We selected this product for my baby registry based on the recommendation in Baby Bargains and the good reviews. It wasn't until after we received the high chair as a gift that I learned that it contained at least one toxin and possibly more. The back of the high chair is vinyl, which the Children's Health Environmental Coalition has called "the worst plastic, from both an environmental and health standpoint." According to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, the chemicals released by a new vinyl product "have been associated with developmental damage, as well as damage to the liver, central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems." Their study found that some chemicals have been found in the air a full 28 days after a new vinyl product is brought into the home. A commentator on the Soft Landing blog -- a resource for non-toxic eating gear -- also reports that lead is sometimes used as a stabilizer for vinyl so suggests swabbing any vinyl highchair backing with an over-the-counter lead test to see if lead is present (and if it is either recover the seat or find a different high chair). It is also not clear whether the high chair tray -- which babies often eat off of -- or any other part of the high chair contains BPA. BPA can leach into food and is a known neurotoxin that is potentially dangerous to infants. I called Fisher Price to ask whether the high chair contains BPA and phthalates (which is a hormone disrupter) and was told they could not release information on the contents of the high chair but that it complied with federal safety regulations. Alicia Voorhies, a retired nurse specializing in developmental disabilities who runs the Soft Landing blog, suggests not allowing a baby chew on any part of the highchair, since Fisher Price won't share what materials are used or where they're located in the product. As a parent of a 5 month old, I know how hard it is to prevent my son from chewing on anything, particularly toys like the ones that come with this high chair. It also makes me suspicious that Fisher Price won't release any product information when there is so much concern recently about BPA in infant feeding products. I highly advise that other parents do not make the same mistake we did in selecting this product for our registry - this is a product that your child will use daily to eat and will sit in your kitchen, and it seems important that it be as non-toxic as possible. Go with Graco, Stokke, Peg Perego, or Svan high chairs, all of which appear to have trays that are BPA-free and chairs without vinyl backings and are made by companies that will disclose product information so that parents can make informed decisions. Buy Fisher-Price Rainforest Healthy Care High Chair!
