Kids can be expensive to maintain. Every parent knows that. However, your child’s safety has no price, and you should do everything you can to provide them with a safe car ride. If you’re looking for good car seats, chances are you’ve run into some Diono car seat reviews that are telling you this might be the right product for you.
The Diono is a brand that isn’t as well-known as Chicco or Britax, but it produces quality seats that can pair much more expensive brands. It mostly produces convertible car seats, but you can find a good product of every type.
If this sparked your interests, here are 5 Diono car seat reviews that might make you opt for adding this car seat into your favorite baby product list:
Contents
Diono Car Seat Reviews
While most car seats from Diono are excellent, some are better than the others. We’ve picked 5 of the best ones, according to reviews and expert’s opinions.
Here are our Diono car seat reviews:
1. Best car seat for infants: Diono Radian 3QXT
While most seats from the Radian series have similar design, the 3QXT comes with a series of specially adapted features that make it suitable for infants. These include a removable newborn insert that will help surround your baby with comfort and safety from the day they were born.
There is also an infant positioning liner and small harness pads that are perfectly suitable for the baby. This is a great choice, as the newborns cannot hold their heads upright as somewhat older toddlers. If the car seat isn’t adjusted to it, it might cause a head slump.
This is an all-in-one car seat, so you can use it in a rear-facing mode until your child reaches 50 lbs, which should be until the age of four. Once they get older, you can use this as a front-facing and as a booster seat, with a total weight capacity of 120 lbs.
This car seat provides great safety thanks to eight layers of combined EPS and EPP foam, a side-impact protection, as well as an anti-rebound bar.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Great for infants |
| + Side impact protection |
| + Anti-rebound bar |
| + All-in-one |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Rather bulky |
| – Challenging harness release mechanism in rear-facing position |
| – Fixed rear-facing tilt base |
2. Best convertible car seat: Diono Radian 3R
According to most Diono car seat reviews, this can easily be the best convertible car seat from this brand. Not only does it have an excellent weight range, but it can enable effortless transition between the two modes.
Like other Radian models, this is a slim-fit car seat, making it convenient for carpooling. In fact, you can fit up to three of these seats on the back of your car, so it’s a great choice if you have more than one toddler.
It comes with several great safety features, such as the reinforced steel frame for stability, aluminum-reinforced sides, and a thick layer of energy-absorbing foam. This allows for excellent side impact protection.
The SuperLATCH system makes it effortless to install in just three steps. You can fit it into most cars, and everything will be ready to use in a matter of minutes.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Slim-fit |
| + Foldable |
| + Easy to install |
| + Removable covers |
| CONS |
|---|
| – No infant insert |
| – Might be too big for some cars |
| – Could be more comfortable |
3. Best booster seat: Diono Monterey 4DXT
If you’re looking for a car seat for your older toddler or a young child, you might want to take a look at this improved version of the Monterey XT. It is a great booster seat that has two modes. You can use it as a regular car seat, and as a backless booster car seat. The conversion between two modes is effortless and straightforward.
It comes with four layers of side-impact protection, ensuring your child’s head, shoulders, and torso are safe in the case of an accident. The side panels are breathable, so your little one won’t feel too hot during the ride.
Since all kids are fast growers, this seat can expand up to 69% in occupancy space with 11 position headrest. This increased height can fit your child as it grows taller, without losing any safety.
The installation is quick thanks to the integrated LATCH system and front adjusters. You can tighten it to the vehicle seat in a matter of minutes.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Durable |
| + Adjustable |
| + Safe |
| + Comfortable |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Doesn’t come with a infant car seat option |
| – Bulky |
| – No memory foam at the bottom of the seat |
4. Best budget booster car seat : Diono Monterey XT
This is yet another great booster car seat from the Diono brand. While it lacks some features of 4DXT, it can still keep your child safe even when they have outgrown the forward-facing seat. In fact, it has a weight capacity of 40 to 120 lbs, which is just the right weight for when your child will no longer need a car seat.
It is an adjustable seat that can be converted from a high-back booster to a backless booster seat. At the same time, it is lightweight, making it a great choice for travelling. You can transport it between two vehicles with ease.
The headrest has 12 positions so it can rise in height as your child grows older. Also, it has a dial that allows a 69% increase in occupancy space. This makes sure it stays the right size for a child of up to 12 years.
