Did you know that vehicle accidents are the #1 cause of death in children 14 years old and under? It makes you think…if we are so worried about all the other “perils of childhood,” and spend so much time and money to avoid many of those (vaccinating comes to mind,) getting the safest possible car seat should be an even higher priority!
The safest spot in the car for your child is in a rear-facing car seat. Rear-facing is 5 times safer than forward-facing in an accident. That’s 500% safer, a number you can’t ignore. This number applies beyond the still-widely-recognized AAP recommendation of rear-facing until 1 year or 20lbs, (which they recently changed to 2 years or 30lbs.)
Statistics show that you should keep your kids rear-facing as long as possible. “As long as possible” comes down to the weight limits and abilities of your car seat, so choosing one is one of the most important safety decisions you will make for your child.
The Diono Radian RXT is one of the best (if not the best) car seat on the market today, especially as concerns extended rear-facing!
If you’re looking for the safest car seat, the Radian RXT is a great option for all your kids. It has a 10 year life (longer than the average car seat which should be retired after 6 years when the plastic likely to become more brittle and less safe.)
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. (From the Diono website)
The Radian RXT can be used rear-facing for infants as tiny as 5lbs all the way up to 45lbs, far beyond most rear-facing seats on the market.
We got this car seat for Victoria who was outgrowing her “bucket” infant seat, but we love it so much we are going to be replacing Katie’s soon with another Radian RXT, and when Elanora outgrows her seat, we’ll upgrade her, also.
After Katie reaches the 45lb rear-facing limit, the car seat will easily be switched around and converted to forward-facing.
She can stay that way in the 5-point harness until she is 80 pounds, at which point the seat can convert into a booster up to 120 pounds…which is getting close to how much Mama weighs! Since it lasts 10 years, Katie could still be in this seat when she is 13!
This is truly the only car seat we will ever need for our daughters and is well-worth the investment!
Adjusting the straps is the easiest process I’ve ever found on any car seat. The shoulder straps go down the back of the seat, right in the open…no standing on your head, fumbling around trying to pull straps through, only to find you picked the wrong one to pull…I’ve been there, done that. So. many. times.
The bottom buckle piece is easy to change as well. I was easily able to reach my hand under the seat while it was installed in the car and change it out without any trouble.
I was able to completely change the straps to a new size setting without having to un-install the car seat. This is huge in my book after some very frustrating experiences with trying to change the straps on other car seats we have owned. You won’t need to purchase “Car Seats for Dummies” to install or convert this seat!
One of the Radian RXT’s best features is how slim it is. Check this out:
You can easily fit three across the back seat in your car, even in most sedans! This is rare to find in car seats…somehow “safety” means “bulky and wide” most of the time, causing a problem for families with 3 or more kids who are all still in car seats.
In smaller cars, you may have an issue with the rear-facing position if you have it set up on the side seats (behind the driver or front passenger seats. It is possible, but the front seats would have to scoot way up and end up with not much leg room if your car is smaller. The middle seat won’t give you any trouble, since it can fit between, but something to consider if you are planning on more than one seat in the back (check out the measurements on the Diono Radian RXT page under “Product Specs.)
In our SUV (a Toyota Sequoia,) this isn’t even an issue.
The Radian RXT comes with a detachable cup caddy and has the capability to hold up to a total of four!
So far we have found that the caddy is a little too detachable for our somewhat destructive 2 year old…we will probably put it back on in a few months when we’re ready to teach her to leave it alone.
We will soon be purchasing three Diono “Ultra Mat” seat protectors, also. My husband is especially picky sensitive about getting indentations in our seats back there or crumbs, spills, etc. Right now we have towels underneath our seats, but I am concerned about the safety of them (that it might make things more slippery,) but the Ultra Mat is specifically designed for the seat and meant to hold it in place more firmly and prevent slipping.
Diono is generously giving away a Radian RXT seat to one lucky Mama Chocolate reader!
The lucky winner gets to choose their favorite color or print from the seven different options, including this beautiful “Spring” print!
