Lots of Love Sponsor Spotlight and Review: Diono RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat

I am SUPER excited to announce my wonderful sponsor for the upcoming Lots of Love Giveaway Event. First of all, I have been drooling over Diono's revolutionary car seats ever since they were known as Sunshine Kids. I tried for over a year to win one by entering hundreds of giveaways and other promotions, and I never got lucky. Just the name Diono gets me excited! Well, I guess my time has come and after a year of hard work, I finally got the opportunity to review one. I literally did a happy dance when Kathy agreed to send me a RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat to review. My husband thought I had just won the lottery or something! Yes, I was really that excited to try this product.

You might ask why I, a 30 year old woman of sound mind and body,  would leap up off of the couch, knocking my laptop over in the process, and do the Carlton dance over a car seat? You may think I'm a bit crazy for being that enthusiastic. My hubby certainly did! He asked what happened, and when I told him, I got a snicker and an eye-roll. No, he doesn't get as excited over baby gear as I do. He, being a man, will never fully understand. Let me tell you, those mamas out there that are familiar with Diono and their very high quality standards would definitely "get it". Diono is second to none when it comes to safety, versatility, and functionality. Not to mention, they offer some of the most visually appealing car seats on the market today! And let's be honest: Looks DO matter, especially when it comes to things for our little ones!

Good looks aside, as a mom, the most important factor when considering car seats is safety. Something can be gold-plated, blinged-out and gorgeous, but if it's not safe, it's not going into MY shopping cart! After all, car seats carry the most precious cargo around, my babies. Their safety is paramount. The Diono RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat is among the safest on the market, and has been rigorously tested, passing NCAP crash tests, and is even approved by the FAA for aircraft use.

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But what really sets the Diono RadianRXT apart is its extreme versatility. This is the ONLY car seat you'll ever need, from birth all the way to 120lbs! It comfortably seats rear-facing children from 5-45 lbs, forward-facing children from 20-80 lbs in 5-point harness, then converts to a booster for children up to 120 lbs. It’s built for strength and safety with a steel alloy frame, reinforced sidewalls, adjustable head support and our patented SafeStop® energy absorbing harness. EPS foam surrounds the child's head and body to provide complete side impact protection. Our unique SuperLATCH system makes installation easy. The RadianRXT is NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for verifying child seat performance in severe accident conditions, and the only car seat rated for LATCH use with a child up to 80 lbs. The RadianRXT sits low on a vehicle seat for easy child boarding, features memory foam padding and infant support pillows. Expandable sides and a longer seat bottom provide extra room and comfort for your growing child. One cup holder is included, with the option to add up to 4 cup holders. In addition to all this versatility, it folds flat for travel and storage, has a 10 year life and offers amazing safety, comfort and convenience your child won’t outgrow.

Here is a breakdown of the Diono RadianRXT's amazing features:

• Rear-facing: 5 – 45 lbs
• Forward-facing: 20 – 80 lbs (and up to 57″) in a 5-point harness
• Booster to 120 lbs
• Steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides
• Safestop®energy-absorbing harness system
• Adjustable head support, reinforced for complete side impact safety
• Energy-absorbing EPS foam panels on all sides
• Rear-facing tether capability
• LATCH installation up to 80 lb child
• Infant body support cushions
• Memory foam padding for superior comfort
• 5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions for custom fit
• Expandable sides and longer seat bottom for leg support and comfort
• 12 height positions for adjustable head support
• 2 recline positions in forward-facing mode
• Sits low on vehicle seat for easy child boarding
• Fits 3 across in a mid-size vehicle and offers more shoulder space
• Add up to 4 cup holders (1 included)
• Folds flat for travel and storage
• Rubber bottom grips for no-slip installation
• 10 year life

Folds flat for easy storage!

You can fit 3 in a generously sized backseat! Perfect for mamas of multiples or with a houseful of little ones!

When the Diono RadianRXT arrived, the first thing I noticed is that it is quite heavy. (Around 24lbs, to be exact.) I am sure this is due to the added safety features, such as the steel alloy frame. Yes, it may be cumbersome to move for some, but I feel that the added weight is well worth the unparalleled safety. Maybe this isn't overly heavy, but compared to our other, crappy car seat it is. Don't get me started about how much I HATE our other carseat! Don't ever buy the "bargain" seat. You will regret it, more often than not! So now I am stuck using a seat I absolutely despise for my son, all because I was trying to save money. You do get what you pay for in some cases. I should have saved up and bought a Diono! Lesson learned.

