Are you looking for a non-toxic convertible car seat and don’t know which one is the best one for your child? There are now several options to choose from, and that’s great, but which one should you choose? Convertible car seats will be used for years and it’s a good idea to research what is out there before you buy it. That is why I want to share with you the best non-toxic convertible car seats that I found without added flame retardants.
Why Choose a Non-Toxic Convertible Car Seat?
A convertible car seat will be used almost ever day and is a necessity. I never knew as a first time mom that baby products would be made with toxic chemicals so I started this journey to search for non-toxic products when my daughter started having allergies.
Our children come in close contact with car seats, and it’s sad to say that most of them are not healthy for our kids to be in. Healthy Stuff, a project of the Ecology Center that tests and reports on everyday items for toxic chemicals has found flame retardant chemicals in car seats. Flame retardant chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, and some are linked to cancer. According to The Ecology Center’s Healthy Stuff, most flame retardant chemicals are not strongly bound to the fabric or foam and become airborne. Since they become airborne, it is easier for us to breathe it in, ingest it or have skin contact with it.
Chemicals Found in Convertible Car Seats
Car Seats sold in the United States have added chemical flame retardants like chlorine or bromine. Chlorine and bromine cannot break down easily in the environment. Chemical persistence of these chemicals can buildup in people or in animals.
Another chemical used is Triphenyl Phosphate(TPHP). TPHP can eliminate quickly from the body, but it can accumulate in breast tissues.
Why Car Seats Have Added Chemicals
All infant car seats contain chemical flame retardants unless wool is used or a natural flame retardant knit construction. The reason they contain flame retardants is because they have to meet the flammability standard for car interiors for the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302. Unfortunately, chemical flame retardants are used as a cost effective way to meet these standards. These chemicals have been linked to hormone disruption, liver damage, impaired brain development and cancer.
Non-Toxic Car Seat Safety
All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety standards. The Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance(OVSC) provides contracted laboratories with Laboratory Test Procedures which serve as guidelines for obtaining compliance test data. This data is used to determine if an item meets minimum requirements for the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. When you purchase your flame retardant-free car seat, make sure you find the label that clearly states that your car seat conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards and is certified for use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft. If you cannot find that label, it probably was not certified and did not meet federal safety standards.
Non-Toxic Convertible Car Seats
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more information.
It is so great to see so many options for non-toxic, flame retardant-free convertible car seats. Our voices are being heard and we are getting more and more car seats with non-toxic materials. Here are the best non-toxic convertible car seats of 2021.
Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat
The Britax One4Life Click Tight All-in-One Car Seat is a car seat that will grow with your child and can be used for 10 years. From infant at 5 pounds, to a big kid at 120 pounds. I honestly wish I knew about these options when my kids were infants. This really is an all-in-one. It has a ClickTight installation that makes it easy to install just like buckling a seat belt and a seat cover that is safe to machine wash and dry. The wonderful thing about the Safe Wash cover is that it is made from a natural flame retardant knit.
Specifications and Features
- 10 years of use. From 5 to 120 pounds, rear-facing to booster.
- Dimensions: 20.5 x 19.5 x 25 inches
- Minimum weight recommendation is 5 lbs
- Rear-facing maximum child weight is 50 lbs
- Maximum weight is 120 lbs
- Maximum height is 63 inches
- Forward-facing minimum child weight is 22 lbs
- High strength steel frame, crumple zone helps absorb crash energy and a v-shaped tether helps slow and reduce movement during crash
- 2 layers of side impact protection
- 15 position quick adjust headrest and harness create the perfect fit as your child grows
- 9 position quick push recline helps you find the most comfortable fit for your child
- Built in cooling channels and ventilated mesh improve air flow to keep your child comfortable
Britax Advocate Clicktight in Otto Safewash
The Britax Advocate Clicktight convertible car seat in Otto has a SafeWash fabric that is naturally flame retardant. Installation is easy, which is a huge plus, thanks to the Clicktight feature. The shoulder width is 16 inches and the car seat is surrounded by 3 layers of side impact protection.
Specifications and Features
- Rear facing 5 to 40 lbs
- Forward facing 20 to 65 lbs
- Dimenstions: 23 x 20 x 23.5 inches
- Steel frame
- 3 layers of side impact protection
- Use for up to 6 years old
- Machine wash and dry
- Car seat weight 30.6 pounds
- No rethreading
Clek Fllo Convertible Car Seat in Mammoth
The Clek Fllo convertible car seat in Mammoth is flame retardant free in 100% merino wool. It has many safety features including a steel anti-rebound bar, Clek’s patented energy management system, and advanced side impact protection with deep side wings, energy-absorbing layers and an adjustable headrest. The Clek Fllo accommodates your child until the age of 4 in a rear-facing position. That is great because more and more parents are keeping their child rear-facing beyond the age of 2. The steel anti-rebound bar is included for enhanced safety performance in the rear facing position. It works by improving stability by limiting rotation of the child seat and helping protect your child’s head from impact in case of a collision.