Connect with Diono online through Facebook and Twitter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Note: Harness pads are not shown in example photos – I took them off to adjust the straps and forgot to put them back on before our photo shoot. Pads should be worn to cushion and protect shoulders in case of an accident.
Contest Closed 
Contest Closed 
Contest Closed 
{ 446 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the shadow color
Storm
Spring would be my top pick, Plum would be number 2
I would order this in Shadow
I would pick Plum.
plum!
Plum.
I’d have to go with the Storm or the Shadow!
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Cobalt
most definitely Plum
I would pick spring! This is the coolest car seat I’ve ever seen! I love that it faces rear for so long.
Love the Daytona color and how slim these are!
I love Storm and Shadow, i’d probably go with Storm though! Looks like an awesome carseat!
I’ve never heard of this seat, but glad to know about it NOW. Planning to start TTC for #2 and glad to know what seat im getting … But would also make a nice gift for some little ones I know who need it now:-)
Shadow
I like shadow the best!
I’d love the daytona or cobalt!!!
I would like either Cobalt or Storm!
The Daytona of course!
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OhMyGosh! This has got to be the nicest, coolest car seat I’ve ever seen! My kid would actually like drives if this was his! I’d probably pick Rugby because I have a boy and I like how it looks, but Spring is definitely my favorite!!
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for fun, plum!
Storm
I like shadow!
I’d choose the shadow!
Plum.
I love the shadow.
I’d pick daytona!
I’d pick Daytona!
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I’d probably have to go with Storm since it matches our other carseat! We’ll soon enough need 2!
I love the plum
Plum
Cobalt Would be my pick
I would pick Shadow, as it is my favorite gender neutral choice
Nicole Small recently posted..Nightmare Before Christmas One Size Pocket Cloth Diaper with Bamboo Organic Cotton inserts by honeybunsclothdiaper
Probably colbalt
i’d pick shadow
The spring is pretty, but I LOVE the plum!
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I would pick spring
Looks like a great seat! Not sure how well it would fit in our truck though as we have two little ones.
Natalie L. recently posted..Our Hobbit Breakfast
i love the shadow color and this seat seems amazing, it is so versatile!
I like the Shadow colour.
I like the Spring
I like the Storm color
Amanda recently posted..Getting the Nursery Ready
I would get the Plum.
And I just wanted to add that putting *anything* under the seat is not safe and could result in the seat not working properly in a crash. That includes Diono/Sunshine Kid’s own products. I don’t know why they insist on selling them. http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=34379
Thanks for mentioning that, Lisa! Diono has subjected all their accessories to crash testing to insure the safety of their use:
http://us.diono.com/en/safety-center/accessory-crash-testing
There are no standards for crash testing after market products. They may very well have crash tested them, but as there aren’t any standards, it really doesn’t tell you anything. As pointed out in the thread I linked, they could throw it at a wall and say it was crash tested. I’m sure they really did use it in a crash test and maybe it worked fine, but with no standards or requirements for passing, I sure wouldn’t take a chance with them (or any after market product that interferes with installing or buckling) and my kids safety….
I just looked at the linked page and now I can give a specific example. They claim the “mighty tite” passed a crash test with damage to the seat belt webbing, but in real world use, it frequently, perhaps even always, damages the webbing after varying times of normal use.
It’s just safer to never use any product that isn’t sold as part of your seat.
Sorry, I meant *passed without damage to the webbing*
Great points, Lisa! Thanks for your input!
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I would love the shadow color!
I’d choose Daytona red!
I’d pick Spring!
I would love the Storm color!
I would pic daytona!
This seriously looks like the mother of all car-seats! I haven’t heard of this one yet and I love how long you can use it.
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Shadow! Thank you so much for the change, I need a new carseat my little one is growing out of his!
I LOVE the plum but I would probably chose the storm to be more logical haha.
1. Spring
2.Plum
I would choose the plum!
Spring is my fav!
the spring one for my little girl!
I would choose shadow
thank you for the great giveaway!
Great giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win!
I love the plum!
Shadow
Love the Storm color
Storm or Shadow – what an awesome giveaway!
