In my search for creating a natural home for my family, I’ve come across some shocking facts about the baby products we all use and have all used for years! One product in particular.
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Unfortunately, it seems that the United States of America is not as quick to omit toxins from our children’s environments as other countries.
Although, awareness about toxins and chemical uses in our daily lives is more common these days, there is still a lot that goes unsaid.
Furthermore, I feel like it is especially important for our precious newborn babies and children to be in as “clean,” non toxic/chemical free, of an environment as possible. They’re touching everything they can get their hands on and growing and developing in so many important ways. We all know everything goes in their mouths!
That being said, in my research, The Center for Environmental Health (CEH), had a study done on Dec. 3, 2018 in which was reported, out of 18 infant car seats Baby Trend’s car seat had the highest levels of phosphorus based flame retardents (PFAS)!
How This Can Effect Your Baby!
Toxic flame retardants have been linked to many negative health effects including, reduced IQ, developmental delays, hormone disruption, reproductive harm, obesity, and cancer. It is crazy to me that they put our babies overall long term health in jeopardy to saturate their car seats in toxic chemicals so in case of a fire it might be safer!
These chemicals are the most harmful to our babies because their bodies and organs are still developing.
According to Judy Leven, CEHS Pollution Prevention Director, the flame retardants used in these car seats have not proven to be effective in real life fire scenarios.
The use of these hazardous chemicals in mostly all car seat brands is because of an outdated federal flammability regulation that is still in place and needs to be updated for the sake of our children!
To conclude, we finally have 3 brands this year in 2019 that offer a car seat that is free from toxic flame retardant chemicals!
The 3 car seats are:
Uppababy Mesa Merino Wool infant car seat
Click Fllo Mammoth convertable car seat
Last year in 2018 I had my last baby and I bought my first chemical free car seat! I was just unaware before that! I bought the Uppababy Mesa Merino Wool infant car seat. The wool blend in the car seat cover is naturally flame retardant! It is a pricey car seat but, it’s not only is chemical free it also has the best safety ratings! I love this car seat and highly recommend it!
I recently bought the 2019 Nuna Rava Convertible car seat in Granite because of the great reviews and it is flame retardant free! I love this seat! It is so comfortable and it has an infant insert! It can be used rear facing 5-50 lbs. and forward facing 25-65 lbs. It has the side impact protection. I must admit this is a pricey seat, but it will be with him until he is ready for a booster. Plus, if you get this when they are an infant you can really get your money’s worth. I don’t think in all four of my babies I have ever had a more cushy car seat!
Happy Parenting!
Great post!! I never even knew about this!
Thank you, Megan! I know it is really something I feel like all moms should know before they have a baby.