Specifications and Features
- Dimensions: 22 x 16.9 x 26 inches
- Car set weight 25 lbs
- Extended rear facing for up to 50 lbs
- Made in Canada
- 9 year expiration
- Certified for use on an aircraft
- Rear-facing weight: 14-50 lbs
- Forward-facing weight: 22-65 lbs
Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat in Full Moon and Mammoth
The Clek Foonf convertible car seat in Full Moon and Mammoth is very similar to the Clek Fllo in many of its features. The Full Moon and Mammoth are flame retardant-free in 100% merino wool. The Foonf uses aluminum honeycomb Crumple Technology to absorb energy in a collision and reduce the forces transmitted to the child. It is also built on a solid metal substructure with inner and outer energy-absorbing foam layers and an adjustable headrest for maximum side impact protection. Sounds like a very solid car seat! A great feature is the Rigid-LATCH system that makes forward-facing installation easy as well as removing and installing your car seat as well.
Specifications and Features
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 16.9 x 28 inches
- Minimum weight recommendation: 14 lbs
- Maximum weight recommendation: 65 lbs
- Maximum height recommendations: 49 inches
- Car seat weight: 38 lbs
- Flame retardant-free: tailored in 100% Merino wool
- Rear-facing 15-50 lbs
- Forward-facing 22-65 lbs
- Used from birth with infant insert
Differences Between Clek Fllo and Clek Foonf
The differences between the Clek Fllo and the Clek Foonf are the rear facing positions, the LATCH(UAS), and the energy management systems. With the Foonf, you use a rear-facing base that attaches to the car seat to provide an appropriate rear-facing angle. With the Fllo, it features a built in recline foot which swivels out into position to provide an appropriate rear-facing angle. For the LATCH, the Fllo has a flexible LATCH belt for use for rear-facing and forward-facing. The Foonf has Rigid-LATCH connectors built into the base which makes forward facing installation effortless. The last difference is that the Fllo has an EACT energy management system and it is designed to work best with a belt installation. The Foonf has a REACT energy management system and it is designed to work best with a Rigid-LATCH installation.
Nuna Rava Convertible Car Seat
The Nuna Rava convertible car seat is flame resistant and there are no added fire retardant chemicals added. Your child can ride rear-facing up to 50 lbs and the laid back legroom gives up to 2 inches more leg room for the rear-facing position. It is an all steel frame and also has a reinforced belt path to provide superior protection. The ventilation panels in the side and back of the shell provide a comfortable climate, which is great for long road trips.
Specifications and Features
- Dimensions: 16 x 19 x 25.2 – 31 in
- Weight 27.2 lbs
- GREENGAURD Gold Certified
- Rear-facing convertible 5-50 lbs with seat belt , 5 – 35 lbs with lower anchor belt
- Forward-facing convertible with seat belt 25-65 lbs, with lower anchor belt 25-40 lbs
- Energy absorbing foam and SIP pods
- Colored belt path indicators help decrease risk of user error
- No rethread 2 position crotch strap
- Infant head and body inserts are removable
- Up to 2 inches more legroom rear-facing
- All steel frame and belt path for superior protection
Nuna EXEC Convertible Car Seat
The Nuna EXEC is GREENGAURD Gold Certified, just like the Nuna Rava, which means there are low chemical emissions, cleaner indoor air, and rigorous testing done on the car seat. This gives us peace of mind knowing that the Nuna EXEC and Nuna Rava are both non-toxic for our babies and for us. This car seat has a multi-functioning adjustable leg rest and more seating positions, plus it can be used for rear-facing, forward facing and booster. It is also constructed of steel with a reinforced belt path.
Specification and Features
- Dimensions: 18.5 x 22.5 x 26-33 inches
- Weight 26.5 lbs
- GREENGAURD Gold Certified
- No re-thread 5 point harness easily stores inside the seat for booster mode
- Rear-facing convertible 5-50 lbs
- Forward-facing convertible 25-65 lbs
- Belt positioning booster 40-120 lbs( 4 years minimum)
- East to follow instructions to install
- Aircraft Certified
- Easy to clean
It’s great to know that there are more options for non-toxic car seats, and that tells us that our voices are being heard. We want cleaner and safer products for our children, and we’re getting them. Which car seat do you think will be a good fit for your family? I’d love to know!