We don’t know what baby #2 is yet so I would have to say the Daytona is my favorite…gender neutral but not gray or tan…plus our favorite college football team is red! Awesome giveaway!
I would choose either plum or spring.
I like color Shadow
I would pick the Spring print. So pretty!
shadow. it’s gender neutral.
Shadow and Storm are two neutral colors I might pick.
Spring for sure
Plum or rugby
I like the Plum
I would get plum
We would like it in the Spring color. My daughter will be in a 5 point harness for many more years. She is only 39″ tall and less than 50 lbs at age 6.
I think the cobalt is pretty.
I like “Spring”, but would probably choose Rugby because we are not absolutely sure we are done having kids yet. Actually, I need one for all three of my kids! (I have a 19 month old, 3 yr old and 8 yr old.)
Storm
I like “Spring”, but would probably choose Rugby because we are not absolutely sure we are done having kids yet.
I would choose the storm or shadow since they match my car interior!
I love the Daytona color but would probably get shadow
I’d pick Daytona. My hubby isn’t a big fan of red, so if I win I might have to say I don’t have a choice in color
I would choose spring
Love the red!
I’d pick storm
Storm! (To match with the other two Radians we already have. We are desperately in need of a third one since Marcus is so huge.)
shadow
Storm!
I’d pick the plum!
Either plum or shadow
I would choose rugby. I love the spring print, but don’t have a girl.
I would choose Rugby
Shadow. It’s cute and gender neutral!!
LOVE the Cobalt!
I like storm thanks for sharing about this great carseat have been looking for one to replace ours and will have to check into it further if we don’t win.
I love the spring print !
Storm
I love the plum. But I should pick shadow to be unisex.
I like Storm
That is fantastic that you can fit 3 in the back of a car!
Shannon @ GrowingSlower recently posted..GrowingSlower Turns One!
I love how slim this is!! Would love to win one!!
I like Storm the best
I would probably choose Storm!
Probally Storm
i think i would pick plum.it’s a beautiful color!
I would love to have the storm.
Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I would pick the Shadow color.
Love the Spring or the plum
Melanie L recently posted..Bobo’s Oat Bars Review and Giveaway
either shadow or storm
fancygrlnancy (Nancy Partin) recently posted..Winners
Storm
I would pick Storm
I would pick Storm.
I would pick plum!
I would pick the color daytona.
sweetmelbelle31 at yahoo dot com
Spring! So pretty
Helen recently posted..Paper Chains {kid craft}
Since they do not have one the color of dried cranberry and apple juice, I would have to go with storm.
Thanks!
Michelle W.
I like the storm color
Crissa Robertson recently posted..Day 72
I’d get daytona
Emily recently posted..Chicken Soup for the Soul Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer Journey Review and Giveaway US & Canada (Ends 11/1)
I think I’d get storm
How awesome! I would pick Spring!
Plum!!!! Yay!!!! So pretty!!!!
I would pick the storm color!
I would pick the shadow color
I like Spring.
Storm.
I would pick shadow
Storm, hands down. (It matches our interior!)
I’d choose the cobalt.
Thanks for the chance.
I like shadow!
I would choose Shadow, but I do like the Red color. Shadow goes better with my car. :o)
I like the storm color
I would pick STROM! Thank you!
Shadow
I love the Plum color.
Id choose the Plum or Cobalt!
I would definitely choose Shadow.
I like he color Shadow.
i like the storm color.
Either Plum or Shadow!
I’d probably pick Spring.
shadow
I would pick Shadow!
I like Storm best.
I’d choose the storm color for my son.
storm
Emily recently posted..winners!
Cobalt
I would choose the Storm one
Spring!!
I would pick Rugby.
I like the shadow color best
I would choose Storm
The shadow
Shadow is my favorite.
I’d pick Shadow.
I like the storm.
Definitely would pick Shadow!
Shadow– all of our other carseats are in the darker grey/black tones, and there might be an uprising if someone got something different.
I would choose Storm!
I would pick Shadow!
