Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it just be easier to teach him not to eat the furniture?

best response ever

FWIW, waiting a few months could help. California has recently been the driver of chemical flame retardant use in furniture because it has laws requiring more flame resistance than any other state. But those laws are changing during a phasing-in period in 2014, through which manufacturers will no longer be required to use the chemicals. Presumably as the rules loosen up, some companies will step up to meet consumer demand for less-treated furniture.

Here's a news story on it: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-flame-retardants-california-met-20131122,0,1794887.story.

If I wanted something right away I'd probably decide between accepting the risk and getting what I want, or getting a wooden chair. My family wanted a new chair for our living room and we went ahead and bought something upholstered under the current regs (still not sure if that was a good move or not).

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it just be easier to teach him not to eat the furniture?

For the win.

I have to say buying seats for toddlers is inane - they never sit down!

The flame retardants are pretty harmful to people, but then again, so is fire.

Anonymous wrote:Hunh. I find the mocking replies to be not only rude, but also pretty ignorant. Personally, I believe in the "power of the consumer" to change manufacturing practices when regulations are lax. Though honestly I'd rather be lazy and have our laws and regulations take care of the research for me...

Anyway, I'm now also interested to know if there's some sort of high-standard, low-toxin children's furniture line, in general. Doesn't sound like a bad idea, really.

As you I also am looking for furniture that is non-toxic and does not produce off gas. Unfortunately most of the people who have responded to this thread clearly have spent all their lives inhaling Polyurethane and lost brain cells, or are plainly uneducated. I recently purchased a flip sofa from Babies R' Us and the smell was so potent that it gave everyone a headache, so I returned it that same day. I've been looking around and most organic flip sofas are pretty expensive. Hopefully we can generate some intelligent and informative responses...

I think this is a personal choice. Each person should make decisions based on what they think is best for their own family. I don't look down on people for choosing a certain type of mattress or bedding for their kids, so don't call me names because I purchased my kids chemical free, organic mattresses.

Wow, there are a lot of ignorant people that post here. If you really are so inept that you don't realize your kids are being poisoned by unsafe materials, it is likely that your parents behaved this same way with you, and you just do not have the mental capacity to know the difference. In which case, you will not even know that this reply is aimed at you, the ignorant ones. Too bad, but I guess there has to be really dumb people for intelligence and good parenting to be noteworthy.

I'm actually appalled at the ignorance of people (a PP, specifically) who say things like ".....Sweden or Europe...". Didn't realize Sweden had fallen or broken out of the middle of Scandinavia and was now drifting around Asia somewhere.

Maybe it was the flame retardant off-gassing that caused the geographical clueslessness? Or just failure of the American educational system?

Appalled at the ignorance on this issue too. We're not especially crunchy, but chemical flame retardants are nasty business.

OP, used furniture does help with this issue. I believe a few companies also meet the standards without heavy chemical use.

More info on the issue here:

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/flameret/index.htm

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/23/153308887/fight-over-flame-retardants-in-furniture-heats-up

anon 13:44
these are actually poor people problems. Rich folks are at least able to get better therapy and continual care for their autistic children. Poor people are at the mercy of whatever free service their public school provides which is not going to accomplish much. Poor people should be MUCH more concerned about toxins in their home. Its a lot cheaper to switch to non toxic cleaners and organic bedding than paying for OT for four years out of pocket.

Off-gassing furniture is a real problem, but you can get used furniture because it has already released its formaldyhyde, etc. Letting new furniture air out in a room with the windows open also helps. No need to spend a bazillion dollars.

rich people problems, spend your money on something worth while like a charity

I can't believe how dismissve folks are about toxins in furniture. You know one of the most toxic places in a house is your mattress where you probably spend 6-8 hours. Folks there is a reason so many kids are autistic, on the spectrum or whatever. it starts with the massive and cumulative effects of toxins in our homes, foods, clothes, cleaners etc. I guess its easier to blame vaccines than actually do something constructive to clean up your own home.

Wow. I found this thread while searching for a non-toxic toddler chair. People are truly ignorant! Do a little research people...you'd be amazed at how toxic furniture is.