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Shopping for non-toxic car seats that also comply with the federal safety standards is time-consuming. There is a lot of federal rules concerning car seat safety. However, they are only dedicated to preventing traffic-related injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps track of all tested car seats released in the American market. But, although they have a very detailed list of safety criteria, they don’t consider chemicals in their tests.
Once you start reading all the regulations in place you realize flame retardant (FR’s) is a federal safety requirement, which makes sense, right? In case of an accident, you wanna make sure your baby is as protected as possible from the fire.
However, according to the Ecology Center (a nonprofit that also dedicates to test hazardous chemicals on everyday objects), some FR’s types are considered toxic for babies. And even though there are different types of FR’s, some companies still use toxic ones. As if you already didn’t have enough to think!
The Best Non-toxic Car Seats
Fortunately, over the last couple of years, some brands developed alternatives to the toxic FR’s and launched amazing non-toxic car seats. In December 2019, the Ecology Center released a list with 16 FR’s free car seats available on the market.
So far in 2021, the Ecology Center list had no update, but reliable manufactures have launched new non-toxic car seats on the market since then: Infants: the Clek 2020, the Maxi-Cosi Coral, the Chicco KeyFit35 Clear Tex.
Therefore, here they are, grouped by category: infant, convertible & all-in-one, with average prices and reliable retailers where you can find them! They are all NHTSA compliant and praised by parents all over.
When you go to the retailer website, stick with the colors that are FR-free, as they are described here. If you have doubts, read the retailer description carefully and even email them if necessary. Be sure you’re making a confident and conscious purchase!
As usual, we show the prices from the day we selected the car seats. More often than not, stores have random sales on their websites, so the price of the day can be cheaper ?♥︎ than what you see here!
That’s why we show as many good retailers as possible, even the ones we are not affiliated with, so you can choose the more convenient for you!
Infant Non-Toxic Car Seats
- Rear-facing only
- From birth to 35 lb (follow manufacturer instructions for height and weight limits)
- Fire retardant alternatives available: Wool | SafeWash | PureCosi | FR Free fabric
Britax B-Safe Gen2
Cobblestone, Greystone, Eclipse Black | SafeWash
Use range: 4 to 35 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 10.9 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $199.99
See today’s price on:
This is the most afordable non-toxic infant car seat WITH extended rear-facing and it’s from Britax! We are celebrating!
Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 Infant Car Seat
Slated Sky, Radish Rubi, Polished Pebble, Midnight Black | PureCosi
Use range: 5 to 30 lbs | Up to 32 in
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $199.99
See today’s price on:
Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex
Cove & Shadow | ClearTex
Use range: 4 to 35 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 18.5 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $249.99
See today’s price on:
? One of the best news in the non-toxic car seat market! One of the most popular car seats, at a more affordable price! And it’s Greenguard GoldCertified!
Britax B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit
Cowmooflage 2.0 & Twilight | SafeWash
Use range: 4 to 35 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 11.6 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $249.99
See today’s price on:
This is the most afordable non-toxic infant car seat and it’s from Britax! We are celebrating!
Maxi-Cosi Mico XP Max Infant Car Seat
Sonar Blue, Plum, Grey, Essential Black | PureCosi
Use range: 5 to 30 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 18.4 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $299.99
See today’s price on:
Britax B-Safe Endeavours
Otto | SafeWash
Use range: 4 to 35 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 11.5 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved (without the base)
Average price: $309.99
See today’s price on:
As of June 2021, we can’t find the Endeavours with SafeWash fabric to sell anywhere, not even on the Britax website! I reached out to Britax and I still didn’t get any answers. Honestly, I don’t know if it is sold out or discontinued. BUT THE GOOD NEWS: They launched the B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit+ that has the same features and price as the Endeavours. Make sure you go for the SafeWash fabrics Jet and Drift! You can get yours on the Britax website, PishPosh, and Brixy!
