flame retardant free car seats in the UK

[Ann767]

Hi all,

If you've seen my other thread you'll know I'm currently choosing a car seat and wanted to know if anyone has any information regarding which infant car seats if any are low or flame retardant free here in the UK.

From my limited research the newer ranges from nuna (pipa next and arra) may be flame retardant free as they use Merino Wool and TENCEL along with EPO foam. Can any one confirm if this is indeed the case in the UK?

I've also been looking at the ADAC tests which show a lot of the car seats are low for chemicals but I believe that doesn't cover the UK produced models?

If for example I wanted to buy maxi cosi peeble pro would I get a flame retardant free version if buying from amazon.de Germany instead or a UK retailer? Also do they use flame retardants on just the fabrics car seats here in the UK or also on the EPS foam for example?

Does any one have any other any other recommendations for a flame retardant free or low car seat?

Any information regarding my questions or information regarding flame retardants in general relating to baby products would be much appreciated.

[BertieBotts]

Yes that's right in the UK for the Nuna products. Nuna are very responsive if you speak to them as well.

The ADAC tests use the models that are sold in Germany, where laws on flame retardants are very different. This is why when you get the results published by Which? they don't include the "harmful chemicals" information, because it's likely different for seats sold within vs outside of the UK. The UK laws relate to the Furniture and Furnishings Act 1988 I believe, whereas Germany (and some other countries) actually ban certain substances they believe are harmful, and don't have this requirement for flammability testing on furniture.

So yes if you order something from Germany then you will usually find you get a product without the same issues. Be warned that post Brexit you'll have to pay import charges on these items and it's your responsibility to organise that, not the seller's.

It's harder to find good information for the second stage of car seats.

There are a few posters on MN who are (or were) very vocal about flame retardants, you could try messaging them or searching for their posts. Some of the names look similar so not sure if they are the same poster twice :)

@FlameIngSofa
@jennymor123
@MattRess

[Ann767]

Thank you for your reply BertieBotts :)

Just an update for anyone interested. I've ordered a maxi cosi pebble plus from amazon France.

Maxi cosi have two models number for each of the car seats they sell. One for the UK and one for all other EU countries.

In the case of the pebble plus 8798710300 is the UK variant which has fire retardants and 8798710110 is the EU variant which doesn't have fire retardants.

All amazon eu stores charge all the UK import VAT and Duty fees in advance at check out so no extras to pay post brexit.

The car seat was on offer on amazon France so it ended up actually being cheaper than if I had brought the UK model.

[BertieBotts]

That's fascinating about the two different model numbers!

[Rowan647]

Hi @Ann767,

I am on the hunt for a FR free car seat too and came across this thread! Did you receive actual confirmation from Maxi-cosi that the European models don't contain FRs?

Also, just wondered if you know whether they contain PFAS?

Any thoughts much appreciated!

[AnnaBrSab]

Hi Everyone - love this thread @Anna767 and @rowan647.

@Anna767 did you have any difficulty fitting the France car seat on a UK car and @rowan647 did you find a retailer too for the maxi-cosi pebble model? I check amazon and it doesn't say the product number so hard to know

[OFDad]

Hi @Ann767 well done sourcing this. I've been having a nightmare trying to do the same. Did you manage to source a non toxic pram in a similar way? If so I'd love to hear what you bought and from where. I'm sending mine back as it stinks of chemicals and only a few weeks until baby due!

[AnnaBrSab]

Hey @OFdad and everyone!

So I tried to order a car seat from France but couldn’t find it and also saw some articles saying it is illegal to use a carrier that is not compliant with Uk specs in Uk.

so ended up getting uppababy Jordan car seat. In the us Jordan and Henry models are made of wool and fire retardant free not 100% sure about in Uk. But they did confirm on email “ Our Henry and Jordan MESA models are designed with merino wool fabric. The merino wool fabric used has been OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified.” And

Re strollers I have emailed the following stroller brands and gotten the following replies:

Uppababy “ Thank you for your inquiry. All UPPAbaby strollers manufactured as of July 2014 do not have any flame-retardants. All of our strollers and car seats exceed ASTM & JPMA compliance standards and governmental testing requirements.

All VISTA V2 fabrics are the same.

The Toddler Seat materials:
Seat/Canopy: 100% Polyester
Seat Filling: 100% Polyester Batting

Bassinet Materials:
Bassinet Outer Covering: 100% Polyester
Bassinet Lining: 47% cotton/ 38% Polyester/ 15% Nylon
Bassinet Cover Padding: 100% Polyester Batting
Bassinet Mattress Pad Liner: 100% Polyester Padding
Bassinet Mattress Padding: 100% Polyurethane Foam

