Parents of a toddler with skin disfigurement have filed a suit against Graco Children’s Products and Rubbermaid claiming chemicals from their infant carseat was the cause.

Mark and Natalie Stevens of Fairfield, Ohio claim that the chemicals used in the Graco infant carseat was the cause of the permanent depigmentation in their daughter’s skin. The toddler girl, who was born in 2007, has several large white patches of skin across her legs, back, arms, head and face. The lawyer for the couple says these patches are a direct result of exposure to the Graco Safe Seat used by the child.

A study at the Philadelphia University found elevated levels of formaldehyde and other toxins in many brands of children’s clothing and carseats. Formaldehyde is often used as a wrinkle reducer in fabrics. The U.S. only has voluntary industry standards on the use of formaldehyde as there is currently not enough research on the possible health effects from exposure to this and other chemicals.

A doctor for the Stevens cared for the toddler and alledges that her skin issues are a result of exposure to the carseat. The parents say they tried several changes in diet, clothing, and detergent before discovering the carseat as the source of the rashes that their child was experiencing. Unfortunately the skin damage was done and could not be resolved. The Stevens returned the infant seat to Graco once they felt it was the source of the problems.

Graco has indicated that they no longer have the infant carseat in question and no formal comment has been made by their lawyers about the case yet.

Mark and Natalie Stevens are asking for $100,000, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs. – Summer, Staff Writer

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• [ed note] This mom had the same problem back in 07. Other moms commenting on the post also experienced something similar with Chicco Infant seats and the Graco Safe seat. I couldn’t find a resolution, but would love to hear if there was one.

Graco has exceeded the previous stats of 30lbs/30inches by releasing their Snugride 32.

The company has done their research and says that this seat will accommodate 97% of one year-olds to keep your child rear facing for one full year.

It is also cushioned with GracoPedic™ luxury foam for extra padding and added comfort and features a removable infant body support that helps keep infants comfortably positioned.

The Snugride’s soft harness covers will keep you baby comfortably buckled, while the 180° rotating canopy helps shade your child from any direction.

One of the biggest complaints that most new parents have is that their baby outgrew their infant seat long before they wanted them to.

While I realize that most parents won’t carry the baby in this seat like they did when they were younger, it is still nice to know that you don’t need to buy another piece of gear for at least a year.