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Car seat questions

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frequently asked questions
about child car seat ratings

What should I do if my child’s current car seat is listed as high concern?

It is important to ALWAYS use a child car seat. HealthyCar.org recommends continuing to use your car seat, no matter what rating it received. Based on available evidence the chemicals we tested in car seats do not pose an immediate health concern. However, children are exposed to these chemicals from numerous products. Altogether, these exposures can and often do result in higher levels in children over time. Brominated flame retardants have been linked to neurological impacts in young laboratory animals, and lead is well known to be harmful to the developing brain. We encourage parents to ask manufacturers about the chemical ingredients of children's products to reduce exposure where possible to these chemicals from all sources including car seats.

It is also a good idea to ventilate your car before entering by opening doors and rolling down windows.  Installation and use of carbon filters may also reduce exposure to some harmful chemicals.  In addition, parents should limit the amount of time a child spends in a car seat by not letting them nap in the car seat when at home or otherwise outside the car.

Visit our Take Action! page to find out what else you can do to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals and encourage manufacturer to build healthier products.

Why are the ratings different for seats that are almost the same but different colors?

The chemicals contained in plastics and textiles can vary depending on the color and texture. Different dyes and pigments are used to make different colors of fabrics and other materials, thus the ratings between car seats that are almost the same can be very different. HealthyCar.org ratings only apply to the specific car seats tested, and are not applicable to the same seats in different colors.

How do the materials in the car seat affect my child?

Plastic components contain chemicals that are added during the production process to impart specific properties, such as rigidity, durability or flame resistance.  Many of these chemicals are not chemically bound to the plastic and are consequently released into the environment during the life of the product.  This is often referred to as “off-gassing”.  Heat and UV ray exposure can accelerate this process, and may also cause chemicals to break down into even more toxic compounds.

In other cases, part of the plastic component can turn into dust when the component is abraded during normal use.  For example, if a hand regularly rubs against the side of a car seat, it can cause abrasion over the life of the product. 

Through dust and air, these chemicals are inhaled or ingested, causing acute reactions in some people and possible long-term health impacts, such as reproductive problems, developmental problems and cancer.   Children are especially vulnerable to these chemicals since their systems are still developing.  For more information on heath effects, visit our chemicals of concern page.

What if the child car seat I am interested in is not listed?

HealthyCar.org tested over 60 of the most popular car seat models that were available at Target and Babies-R-Us stores in late 2006.  If the model you are interested in is not listed, we recommend calling the manufacturer and asking them which chemicals are in the seat, and at what levels. You can find a list of car seat manufacturers on our contacts page.

Also, you can sign-up to receive email updates that will announce when new models are tested.

What if I the car seat I have is a few years old?

HealthyCar.org only tested car seat models manufactured in 2006, and did not compare older versus newer models.  Suppliers and material formulations change over time, therefore we do not recommend making any conclusions about the chemical content of older car seats based on the tests of newer car seats.

In general, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) declines over time as chemicals “off-gas” from the car seats.  However, other chemicals of concern, such as the heavy metals and flame retardants that we tested for, may be released at a steady or increasing rate over time as materials that contain them begin to breakdown.  In addition, older car seats may contain chemicals that have been phased out or banned.  For example, manufacturers stopped using penta and octaBDE flame retardants in recent years due to their toxicity, but these chemicals are likely present in many older products.

Also, many child passenger safety organizations do not recommend using older or hand-me-down seats because safety regulations are updated and improved frequently.  Visit our resources page to find links to child passenger safety information.

Are there other harmful chemicals in child car seats, in addition to the ones you tested for?

Yes, there are likely many other substances in car seat that can lead to health and environmental problems. However, HealthyCar.org was limited to elements and the related toxic compounds that are easy to identify using non-destructive methods. Car seats were analyzed with a portable X-Ray Flourescence device that detected elemental composition of the materials.

HealthyCar.org focuses on chemicals that are persistent, toxic and/or bioaccumulative, including heavy metals, common allergens, tin compounds, PVC and brominated flame retardants. In some cases, the levels of chemicals found in car seats were much higher than levels designated as “safe” by voluntary standards for children’s toys.

Where can I find more information about child car seat safety?

The best place to find information about child car seats, including ease-of-use ratings, child height/weight requirements, and recall information, is on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.  Another useful resource is Safety Belt Safe USA.

Have a questions about vehicle ratings? See our vehicle FAQs.

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For a detailed description of the HealthyCar.org vehicle rating system and methodology, download the full report.