Is TDCIPP in foam furniture and nursing pillows safe during pregnancy?

What it is

TDCIPP is a chlorinated flame retardant used in some polyurethane foam. Foam can show up in old couches, nursing pillows, car seats, and mattress pads.

Flame retardants are not always locked inside foam. They can move into dust, then onto hands, floors, and soft surfaces. Pregnancy is a smart time to lower repeated dust exposure from old or crumbling foam.

What the study found

A 2026 study in Journal of Hazardous Materials studied TDCIPP and pregnancy maintenance. The researchers found TDCIPP in human decidua, which is pregnancy tissue that helps support the embryo.

Higher TDCIPP exposure was linked with spontaneous pregnancy loss in the human data. In pregnant mice, TDCIPP exposure increased embryo resorption and disrupted immune cells in the decidua through ferroptosis, DNA damage, and inflammation pathways.

This does not prove that one foam product causes miscarriage. It does show enough concern to avoid old, torn, or poorly disclosed foam around pregnancy and babies when better choices are available.

What to do

Replace crumbling foam when you can. Use washable covers. Wet-dust often. Wash hands before eating. Keep torn foam away from babies.

For the nursery, choose simple textiles with clear materials, such as organic cotton or bamboo, and ask brands about added flame retardants before buying foam products.