, BRITAX and BOB strollers are not treated with any chemical flame retardants."

On one hand, the news is good; the chemicals that have been eliminated are really bad.... however the replacement chemicals (in the case of Graco TBBPA and in the case of Britax they do not specify what chemicals, if any, are perhaps being used to replace the chemicals) are or could be a problem - which just goes to show how important changes in the US's laws are (but THAT is a whole other post).

As frustrating as this might be, I will say that I have had a Maxi Cosi and then Graco car seat for the last couple of years. I live in NYC and hardly use a car so this is not an item that I am personally super concerned about as a source of major chemical exposure for my children (although I did recently - just last weekend- buy an Orbit G2 car seat... I know that it is chemical free plus it was 50% off and such a good deal). What are you to do if you spend a large part of your day inside your car? Obviously, safety is the most important issue you should take into account when choosing a car seat, but perhaps if you have a small child/infant who sucks bits and parts of the car seat (like mine does when he can) then maybe you consider buying a safer, less toxic alternative - and the good news is that since my last post on this topic, some new good options are available.

Orbit Baby
* 04/2015 UPDATE BELOW - They are no longer are recommended by Non-Toxic Munchkin as their car seats have been found to contain toxic flame retardants.

They have been producing top of the line chemical free products for years now. Their car seats:
• The fabrics used on all Orbit Baby G3 Toddler Convertible Car Seat, Black products adhere to limits or bans on nearly 200 potentially harmful chemicals (certified by Oeko-Tex® Standard 100).

• All Orbit Baby G2 fabrics meet strict heavy metal limits (European standard EN71-3) on harmful elements: barium, lead, cadmium, antimony, selenium, chromium, mercury, and arsenic. Testing is conducted through independent, accredited laboratories.

• All of our G2 products meet the requirements of Canada’s Hazardous Products Act, which regulates heavy metals as well as other toxic substances.

• All of our products are compliant to CPSIA (HR4040) lead limits through recurring, independent, accredited lab tests and internal analysis (XRF).

• All of our car seat fabrics and foams are tested at independent, accredited labs on a per production basis to ensure compliance to federal flammability standards as well as “below detection” limits on bromine

DIONO RADIAN R series
* 12/2016 update: Diono has been found to contain brominated flame retardants. please read our blog post ' FLAME RETARDANTS CHEMICALS STILL USED IN ALL BUT ONE CAR SEAT BRAND TESTED (NEW STUDY)
* 04/2015 update below The company has this to say “All Diono products (car seats, boosters and travel accessories) comply with US, European and Canadian regulations regarding toxic substances such as phthalates, bromides, bisphenol-A (BPA), cadmium and lead.... Our goal was to develop a fabric that required no additional FR treatment at all. To that end, we have already started down that path. Our new RadianR series seats will feature seats in colors called 'Storm' and 'Rugby' and these seats feature our new micro-mesh velour fabric that was made without requiring any additional flame retardant treatment at all”

Clek Foonf 2015 Convertible Car Seat, Shadow

*12/2016 update below
After contacting their customer service I was told the following "On all of our models, except for Drift, we use Crypton fabric which is Green Guard Select Certified. The fabrics are free of all harmful chemicals including bromine. We have reduced or eliminated formaldehyde, PFOAs and halogenated flame retardants, including PBDEs. All Crypton Super Fabrics have ultra low or non-detectable emissions (VOCs). Crypto resists bacteria, milde and odor to extend the life of the fabric without the use of conventional leaching anti-microbials. "
Plus they come in fun colors and great sizes!

** December 2016 UPDATE: Please read our blog post ' FLAME RETARDANTS CHEMICALS STILL USED IN ALL BUT ONE CAR SEAT BRAND TESTED (NEW STUDY)

Uppa Baby is said to be producing the first ever flame retardant free infant car seat. You can read more details (sell date, model etc) in our blog post: COMING SOON- THE FIRST FLAME RETARDANT FREE INFANT CAR SEAT

November 2015: In November 2015 we had the opportunity to talk to one of the US's leading experts on flame retardants; Dr. Heather Stapleton, lead researcher at the Duke University Superfund Research Center. To read her answers to our questions (many of the questions were taken from questions I have received from this post and past posts), read out post titled 'Duke's Boss Lady of Flame Retardants: What To Do About Flame Retardants in Car Seats and Beyond'