I also noticed that the construction of this seat is amazing. The fabric used is vibrantly colored, durable, as well as soft. (Unlike my above mentioned awful seat that feels like sandpaper!) All of the straps and hardware are also incredibly strong and meet all standards for safety. I love the fact that it has a reinforced frame to minimize damage from impact, similar to the frames found in cars, so that if the unthinkable were to happen, a child will remain unharmed. Even the most careful of drivers can have an accident. You cannot control what other drivers do. All it takes is one split second for an accident to take place, and I love knowing that with Diono, my baby will be secure. There is even a little compartment on the base of the seat that allows you to store emergency info, such as medical needs, insurance, and contact info so that in the event of an accident, rescue personnel will have easy access to your child's information. Now THAT is a great idea!

I also appreciate that Diono cares about the comfort of the children their products transort, and that they offer great memory foam padding for maximum comfort. I sleep on a memory foam mattress every night, and there is nothing like it! Why not give this same luxurious comfort to our little ones? They deserve to be enveloped in comfort, too! I also love the fact that there is a removable infant support pillow system for smaller babies, ensuring they can sit in a snug little "nest." More added comfort features include expandable sides, 12 height settings, and even 2 different recline settings. Yep...The folks at Diono have thought of everything. This seat really will grow with your child!

After we familiarized ourselves with all of the fabulous features of the RadianRXT, it was time to install the car seat. The instruction manual is very easy to understand, and my husband was able to have it installed in the rear-facing tether position in less than 5 minutes. Once the car seat was in place and secured, it DID NOT BUDGE...At all. As a matter of fact, my husband tried to "shake" it, just to see what kind of impact it could take, and he could not get it to move an inch. This made me breathe a sigh of relief, since I know that should an accident happen, my baby will be safe within the confines of the Diono RadianRXT.

I also love that this seat is relatively narrow, allowing for more breathing room in the backseat. I drive a 2006 Mercedes E350 4Matic, so my backseat is actually quite roomy to begin with. However, add a 130lb preteen and another convertible car seat, and it gets cramped quite quickly. I always feel bad that Kyle, my oldest, has to sit sandwiched in-between the babies. He doesn't have a lot of room, and I know it's not comfortable for him at all. Since we've had the Diono RadianRXT, he has a bit more room, despite the fact that there is still another, clunkier car seat on the other side.

One of the other great things that make the Diono RadianRXT worth its weight in gold is the fact that it's a tall seat, which can easily accommodate even older children. I remember when my son was in elementary school, he hated his car seat. He always said there wasn't enough room, even in a booster. The Diono is designed to provide plenty of room for a child to sit in comfort without compromising safety.

Take a look at my 2 year old, Sophia, enjoying the Diono RadianRXT for the first time!

Before we installed the Diono RadianRXT

In the safer, rear-facing position in the back of my Mercedes.

Mommy, is this MY new seat?! I think I like it!

Plenty of room for little legs to stretch, even rear-facing! Yay!

I see you!

Overall, I am completely blown away by the Diono RadianRXT. Yes, I have spent almost 2 years drooling over it, so my expectations were already quite high. I was not disappointed. Actually, the folks at Diono have exceeded my expectations, 10-fold! The RadianRXT in my humble opinion, is the Rolls Royce of car seats. It is gorgeous, provides exceptional comfort for babies and children of all sizes, and it is incredibly safe. It is also easy to install and has a myriad of wonderful features you simply don't find in many other car seats.

This is definitely the best car seat I have ever used, and I know that I will get many, many years of use out of my RadianRXT. The only bad part? Now that I know first-hand just how amazing this car seat is, I have to get one for my 1 year old, Xander, so he can finally get out of that nasty, poorly made seat he's in. On one income, this could take awhile! So I guess I am back to spending hours and hours entering more Diono giveaways in the middle of the night, and hopefully I will win another one. Yes, it really is that darn good! I would definitely recommend the Diono RadianRXT to any families out there that want to give their children only the best in comfort while providing the ultimate in safety and versatility. If you don't own a Diono, or have ever been curious about the brand, don't walk...RUN...to your nearest retailer and pick one up! They even have a stunning shade of purple! (My favorite color, and one you don't find too often in car seats!) Trust me, this will be one of the single best investments you can make for your child.

HOW TO CONNECT:

You can check out the awesomeness that is Diono on their website.

You can also follow Diono on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions.

WIN IT....BUT NOT YET!

Check back on February 1, 2012, because one VERY lucky reader will be winning a Diono RadianRXT of their own as part of the Lots of Love Giveaway Event! How awesome is that?! Mark your calendars, and I will see you then!

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***