Nontoxic car seats… who knew that we would even need to consider such a thing?!
Not me! Hi, not a car seat expert here but I've been in the nontoxic car seat rabbit hole and have emerged to summarize what I've learned. This will either plant a seed for you to dig deeper. Or if you're busy, I'll give you the current brands (5 currently) that offer a nontoxic seat!
What makes a car seat potentially toxic?
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The first is a Flame Retardant (FR), something that sounds like great ideas!
As I dug into the chemicals that make clothing flame retardant, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned in the 70s, polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and chlorinated Tris). There were several side effects of these chemicals, hence the reason they were banned. It seemed that there are so many options that when one gets banned a different one is used. So instead of trying to figure out which is used in my child's seat, I prefer to just go FR free altogether. Currently, the car seat that we have is on the “not great” list and we'll be grabbing a new one on Black Friday.
Some fire retardants have been linked to cancer. learning disorders, reduced fertility.
They also found that the chemical's benefits as a fire retardant was minimal!
Another chemical commonly found in car seats is Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS for waterproofing the seats.
A short Google will tell you that these chemicals are pretty problematic in the life of your little one. Problematic meaning, potential cancer, liver, and thyroid problems. I don't want to expose my fresh little baby to this stuff if we don't have to.
Obviously, take this information and do what you think is best for your family. This post contains affiliate links but isn't sponsored I just wanted to share what I was learning if you're interested!
All seats listed in this post are PFAS free.
The good news is a few companies have begun to make nontoxic car seats!
Companies are creating options for those of us who do not want to expose our babies to this. Infants are especially susceptible because they are constantly putting their hands in their mouths after touching the treated material.
All car seats all have very rigorous testing they need to go through (duh, and thank God).
Obviously, they're tested for safety if your car is in an accident but they must also meet the federal fire test standard for vehicle accessories as well. There are a few ways companies can pass this test, one is through the FR chemicals put on the fabric, the other is the type of fabric that is used, like merino wool for example.
The chemicals are cheap, the merino wool is more expensive.
These options were not available just a few years ago! It can be confusing, let me help you understand a bit. I'll be sharing with you the nontoxic car seats on the market, which material specifically in each brand and the styles they offer.
Kids are reccomended to stay in car seats longer now.
These seats are more expensive than your typical car seat because of the material used but kids are in car seats FOREVER these days! I mean, we weren't lap babies like our parents, but we certainly fought for shotgun at an early age. What I'm saying is, a car seat isn't like a normal baby purchase that will last us 3 months (or 3 weeks if I'm honest), instead our kids may be in these car seats for YEARS. Some of these convertible car seats are good for up to 120 lbs (about 54 kg)! I'm going to share with you infant and convertible seats and I'll include links to booster seats.
So lets talk about the options now so you can keep an eye out for Black Friday!
Like always, yes these are affiliate links, and like always I'm so grateful if you do purchase, you use the link!
**Prices are from Nov 2020 and may change.
1. UPPAbaby nontoxic car seats:
Infant: $350
UPPAbaby currently only has a nontoxic infant car seat, MESA.
When purchasing the UPPAbaby MESA car seat the two options with the merino wool, Jordan or Henry.
They did offer a convertible seat with the merino wool but it was recently recalled.
- Baby size: 4-35 lbs 32″
- Carriers weight: 9.9 lbs
- Pass European REACH standards: yes
- Aircraft approved? Yes
- Need a base? no
- Contain PFAs (water-resistant chemical): no
2. Clek nontoxic car seats:
Infant: $300-$480
Convertible: $440-$510
Booster: $350
When you're shopping Clek, be sure to select their merino wool options: Mammoth, twilight, or full moon!
Clek offers 2 infant seats, 2 convertible seats, and a booster seat with this material:
1. Liing for an infant
2. Liingo for an infant
3. Foonf convertible
4. Fllo convertible
5. BOOSTER seat, Oobr!
- Pass European REACH standards: yes
- Aircraft approved? all on this list with Clek are approved
- Contain PFAs (water-resistant chemical): no
Extras: NINE YEAR EXPIRATION on the seats listed, that means this seat could last for multiple children provided it isn't in a crash. - Extras: Clek also claims that their seats fit 3 across if that is something that is important for your family!
