I remember back to the days when the kids were younger and we had a different car seat for each stage of their life. Now companies like Diono have amazing convertible seats that grow with your children.
The Diono Radian rXT
The Radian rXT car seat is designed with your child's security and safety as top priorities. The seat is constructed with premium materials and safety features like:
- Aluminum reinforced side walls
- Energy absorbing EPS foam
- A five-point harness with 5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions
- Steel alloy frame
Take the guesswork out of safety and put your mind at easy because you know your little one stays safe and sound. The superLATCH system makes installation a breeze, even for someone like me who hasn't had to do it in ages. The diono Radian rXT comfortably seats children of all ages:
- Rear-facing children from 2.3 – 20.5 kg (5 – 45 lbs),
- Forward-facing children from 10 – 29.5 kg (22 – 65 lbs) and up to 144cm (57″) in a 5-point harness
- Converts into a booster for children between 23 – 54 kg (50 – 120 lbs)
The seat also folds flat for easy storage. One of the features that stood out to me was the reinforced adjustable head support that provides additional side impact protection. The forward-facing recline position accommodates different types of contoured vehicle seats. I was pleasantly surprised with the 12-position adjustable headrest that helps deliver a secure and comfortable ride along with the 5-point harness.
Fun fact – in a mid-sized SUV you can fit three car seats across the bench, the base is 33 cm (13 in), carpooling and coffee dates just got easier!
The infant body support cushions and memory foam are a great addition to this seat and can easily be removed when your child is ready to upgrade to forward facing. With the use of additional diono items like the the angle adjuster. The Angle Adjuster positions a rear-facing Diono car seat at a more upright angle for older children and can add up to 4” more room behind the front seats for more front leg room.
For the long road trips the cup holder keeps a variety of drinks upright and within reach plus the cover is machine washable. Diono also has great accessories like the warm ‘n go deluxe, stuff ‘n scuff, seat belt pillow and the easy view that are great for long days on the road, especially during the holiday season.
The diono Radian rXT has a retail value of $399.99 Canadian has a 10-year life, is FAA certified and is NCAP crash tested. I found the seat to be a great convertible option, especially when you can leave it properly installed in your vehicle.
The only downside is the weight of the seat, about 11 kg (25 lbs), which made it a little hard for me to maneuver it on my own. But weight isn’t always a bad thing, the steel frame adds more strength and support in the event of an accident.
Overall if you’re looking to invest in a quality seat that can grow with your child and has a great crash test rating, this is a seat I would consider.
