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2023 Non-Toxic Car Seat Buying Guide

Aida Garcia-Toledo

Updated : 6/2023

Looking for a low-tox car seat?

Finally after years of covering this topic I can say that you truly have a CHOICE.  

The Ecology Center, after 12 years of being the main independent source of chemical testing of car seats, this week published a new report on the state of flame retardant chemicals in children’s car seats.  The main takeaway? Lots of progress.    Not too long ago, in 2016, not a single toxic-free children’s car seat was available.   Today, 2022, there are more than 40 U.S. models, from 8 brands, without added flame retardants, and a fair number also without  PFAS chemicals.   While this is progress - there is still a lot of work to be done since the majority fo car seats available on the market in the US still contain flame retardant chemicals and PFAS chemicals.

Why is it very important to source a car seat without these two types of chemicals?  

  • PFAS exposure is linked to thyroid cancer, increased risk of asthma, liver damage, and decreased fertility. PFAS chemicals, which are used for stain and water repellency, migrate out of products and into dust which we then breathes in or touch and then ingest (hand to mouth). These chemicals are called forever chemicals because they do not easily break down: in fact some can stay in our body’s for upwards of 20 years!

  • Flame retardants are known to disrupt the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in our body, and are linked to certain cancers.

  • Both these chemicals easily migrate out and build up in air and dust where kids breathes them in or touch them and place hands in mouth

What’s new in 2022

Over 40 car seat models, from 8 brands, now do not contain flame retardants.   Unfortunately, not all of these are also PFAS free.  I personally only recommend car seats that are both flame retardant and PFAS free. While this is less than 40 today a new law in California that is banning PFAS chemicals in children’s products, including car seats, goes into effect in 2023: so in theory, next year the amount of “ appoved’ car seats should be at a minimum 40!

The car seats that are both flame retardant free and PFAS free include: 

1.  BRITAX

Britax Safewash fabric is with flame retardant free and PFAS free. Other Britax car seats do contain these chemicals, so avoid. Please note: in the Ecology center new study one model of Britax safewash was found to have flame retardants in the smaller components (ie label), but the other ones tested did not…

2.  CHICCO

Their entire Cleartex line (made with olyester) is free of flame retardants and PFAS

3.  CLEK 

Some contain PFAS and flame retardants.  Look for their wool fabric (with tencel) Mammoth, Twighlight & full moon fabrics, and new Railroad fabric that are Flame retardant and PFAS free fabric.    (Note:c-zero line (crypton) is PFAS free but does contain flame retardants).  These are: 

4.  MAXI COSI

Only their Pure Cosi line (a polyester fabric) is both flame retardant chemical and PFAS free


5. NUNA

All Nuna car seats are both free of flame retardant chemicals and PFAS.

6. UPPA BABY

All Uppa Baby car seats are free of PFAS, however some still contain flame retardants.  Models in Jordan and Henry merino wool fabrics are flame retardant free too


Car Seats to Avoid

These car seats companies are still producing car seats that contain both flame retardant chemicals and PFAS

Graco, Evenflo, and Baby Trend

Background info 

As always, safety comes first and babies and children need to be placed in car seats, regardless of chemical exposure. Having said that, there are car seats on the market that will expose you children to significantly more toxic chemicals than others - so it is definitely worth doing your research (or reading this post!)

The law 

All car seats in the market right now in the US contain at least one chemical flame retardant in order to meet the federal fire test standard for vehicle accessories. Federal fire tests can be met by using wool for example- which is naturally a fire retardant - instead of chemicals. This is what Uppa Baby and Clek use. 

Remind me-why is this important? How exactly can flame retardants chemicals in the car seat affect my child? 

The problem with flame retardant chemicals is that they do not stick/ bind very well to the product they are used on.... thus, they are released over time. Mostly into dust particles and air 

then 

Heat and UV-ray exposure in cars can accelerate the release of these chemicals from products into the vehicle environment 

and then 

Infants, toddlers and children can be exposed to these chemicals through inhalation, ingestion and dermal (skin) absorption. 

finally, 

The longer your child sits in his/ her car seat the more exposed they are to these chemicals 

So, how bad are flame retardant? Is there such a thing as a safer fire retardant? 

The short answer: flame retardants are pretty bad (they are known to be carcinogens, hormone disruptors and developmental toxicants. Babies are the most vulnerable population in terms of exposure to these chemical, since their systems are still developing)


But, if these chemicals can save my child in a car fire- then isn't that more important? 

If the answer were yes, this debate would be quite different. The reality is that car fires move so fast that these fire retardants are no longer considered to be of any help retarding flames in real life scenarios

Bottom line?  There are now safer car seats available- if possible choose those for your little ones.