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You are here: Home / NewsMom Investigates / Investigating Car Seat Chemicals / Updates Car Seat Chemicals / Ergo Baby “Exiting the Orbit Baby Brand”

Ergo Baby “Exiting the Orbit Baby Brand”

November 1, 2016 By Julie Watts 13 Comments

Is Orbit Baby Discontinued?
Orbit Baby Closing

Orbit’s Facebook page has confirmed to several parents via Facebook messenger that its parent company Ergo Baby is “exiting the Orbit Baby brand” and selling through its inventory at a discounted price. However, Ergo Baby stopped short of confirming to us that Orbit Baby will be discontinued.

The company also declined to comment on whether it intends to launch another car seat or stroller line under a new name to replace the Orbit brand.

In an email, Ergo Baby said:

Yes, we are evaluating various options, including exiting the Orbit Baby brand.  We will continue to support purchases with a committed customer care team and honor the two-year warranty that customers receive from purchasing our product.  It is not our practice to comment on product development.

However, according to this Facebook post, Ergo Baby told celebrity brand ambassador The Baby Guy that it “sold various brand assets, including intellectual property and tooling, of Orbit Baby to Safian Company, Ltd., (its) longtime South Korean distributor.”

The Orbit Baby Back Story

For years, Orbit Baby was popular with chemical-conscious moms across the country and charged a premium because the company claimed it tested to ensure “below detection limits” of “dangerous flame retardant chemicals.” Orbit’s marketing specifically noted the absence of two particularity concerning versions of the flame retardant Chlorinated Tris (TCPP and TDCPP).

However, after a 2015 Ecology Center car seat study found TCPP in an Orbit car seat, we began investigating the company’s chemical claims. We compiled independent test results from parents and a retailer, whose Orbit car seats all tested positive for the even more concerning form of Tris, TDCPP. That chemical was removed from children’s pajamas in the ’70s, is listed as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization and is on California’s list of known cancer-causing chemicals.

Because Orbit Baby publicly questioned the labs and methodologies that were returning positive test results, we tested two additional car seats (my daughter’s) using the same EPA testing methodologies that Orbit itself agreed to use as part of a 2014 legal settlement. Three different labs ultimately confirmed our Orbit car seats also contained TDCPP.

Public records revealed that the company was served with two lawsuits as far back as 2013 for failing to disclose the presence of TDCPP in its products, as required under California law. However, Orbit’s website and marketing materials continued to claim that its products did not contain the concerning chemicals until December 2015, when NewsMom published its initial blog post on the topic.

Orbit did buy back its remaining stock from at least one concerned retailer and agreed to refund customers on a case-by-case basis. However, the company continues to deny that its products ever contained TDCPP.

Read Ergo Baby/Orbit Baby’s Full Response:
Orbit Baby Responds to Flame Retardants Found in Car Seats

Another high-end, green car seat company recently found itself in a similar situation. Like Orbit, some 2014 Clek car seats were found to contain TDCPP despite Clek’s claims to the contrary. However, unlike Orbit, Clek agreed to voluntarily contact affected customers and provide a replacement car seat cover that did not contain the chemical in question.

Also Read:
Now Our Clek Car Seat Tested Positive for TDCPP

Following the CBS/KPIX/NewsMom investigation, the Center for Environmental Health filed a lawsuit against Ergo Baby/Orbit Baby. The lawsuit demands that Orbit notify affected consumers and offer to refund or replace affected car seats. Many parents are still unaware that their car seats may contain TDCPP despite the company’s advertised claims.

According to our sources, Ergo’s decision to “exit the brand” will not impact that lawsuit. In the mean time, Orbit is selling off its remaining stock at a discount.

The Orbit story eventually evolved into a broader investigation into car seat flame retardants. We set out to answer the question, “Are the benefits worth the risk?”

For the full investigation, see: 
Car Seat Flame Retardants: Continuing Coverage

You may also be interested in the following NewsMom Research and Resources:

Car Seat Chemicals: Resources for Parents

“Chemicals Are in Everything, Why Should I Care?”

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

Julie Watts
Julie Watts
Julie is the consumer-investigative reporter for CBS in San Francisco. Her reports air nationally on CBS stations across the coun ...Read More

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Comments

  1. Brandon Tripp says

    April 24, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    Thank you for this fantastic article! Unfortunately we own a orbit baby G3 infant car seat and a toddler car seat. Where can we find contact info to demand a refund for these ?

    Reply
    • newsmom says

      April 25, 2017 at 6:48 am

      Hi Brandon, Thanks.
      You can contact Orbit Customer Service at: 1-877-ORB-BABY (1-877-672-2229) support@orbitbaby.com
      FAQs – Orbit Baby https://orbitbaby.com/faq

      Keep in mind, not all years were affected by the TDCPP. Technically, that is the only retardant they were required by law to disclose at the time of purchase (in CA). Though, using any chlorinated or brominated retardants would have directly contradicted their advertising. They may or may not agree to refund other models. They may require you have your model tested to prove it contains one of the concerning retardants. Let me know what happens!

      Reply
      • Jenny says

        February 22, 2018 at 10:42 pm

        Where can we get it tested in Los Angeles?