Nuna Pipa
Birch, Caviar, Frost, Granite | FR Free fabric
Use range: 4 to 32 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 8 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $319.99
See today’s price on:
Nuna Pipa Lite
Aspen, Caviar & Granite | FR Free fabric
Use range: 4 to 32 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 5.3 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved (with base only)
Average price: $349.95
See today’s price on:
UPPAbaby MESA
Henry & Joran | Wool
Use range: 4 to 35 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 26 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $349.99
See today’s price on:
Nuna Pipa Lite LX
6 colors | Wool & Tencel blend
Use range: 4 to 32 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 5.7 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved (with base only)
Average price: $399.95
See today’s price on:
Maxi-Cosi Coral XP
All 3 colors | PureCosi
Use range: 4 to 22 lbs | Up to 29 in
Car seat weight: 21.05 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $399.99
See today’s price on:
Clek 2020 Liing
Mammoth & Twilight | Merino Wool
Use range: 4 to 35 lbs | Up to 32 in
Car seat weight: 9 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $419.99
See today’s price on:
Convertible Non-toxic Car Seats
- Rear-facing (RF) & Forward-facing (FF)
- From birth to preschool years (follow manufacturer instructions for height and weight limits)
- Fire retardant alternative: SafeWash | FR Free fabric | Wool
Britax Advocate ClickTight
Otto | SafeWash
Use range: RF: 5 to 40 lb | FF: 20 to 65 lb
Dimensions: 23 x 20 x 23.5 in | 30 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $354.99
See today’s price on:
Clek Fllo
Mammoth, Twilight | Merino Wool
Use range: RF: 14 to 50 lb | FF: 22 to 65 lb
Dimensions: 24 x 16.90 x 26 in | 25 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $439.99
See today’s price on:
Sleek and Built like a tank
Clek Foonf
Mammoth, Winter Mammoth | Merino Wool
Use range: RF: 14 to 50 lb | FF: 22 to 65 lb
Dimensions: 28 x 17.5 x 16 in | 33 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $499.99
See today’s price on:
According to Clek’s customer service, the Foonf and the Floo have the same safety, design, and fabric features, BUT the Foonf has TREE reclining positions.
? The Best & Safest Non-Toxic Play Food For Kids
Nuna Rava
Caviar, Frost, Granite, Lake, Rose | FR Free fabric
Use range: RF: 14 to 50 lb | FF: 22 to 65 lb
Dimensions: 25 x 16 x 19 in | 8 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $449.95
See today’s price on:
☾ The Best 2021 Modern Car Seats For Parents Who Love Tech & Design
All in One Non-Toxic Car Seats
- Rear & Forward-facing & Booster
- From birth to school years (follow manufacturer instructions for height and weight limits)
- Fire retardant alternative: SafeWash | FR Free fabric | Pure Cosi
Maxi-Cosi Pria All-in-One
After Dark | PureCosi
Use range: RF: 4 to 40 lb | FF/B: 22 to 100 lb
Dimensions: 31 x 20 x 35 in | 22.7 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $289.99
See today’s price on:
?? Made in the USA
Maxi-Cosi Pria Max All-in-One
Tetra Graphite | PureCosi
Use range: RF: 4 to 40 lb | FF/B: 22 to 100 lb
Dimensions: 30.5 x 20 x 35 in | 23 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved
Average price: $329.99
See today’s price on:
Britax One4Life
Black, Cadet, Drift, Plum | SafeWash
Use range: RF: 5 to 50 lb | FF/B: 22 to 120 lb
Dimensions: 20.5 x 19.5 x 25 in | 30 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved (in harness mode only)
Average price: $374.99
See today’s price on:
Nuna Exec All-in-One
Caviar, Granite, Lake| FR Free fabric
Use range: RF: 5 to 50 lb | FF/B: 25 to 120 lb
Dimensions: 33 x 18.5 x 22.5 in | 26 lb
FAA Aircraft Approved (except in booster mode)
Average price: $649.95
See today’s price on:
? Non-toxic & Organic baby booties to keep those cute feet protected
Avoiding counterfeit car seats
All the car seats featured at The Mood Guide are said to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines. Of course, counterfeit sellers don’t care about safety or their reputation. They are scammers trying to cash in some easy money.
That’s why we only feature renowned manufacturers and a few trustworthy retailers who are not infamous for selling counterfeit. Plus, we decided to include this information in every car seat post we are updating in 2021 because it feels right.
At the end of 2019 the CNN released an article about counterfeit car seats being sold online and how dangerous they can be. Even more disturbing was to find out that online stores, unlike brick-and-mortar, can’t be legally accountable for selling counterfeit.
Not all online store is a villain, though. The main sources of worry are marketplaces that sell directly from third-party sellers, without any control over what’s shipped to your house.
This accountability gap, besides unlimited greed and lack of humanity, is what enables scammers to sell fake products online.
In March 2020, the Shop Safe Act , a bipartisan bill, was introduced in hopes to incentivize e-commerce retailers to take steps to avoid counterfeit offers of products that can cause health or life risk to American people.
What can we do?
In the meanwhile what we can do to protect our kids is spread awareness and be extra careful about the retailers we are buying from. If something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
Therefore, if we can prevent at least one person from buying a fake unsafe car seat that can cost a child’s life, it is worth it.
As much as we are brought to believe that we are too small to make a difference, it’s our money and our shopping that sustains the economy. We are the buyers, we have the power.
Only use the car seat for transportation. Do not put the baby to sleep or nap in it.
A new study shows that putting babies to sleep in a car seat may lead to SIDS, suffocation, and fall, even under adult surveillance. ?
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