When it comes to safety, the car seat has exceeded the Federal Standards, and it offers aluminum head support. It is padded with energy-absorbing foam, so it will ensure your child is safe in case of an impact.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Lightweight |
| + Expandable |
| + Safe |
| + Easy to covert to booster |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Installation can be tricky |
| – Buckling can be challenging |
| – Can’t be used for infants |
5. Best colourful option: Diono Cambria 2
If you’re a parent of a child who loves pink, then you’d want to purchase them a fitting car seat – and this might be it. The Cambria 2 is a convertible booster car seat that comes with cute pink details. There are black and blue colours available too, but we love the pink!
Just like Monterey models, you can use this in two modes: as a high-back booster and a backless booster. However, it is a bit less adjustable, as it comes with six headrest positions and without the width expander – but it doesn’t really need one, as it’s rather wide as it is.
The seat is ergonomically designed, providing maximum comfort for your child. It also exceeds Federal safety standards thanks to its deep side-impact protection.
The two cupholders are useful to keep your kids drinks secure during long journeys and they can also hold small snacks. Better still – they fold away to create more room when not in use.
This unit is made from removable fabrics that are removable and machine-washable. Accidents are no longer an issue, since you can simply take them, put them in a machine, and let it do the dirty work. Overall, this is a great, affordable model that could be an excellent choice for travelling.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Child friendly colours |
| + Great safety features |
| + Lightweight |
| + 2 fold away cupholders |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Not that adjustable |
| – Wide so maybe too big for some car seats |
| – Buckling can be a challenge |
Why Choose Diono?
Diono was founded in 1999 in the USA, under the name Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products. From its beginnings, the brand focuses on child safety seats and travel accessories, ensuring it has experience in the field. One of its unique patents was a device that can tighten seat belts that are used with car seats.
The brand won many awards – it even got one the year it was founded! It was the “Show Off” Product Innovation Award. Ever since then, it focuses on creating innovative solutions that can make the car riding experience much more enjoyable for both the children and their parents.
All rewards and achievements make Diono one of the most reliable children car seat manufacturers you can currently find on the market. They focus on the slim-fit design and heavy-duty construction to create a seat that is durable and easy to fit into most vehicles – while remaining as comfortable as possible for the child.
What to Look for in Children’s Car Seats?
When shopping for the perfect child car seat, you cannot just run and buy the first product you like. There are some features you need to look for before you make a decision. These include:
- Durability
- Easy to clean
- Comfort
- Safety
First and foremost, if you have a newborn, you’d probably want a seat that can grow with your child. This way, you don’t have to change it every few months or yearly. This will not only help your budget, but ensure your child always has the safety they need during car rides.
Next, you’d want to look at Diono car seat reviews and pick a car with a fabric that can be removed from the seat and easy to wash. Machine-washable materials are preferable. Children are prone to spilling accidents, and your seat will likely be dirty more often than not. However, when this is easy to clean, this won’t be an issue. Otherwise, you might end up spending hours every week washing your seat, and this probably isn’t something you’d like.
Then, you need to check whether the car is comfortable enough for your child. If it’s not, your kid will dislike sitting in it, and this will be a pain for both of you. The most common issue with this is the harness. Harnesses can rub against the child’s neck and shoulders, and this can make them rather fussy. All harnesses have to be adjustable and comfortable to help your child have a comfortable ride. Of course, padded seats help with that.
Last, but not least, you’d want your car seat to be safe. Unfortunately, many children die yearly in tragic car accidents. This can be prevented to an extent if you have the right car seat that will ensure your child stays safe during the ride. Padding, harnesses, all of this can help you in case of an impact, and this is the most important feature to look for. Safe sleeping in car seats in also very important and you can read more about that in our article.
The Final Word
After reading these Diono car seat reviews, maybe you’re already contemplating making your next purchase. The truth is, you won’t go wrong with any of these car seats. Which one is the best will depend on your current needs and preferences, as not all parents want the same from their car seat.
Diono is a reliable brand which’s popularity is only rising. It utilizes many smart technologies to provide us all with some of the safest products on the market. While most of their seats are convertible, it’s still important to consider your child’s age when buying. This way, you’ll know you’re making the right decision and purchasing a car that will last you for years to come.