Children's Car Seat Study 2016

The Ecology Center has tested child car seats periodically for ten years, tracking changes in chemical addtives. Car seats are a required product in which babies and children typically spend hours per day. The flame retardant (FR) chemicals historically used in car seats are known to include carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and developmental toxicants. Exposure occurs through contamination of air and dust. Safer alternatives are available, and while our testing has shown trends away from the worst chemicals, companies can do much better.

In this study, we analyzed flame retardants and other chemicals in fifteen infant and toddler car seats purchased in 2016, including two from the United Kingdom. The brands are BabyTrend, Britax, Chicco, Clek, Cosco, Diono, Evenflo, Graco (two models, one from the UK), Joie (from the UK), Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Orbit, Recaro, and Safety 1st. The seats represent a broad price range and about half were brands also tested by our team in 2014.

Download Complete 2016 Study

Search our archives for results from previous years' studies

Detailed 2016 test results are listed below.

Published on December 12, 2016

Sample Listing

	Baby Trend Secure Snap Gear 32 Infant Car Seat - Astro
	Britax Marathon ClickTight Covertible Car Seat - Vibe
	Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat - Legend
	Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat - Capri
	Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat - Otto
	Diono Rainier Convertible + Booster Car Seat - Glacier
	Evenflo Nurture Infant Car Seat - Sabrina
	Graco Milestone Group 0-1-2-3 Car Seat - Aluminium
	Graco MyRide 65 Convertible Car Seat - Chalk
	Joie Stages Group 0+, 1 & 2 Car Seat - Caviar
	Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat - Blue Base
	Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat with Base ‑ Scarlet
	Orbit Baby G3 Toddler Convertible Car Seat - Black
	Recaro ProRide Convertible Car Seat - Aspen
	Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat - Boulevard