Update to this post: See my review of Orbit Baby’s Toddler Stroller with Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 material.
Back in June, I read a study conducted by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice on PVC plastic shower curtains. The study determined that vinyl shower curtains contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems to the liver, central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems. The shower curtains used in the study were purchased from popular stores across the country.
What really alarmed me was summarized in a Los Angeles Times analysis stating that:
“The study found that these shower curtains contained high concentrations of phthalates and varying concentrations of organotins and that they released as many as 108 volatile organic chemicals into the air, some of which persisted for nearly a month.”
Persisted for an entire month?!!! We shouldn’t be surprised, though. Have you ever noticed the lingering “smell” in your bathroom after you hang up a new plastic shower curtain? It’s a toxic cloud that’s permeating through your entire home. Needless to say, after reading the report, I went out and purchased a PVC-free shower curtain (100% EVA vinyl shower curtains are safer). You can find them at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Target, Macy’s, Sears, and many online sites.
Now that you have some background information, I’ll get back to my intended story. It was only about a month ago that I was out with my daughter in her stroller when it started to rain. I stopped walking, took out the plastic stroller cover provided with the stroller, and proceeded to attach it. As I did so, I immediately remembered the report as I began to fasten the PVC plastic cover on. I wouldn’t keep my daughter in a room filled with toxic chemicals – why would I encase her in a smaller and denser volume of toxic air? I took the cover off and dashed home instead, thinking a little rain would be obviously less harmful that the alternative.
And so this started my search for a PVC-free stroller rain cover. I’ll tell you, it wasn’t easy. It was even hard to find one online. Believe me – I literally searched for four days. There’s a happy ending to this story, though.
Just when I was about to give up, I discovered that Orbit Baby makes a PVC-free, chlorine-free, and phthalate-free rain cover for both its toddler size stroller and infant car seat. I wrote to the company and asked them to confirm this, which they did. I explained my desire to find these items for myself and my blog readers. They generously offered to send me both covers so I could see if they would work with other strollers and car seats.
Below you will find a list of strollers and car seats that were on display at my local Babies R Us this week. I fitted the Orbit covers on each one to see if they “reasonably” fit. Only a few didn’t fit, as I describe in the list below. Remember, the Orbit covers are designed specifically for Orbit equipment, so none of the strollers and car seats were a perfect fit. In all cases, some adjusting was needed, and should you try to use the Orbit stroller cover with alternative equipment, you will need to attach Velcro tabs or ties yourself to the top of the cover near the handles of the stroller (velcro tabs are already on the sides of the covers).
- Bugaboo Frog Toddler Stroller
- Bugaboo Bee Stroller
- Quinny Zapp Stroller
- Quinny Buzz 3 Wheel Stroller
- Maxi Cosi Foray Stroller
- Maxi Cosi Perle Stroller
- Maclaren Techno XT Stroller
- Maclaren Lacoste Ryder Stroller
- Maclaren Kate Spade Ryder Stroller
- Maclaren Lulu Guinness Stroller
- Maclaren Quest Sport Stroller
- Maclaren Triumph Stroller
- Maclaren Volo Stroller
- Chicco Cortina Stroller
- Graco Tour DLX Travel System (without the car seat in it)
- Graco Ipo Stroller
- Graco Quattro Tour Stroller – Adequate fit but a bit short where the child’s feet will be
- Graco Metro Lite Stroller
- Baby Planet Endangered Species Stroller
- Peg Perego Aria Stroller
- Peg Perego Pliko P3 Stroller
- Peg Perego Uno Stroller
- Peg Perego Skate – NOT A GOOD FIT
- Chicco Trevi Stroller – Adequate fit but would need long Velcro tabs or ties to keep cover in place on top
- Chicco Cortina Stroller – Adequate fit but would need long Velcro tabs or ties to keep cover in place on top
- Chicco Capri Stroller- Adequate fit but cover is big on this stroller
- Combi Cosmo Ex Stroller
- Stokke Xplory Stroller
- Thea & Co. Wendy Bellissimo Stroller – Adequate fit but cover is large on this stroller
- Joovy Kooper Jogging Stroller
- Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller – Adequate fit but large section of cover flops over due to shape of stroller
- Jeep Overland Limited X Jogging Stroller – Adequate fit but large section of cover flops over due to shape of stroller
- Kolcraft Liberty Limited Jogging Stroller – Adequate fit but large section of cover flops over due to shape of stroller
- Baby Jogger City Mini Single Stroller – Adequate fit but large section of cover flops over due to shape of stroller
- Baby Jogger city Classic Single Stroller - NOT A GOOD FIT
- Phil & Ted’s “Sport” Stroller – NOT A GOOD FIT
- Maxi Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat
- Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP Infant Car Seat
- Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat
- Infant Safe Seat Step 1 Car Seat
- Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat
Below are some pictures I’ve taken of the stroller cover on my own Maclaren Techno XLR stroller so you can see the fit and how I made some adjustments with the added Velcro strips near the handles of the stroller.
Side view
Front zippered window on cover
Tan Velcro tabs I added - Note how cover is doubled up in this area.
Velcro tab from Orbit
Unfortunately, these covers are not available in stores that carry Orbit equipment due to the fact that they come with the strollers and car seats already. If you’re interested in purchasing the Toddler Stroller Seat Rainshield or the Infant Weather Pack (car seat cover with mosquito net), you will need to do so directly through Orbit’s website.
In addition to Orbit being aware of the dangers of PVC and providing a safer product for consumers, the company has a number of “green” initiatives:
- Orbit has rid their supply of brominated chemicals and oil-based packaging inks.
- The company is selective about their travel and most of their employees get to work by carpool, bicycle, public transit, or hybrid vehicles.
- Orbit was the first business in Newark, California to request and pay for recycling.
- They offset 100% of their electricity needs through Renewable Energy Certificates and purchase carbon offsets to fund green initiatives for the environment.
Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.
