Mia in a Car Seat

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Published on April 11, 2022

Parents need car seats to keep babies and children safe while driving. In fact, the law requires them. However, as a result of an outdated federal flammability regulation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the majority of children’s car seats are treated with chemical flame retardants.

SIGN OUR PETITION TO UPDATE THE FLAMMABILITY STANDARD

NHTSA hasn’t updated their fire safety regulations since 1969 and has no evidence that the flame retardant chemicals used to meet the standard provide a fire safety benefit to children. Exposure to flame retardant chemicals is associated with disruption of the hormone system, developmental delays, obesity, and cancer.

Ecology Center advocates changing these standards that expose young children to toxic chemicals when they are at their most vulnerable stages of development. We’ve created a petition on change.org calling on NHTSA to update their flammability standards (bit.ly/carseatdetox).

We are not alone in this effort

The Ecology Center and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), along with 38 other car seat manufacturers, firefighters, child safety advocates, and public health groups sent an urgent letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation calling on the department to update NHTSA's federal flammability standards. Read the Letter.

Affordable car seats should come without chemical costs to kids. We need NHTSA to update their standards!