FOONF CONVERTIBLE SEAT:
Child weight requirement:
Rear-facing (able to sit up alone):
24-34″
14-50 lbs
Front-facing (around 2 years):
30-49″
22-65 lbs
** Can use with an infant with “infant thingy” sold on Clek website for 5lbs or 19in+ baby.
FLLO CONVERTIBLE SEAT:
Child weight requirement:
Rear-facing (able to sit up alone):
24-43″
14-50 lbs
Front-facing (around 2 years):
30-49″
22-65 lbs
** Can use with an infant with “infant thingy” sold on Clek website for 5lbs or 19in+ baby.
3. Britax nontoxic car seats:
Infant: $300
Convertible: $350 – $375
Booster: $330
The material you're looking for with Britax is Safewash that comes in several different colors!
Note, the entire seat is flame retardant, meaning the fabric touching baby is but the foam or other parts of the seat may not be according to this secondary research study.
The nontoxic infant seat offered in Otto Safewash is Endeavours.
The convertible seat “one4life” goes all the way up to 120 lbs!
They also offer a nontoxic convertible seat called Grow With you and another nontoxic convertible seat called Advocate.
- Aircraft approved? yes
- Contain PFAs (water-resistant chemical): no
BRITAX ENDEAVOURS (Good for up to 12 months):
- Baby size: 4-35 lbs or 32″
- Carriers weight: 11.5 lbs
- Pass Canadian safety standards (as well as U.S.)
- Need a base? Can use with or without
4. Maxi Cosi nontoxic car seats:
Infant: $$350
When shopping with Maxi Cosi be sure the nontoxic fabric you choose for your car seat is PureCosi.
Maxi Cosi has two options with this material the infant Mico Max Plus and they used to have a convertible seat with PureCosi called Magellan, but it looks like that's no longer available.
- Aircraft approved? yes
- Contain PFAs (water-resistant chemical): no
MICO MAX PLUS:
- Baby size: 4 to 30 lbs and up to 32′
- Carriers weight: 8.8 lbs
- Need a base? yes
5. Nuna nontoxic car seats:
Infant: $300-$400
Convertible: $450-$650
Nuna has EIGHT options for nontoxic Fire Retardant (FR) Free car seats!!
All of Nuna's car seats are now Fire Retardant free, giving you EIGHT different options! 5 infant seats, 2 convertible seats, and one booster.
They offer two convertible seats, Rava and Exec, and one BOOSTER, Aace.
PIPA
- Baby size: 4 to 32 lbs, and up to 32″
- Carriers weight: 7.6 lbs (without canopy and infant insert)
- Need a base? no
PIPA LITE
- Baby size: 4 to 32lbs, and up to 32″
- Carriers weight: 5.3 lbs (without canopy and infant insert)
- Need a base? yes
EXEC
Child weight requirement:
Rear-facing
With seat belt: 5-50 lbs
With lower anchor belt: 5-35lbs
Front-facing (around 2 years):
With seat belt: 25-65 lbs
With lower anchor belt: 25-40 lbs
Belt positioning booster:
40-120 lbs, 38-57 in, 4 years +
RAVA
Child weight requirement:
Rear-facing (recommended until 2 years old):
5-50 lbs
49″
Front-facing (around 2 years):
25-65 lbs
49″
Infant Seat vs Convertible seat
I'm not going to advicse on the safety choices on what you should do with your infant. There are a million experts on this topic. What I want to propose are the PRACTICAL things you need to consider when choosing an infant seat v conertible seat. If you're a new mom you may not know the difference or what is right for you! This ultimately is a personal decision for your family but here are a few things to think about:
- Can your baby sit up on her own? Aka when you do your target run would you rather have the baby in their car seat, or wearing her until you can plop her in the seat.
- What is the weather like where you live? Babies can't wear jackets in their car seats as a safety precaution. The infant car seat keeps them warm as you transfer them from the car to the house in the middle of winter.
- Don't wake a sleeping baby! Um hello, have you ever heard that?! YES! When you have an infant car seat you can just pop them out of the base and they *might* keep sleeping. Infant car seats are easily transportable, making it super easy to tote baby around.
- Budget: Some infant car seats I found said they were good for 1 year, others recommended 2 years. I think it ultimately matters how big your baby is and what you consider an inconvenience.
The convertible seat typically comes with (or sells) inserts for INFANTS. These convertible seats will typically last children YEARS. The average max weight is 65, my nephew is four and he is just barely 40lbs for reference.
I hope this is helpful!
What nontoxic car seat did we narrow down to?
Okay, I'm officially between the Nuna Rava and the Cleck Foonf! We ended up going with the Clek because it felt like a tank (it is). However the Rava has a bunch of things included like the cup holders that are extra with Clek.
xo Shay