        Reply
  2. Aga says

    December 30, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    Do you suggest any car seats in your research that are safest

    Reply
    • newsmom says

      January 2, 2018 at 11:44 am

      We don’t “endorse” any products… but we have tested the Uppa Baby Mesa Henry and it is FR free. I believe Nuna Pipa also claims to have a new FR free car seat. We have not tested it.

      Reply
  3. Gaylen Morgan says

    April 2, 2018 at 11:09 am

    Do you know if Britex or Foonf are chemical free?

    Reply
    • newsmom says

      April 3, 2018 at 7:19 pm

      They are not. You can find more information here: https://newsmom.com/car-seat-flame-retardant-report/

      Reply
  4. Pamela says

    May 8, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    Hi i to have a g2 stroller with a g3 toddler seat. Can you tell me which are the ones that are affected by this chemical or what year?

    Reply
    • newsmom says

      November 5, 2018 at 5:19 pm

      This links should help… It has a bit more info on what models tested positive.
      https://newsmom.com/orbit-responds-to-chemical-flame-retardants/

      We know 2013 models tested positive… and I believe there were some concerns about the 2014 models. If you call the company, they should tell you if your model was affected. Let me know what they say.

      Reply
  5. Tania Garcia says

    October 11, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    Hi =, i own a G3 stroller with infant car seat and stroller seat. Can you provide the year or model that are affected by this chemical ?

    Reply
    • newsmom says

      November 5, 2018 at 5:18 pm

      This links should help… It has a bit more info on what models tested positive.
      https://newsmom.com/orbit-responds-to-chemical-flame-retardants/

      We know 2013 models tested positive… and I believe there were some concerns about the 2014 models. If you call the company, they should tell you if your model was affected. Let me know what they say.

      Reply
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Click above to return to the NewsMom "Car Seat Chemicals" resource page featuring continuing coverage, lawmaker reaction, background data and unique resources to help reduce your child's exposure to concerning chemicals in car seats.

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

#Toxic Safety: Car Seat Chemicals Continuing Coverage

Continuing Coverage

Investigating UPPAbaby Flame-Retardant-Free Car Seats

2016 Ecology Center Car Seat Test Results

New Car Seat Study Finds Fewer Chemicals, But Concerns Linger

2016 Ecology Center Car Seat Test Results

Questions About 2016 Ecology Center Car Seat Flame Retardant Report

Now Our Clek Car Seat Tested Positive for TDCPP

Another ‘Green’ Car Seat Tests Positive For ‘Cancer-Causing’ Chemical Flame Retardant • CBS San Francisco

Remember ‘That’ Biomonitoring Study? Car Seats Are Just the Beginning…

Environmental Working Group found that government regulations can increase those “potentially harmful exposures.”

Regulations Blamed for Higher Levels of Flame Retardants in Kids • CBS San Francisco

Why Care About Chemicals Products?

“Chemicals Are in Everything, Why Should I Care?”

Consumer Federation on DOT Response to Chemicals in Car Seats • CBS San Francisco

Chemicals in Children’s Car Seats Addressed at Washington Hearing • CBS San Francisco

Ladies Of ‘The Talk’ on CBS Talk Flame Retardants In Car Seats With Julie Watts

Ladies of The Talk on CBS Talk Flame Retardants in Car Seats

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced legislation to rid car seats of flame retardant chemicals following a series of reports by ConsumerWatch reporter Julie Watts.

Car Seat Chemical Probe Prompts Legislation, Lands Reporter On ‘The Talk’ • CBS San Francisco

#Toxic Safety: Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

Feds Blamed for Needlessly Exposing Kids to "Cancer-Causing" Car Seat Chemicals

Part 4: Feds Blamed for Exposing Kids to Car Seat Chemicals • CBS San Francisco

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals: The Lawmaker Response

Car Seat Chemicals: Resources for Parents

Child Test Positive For High Levels Of Car Seat Flame Retardants

How I Found “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardants In My Child… And In Her ‘Green’ Car Seat

How I Discovered A Cancer-Causing Car Seat Flame Retardant "In" My Child

Part 3: Reporter’s Shocking Discovery – Daughter & Car Seat Positive for “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardant • CBS San Francisco

Cancer-Causing Car Seat Chemicals — Manufacturers With Violations, Consumers In The Dark • CBSSF

Part 2: Car Seats With Violations, Consumers In The Dark • CBS San Francisco

What began as a NewsMom blog on chemical flame retardants in car seats evolved first, into a regional story for CBS local affiliates, then into a national story for CBS This Morning.

Popular Car Seats Found To Contain Concerning Flame Retardant • CBS News

High-End Orbit Baby Car Seat Contains Concerning Flame Retardant • CBSSF

Part 1: High-End Car Seat Contains Concerning Flame Retardant • CBS San Francisco

Orbit Responds to Chemical Flame Retardants Found in their Car Seats

Orbit Baby Responds to Flame Retardants in Car Seats

Concerning Chemicals Found in Orbit Baby and Other Car Seats

Concerning Chemicals Found in Orbit Baby & Other Car Seats

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