So you’re interested in buying a non-toxic stroller? Read on.
Unfortunately, there are potentially harmful components in all strollers. No stroller is 100% non-toxic. The goal is to identify what components are most dangerous and buy accordingly.
What to Avoid at All Costs?
Flame/Fire Retardants
Why?
Studies have consistently linked flame retardants with:
- Cancer
- Hyperactivity
- Thyroid Problem
- Hormone Disruption
- Reproductive Problems
- & More
Buying Used?
I’m a huge proponent of buying second hand, but please note that all strollers made before 2014 contain flame retardants. This is because strollers had to pass a stringent flammability test in which they had to survive an open fire for 12 seconds.
How do I know if a stroller is made with flame retardants?
Companies will usually advertise if they don’t use flame retardants, but feel free to also reach out to the manufacturer directly.
Watch out for the following tricky verbiage:
“Compliance with FMVSS 302”
or
“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”
The law allows flame retardants. This just shows they’re in compliance with the law. Our goal to is avoid flame retardants entirely.
Other things to avoid:
- PVC
- Phthalates
- BPA
- Formaldehyde
- Lead
All of these have been known to cause various health problems as well as environmental problems.
Questionable…
Polyurethane foam
99.99% of strollers on the market contain polyeurthane foam, commonly found in the seat and wheels. A real, known danger of polyurethane foam is when it is made with flame retardants.
However, if you choose a stroller with no flame retardants, this should also apply to the polyurethane foam. But to ease your mind, feel free to reach out the manufacturer directly to ensure the polyurethane foam is also flame retardant-free. You might also see a “CertiPUR-US” certification, which ensures it’s made without flame retardants.
There’s not a of lot concrete evidence on the toxicity (or lack thereof) of polyurethane foam.
I did scour both the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website and the REACH website, which is essentially the European Union’s equivalent (only much stricter). The EPA is very clear about dangers from SPRAY polyurethane foam (think house installation). REACH states polyurethane foam “May emit toxic fumes if burnt, otherwise low toxicity in use, but manufacture involves the use of isocyanates – potent respiratory sensitisers.”