Truth be told, having a necessity that a child can use from birth to adulthood is a rarity. It just seems like everything is meant to be outgrown by children: clothes, toys, and all sorts of children’s gear. I wouldn’t mind my kids quickly outgrowing even those that used to be their ultimate favorites, but boy, it can hurt any parent’s pocket when it’s time to ‘invest’ in new stuff that’s more appropriate for the child’s age. So when I got that rare and precious chance to find one thing that my little ones can use for the longest time possible, it was simply a hallelujah moment! I’m talking about my toddler’s convertible car seat that he can use from infanthood to tweenhood!
My son is so excited with his new Diono Radian®RXT Convertible + Booster Car Seat! And I’m just as excited because it’s got him covered from a rear-facing infant-to-toddler seat (for kids 5-45 lbs, newborn to 4yrs), to a forward-facing toddler-to-kid car seat (20-80 lbs, around 9mos to 11yrs), to a big kid-to-tween booster seat (up to 120 lbs). How’s that for a transition that’s everything in one?! We got the beautiful red color which has a nice race car vibe. Super cute, isn’t it? But what about the safety factor? Diono’s very simple, short, and easy-to-remember tagline is “Safety in Style”, but with our experience with the RadianRXT, this statement is unexpectedly a chunk full of value and meaning.
Radian®RXT’s Unique and High Quality Safety Components
Because safety is always number one, there is just so much to say about how jampacked the RadianRXT is with safety qualities and features, but of course with our precious kids in mind nothing is ever too safe. I feel like Diono understands this thought so much, that the RadianRXT just nailed all my concerns. Its safety is paralleled with durability, wherein it is made of full steel alloy frame and aluminum-reinforced side walls, plus energy-absorbing EPS foam panels, all working together for side impact protection of the head and body. It’s five-point harness also has an extra safety element called SafeStop which is also energy-absorbing and is recommended to be used for forward-facing children under 40 lbs.
Installation of the RadianRXT is also quite easy yet so secure. This where I really appreciated its user manual so much because it has handy checklists for every setup for rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster use. It has SuperLATCH child restraint installation system which connects to the vehicle’s latch anchors, and does not require seat belt. But for vehicles with no latch anchors, the RadianRXT still has shoulder and lap belt guides for using the vehicle’s seat belt. And for a non-slip installation and ride, the rubber bottom grips do the job.
With all of the above safety features which really says a lot, the RadianRXT is NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) crash-tested as required for all car seats, and is approved by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) for flight travels. The FAA certification is a huge plus because not all car seats are approved for use airplanes. But the bigger plus is that all Radian car seats successfully passed the NCAP crash test without relying on the top tether, which the RadianRXT also has.
Style, Comfort, and More!
I could go on and on about safety, but there’s just so much to say about the RadianRXT’s comfort features and other fun pluses too!
For rear-facing setups, there’s the detachable base, LATCH and tether systems for triple security. It also has infant support cushion made of memory foam padding, for extra comfort of delicate babies.
Diono also knows that there are many different types and contours for vehicle seats, so the RadianRXT’s flexible recline position can accommodate these. With the forward-facing position, the adjustable headrest can be suited for up to 12 positions, which is not only for head comfort but for support and impact safety as well. The shoulder and buckle positions are adjustable too!
And another huge plus that I really love about the RadianRXT is the expandable sides which widen the seat bottom and thus add more room for the growing child! Not all car seats have that extra thoughtful feature! And if that’s not enough, it comes with one detachable cup holder, but it can hold up to four cup holders (can be bought separately) with two on each side.
Such unique and very much welcome comfort pluses don’t stop there. Did you know that most SUVs can fit up to three RadianRXT’s together? That’s great news for siblings! And for easy storage and travel, it simply folds flat, so it’s portable and space-saving. It can be comfortably carried with a carry strap too (sold separately). And finally, the cover is machine washable!
Our Final Verdict
Can the RadianRXT safely contain a super energetic kid like my little boy? Well surprise surprise, it kept him calm and relaxed during our trips. Looks like he’s feeling really comfortable and happy! I have no worries too, because of the many points and layers of safety that his amazing car seat has. And this really fulfilled my quest for that one basic necessity that my child can use up to his tween years. We’re simply looking forward to that with more safe and comfy road adventures to come!