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