Frame: Aluminum

UPPAbaby does not use the following chemicals in the production of strollers and/or car seats (this includes foam):
• PBB Chemicals
▪ Brominated Tris
• PBDE Chemicals
▪ Pentabromodiphenyl ethers (Penta-BDEs)
▪ Octabromodiphenyl ethers (Octa-BDEs)
▪ Decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE)
• Other Chemicals
▪ Tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (TDBPP)
▪ Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) Phosphate (TDCPP)
▪ Tris (2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP)
▪ Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) Phosphate (TCPP)
▪ 2-Ethylhexyl tetrabromobenzoate (TBB)
▪ Bis (2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH)
▪ 2,2-bis (chloromethyl) trimethylene (bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate) (V6)
▪ Tris- (4-tert-Butylphenyl) phosphate (TBPP)
▪ Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
▪ Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
▪ Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP)
▪ 4-(tert-Butyl)phenyl diphenyl phosphate (MDPP)
▪ Bis(tert-Butylphenyl) phenyl phosphate (DBPP)
▪ Tris (2-butoxyethyl) Phosphate (TBEP)
▪ Trimethyl Phosphate (TMP)
We also test for the following chemicals and confirm they are not in use on UB products:
• BPA
• Phthalates
• Lead
• Latex
• Scotchgard™
• Hexavalent Chromium
• Mercury
• Heavy Metals
• Lead
• Cadmium
• AZO Dyes
• Formaldehyde

We use an independent, internationally accredited testing lab to test products regularly to ensure they meet the most up to date ASTM & JPMA compliance standards, state and federal governmental testing requirements. For more information on these standards please visit the following resources.
• //www.jpma.org
• www.oehha.ca.gov/“

They also confirmed “I can verify that this content also applies to those products sold in the UK.
The information within applies to both the Vista and Cruz and the Bassinet was outlined as well.”

-Bumbleride - re fire retardants no clarity yet “ This can vary depending on the batch. I have requested this information from our supplier and will update you as soon as possible.“

• mountain buggy urban jungle - has fire retardants in Uk “It is actually required under UK safety standards to have a flame retardant on any product that would be carried into a customer's home.Therefore all of our car seats and carrycot's will have a flame retardent applied on them following UK safety regulations.Mountain buggy carrier urban jungle has foam in the mattress that goes inside the carrier.“
  

• bugaboobee - has fire retardants shared lots of general commitments but still waiting on answer to specific questions “ For the UK other guidelines apply for prams and strollers than for other markets. UK states that all prams and strollers meet the UK Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulation (UK FFFSR) which requires products to meet the same flame propagation levels as sofas and armchairs. Contrary to other markets this requires us to add flame-retardants to our products. At Bugaboo we aim to limit the use of PFCs in our products as much as possible. Please note that we do not add PFOA or PFOS to our products. These chemicals are used in the production of certain types of water repellant coatings. At Bugaboo we do not use these coatings for our products. Our rubber/wheels are free from toxic substances and phthalates. The rubber in our products is predominantly found in the wheels and these are sourced from suppliers who also produce children’s bikes. Since the safety and comfort of our customers and their children is paramount to Bugaboo, rubber/wheels we use are produced with the intention to safely use them with infants. The plastics we use come from reputable suppliers and are used throughout our industry as well as many others with applications from toys to automotive. We can confirm that our products are made with commercial grade materials appropriate to their application. Since the safety and comfort of our customers and their children is paramount to Bugaboo, we have very strict quality control processes in place. All our products are tested extensively and compliant with international regulatory safety and quality requirements.I can’t disclose information specific to the formulation of our products but I can sort this out for you with one of our chemical experts. Please be aware that this might take some time. “
  

So I have decide to go for uppababy as at least they were able to clarify what substances they do / don’t use. Good luck!!! And let me know if you find anything else!

[Temp023]

“Non-toxic pram”

[Horehound]

What's the issue with flame retardant?

[MyDcAreMarvel]

@Ann767 am very confused am I reading this wrong, or are you saying that your preference is your child’s car seat bursts into flames?

[idontlikealdi]

I'm intrigued my kids are well past this stage but what's the issue? I wouldn't have wanted them to burst into flames in an accident. Genuine question not being goady.

[OFDad]

The UK is pretty much the only country in the world that enforces the use of flame retardants on prams, car seats and other baby products. This is because of archaic legislation that has been under review for years by government now because ministers raised safety concerns. Manufacturers are increasingly producing prams etc without harmful substances in them which is great. But the ones that reach UK shores are then doused in chemicals purely to comply with inappropriate regulations that don't exist elsewhere. Flame retardants have been proven to be harmful to human health and the environment. I'm not the type to throw out all my carpets and sofas in response to this but it is prompting me to try to source a pram and car seat from outside of the UK that hasn't had these chemicals applied. Items without FR's don't spontaneously combust and, believe it or not, they have actually been shown not to even work in a fire. @Temp023 apologies for use of the phrase 'non toxic pram'.... Each to their own. I found @Ann767 original post very helpful and relevant and am keen to learn more.

[Sepbaby]

Hi thanks for sharing this, I’m expecting in September and just starting to look into chemicals and toxins. It’s stressful! What pram/car seat/cot did you go for if you don’t mind sharing? Thank you! Laura

[BertieBotts]

Just to note, UK car seats don't have flame retardants because of car accidents. They have them because under UK legislation all furniture and furnishings must be resistant to fire from eg a dropped cigarette. Infant car seats are considered furniture by that legislation because they are designed to be brought into the house.

The car seat is not likely to randomly burst into flames without these chemicals. It will probably smoulder if you drop a lit cigarette on it, but you could always just... not do that. The legislation originates from the 1970s when a lot more people smoked.

France and the whole of the EU use the same car seat safety legislation as the UK, any car seat you buy on sale for the EU market is legal to use in the UK.