Spring. So beautiful
I love the Spring
I’d pick the Shadow print!
Love Daytona!!!
Spring!
I would love any pattern/color that would work for a boy! I got one for him only to find out he has already outgrown it ;( I’m bummed. Didn’t realize he had grown so fast. So now we are back on the search for a great seat for a four, nearly five year old, boy.
I like the Plum color.
The spring is saved on my Amazon wishlist
I would love a second carseat. I am in the process of deciding what to buy so this would be perfect!
Hmmm… rugby to match the car or plum for my girly girl. I love spring but I am worried about fading like my old Primrose cover
I’d like storm or cobalt!
Shadow
Daytona
I would pick storm for sure!
PLUM!
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I love the shadow
I love the Plum color- so pretty!
Cobalt!
I love the plum too!
plum
I WOULD LOVE PLUM!!!
I would pick Spring. I love it so much!
I’d pick Storm.
I like the plum color is so beautiful
I love spring and plum!
Plum!
I would love to get the Daytona or the Cobalt!
I would go with cobalt.
Definitely plum!
I love the Spring and Plum colors, but for my son, I’d pick Storm.
I’d choose Cobalt!!!
I would pick shadow. I love that cover!
Shadow! Was just Trying to figure out how to buy this today when I found this…….! Would be amazing!
Would be a toss up between Spring and Plum!!! They are both so beautiful!
we’d choose storm =D
I would pick Storm.
I would LOVE the plum!
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I would choose the Spring print!
I love Shadow but I’m tempted to be super nice and give this seat to my sister in law (if I win) for one of her kids (seeing as how I have quite a few Dionos….
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I love the Cobalt, blue is my favorite color!
I would get either the Daytona or the Plum. I can’t decide!
I would get the plum
I would LOVE one in Daytona
I like the Storm one, as it is a neutral color and seems like it would hide dirt well, but I also like the flashier Plum color!
Plum
I think I would pick the Shadow, with Storm as a close second!
I would SOOOO love the spring Radian! I’ve been eyeing these seats forever!!!
Spring!
Spring is the best!
Love the purple
Shadow for sure!
Nicole @ MamaNYC recently posted..Breast Cancer Awareness & Prevention Tips: What YOU Should Know & Do.
I would love the plum fo sure
Plum!
I love the spring print!
I like shadow
I would pick Storm or Shadow, maybe Daytona.
I would choose Shadow
Spring is gorgeous and would be great for my 8 month old who is just about to outgrow her infant carseat
love storm!
I would pick the Shadow
Love the plum or storm!!!
I would choose the Shadow color.
Where were you five years ago??? haha… These seats are sooo… slim! We are now driving a 15 passenger van to fit everyone! I love the Red color!!!
I would pick the storm color.
Jill recently posted..FREE: Sneakpeeq Bed of Roses Earrings ($60 value)
I like the shadow color!! We really need one of these as we are going to be adopting and need to squeeze some car seats in the back of our van!! This car seat is on our Christmas list!
I would choose plum.
I love the plum and new camo!
I would choose Shadow.
Storm! What fantastic colors!
Daytona!
I would pick Storm.
Storm or Cobalt.
cobalt
Definitely storm!
i would love to have the shadow
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I would pick the daytona!
I would pick plum or the flowered print<3
our son would love Cobalt!!
I love great car seats, and this is one of them!
I love the Plum color!!
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i would like the daytona!
The Storm color
I love the spring color, with plum a close second!
We like shadow and storm
I would choose storm.
I would love the Colbalt Blue.
Plum or spring!
I like plum or rugby
I like shadow
daytona is a really nice color!
I like storm…it matches my car’s interior
Jessica L recently posted..6 months
I would pick Shadow – It matches my car
Beth Ann Erwin
Plum for sure.
Teresa peschke recently posted..Noxicare Pain relief Cream Review
I like Storm.
I’d pick Shaddow
Spring!
Storm
Rugby, since we don’t know the gender yet!
Daytona!
Purple!
I love the Cobalt color!!
I love and would choose storm!
I would choose storm.
i like plum
I like shadow
I’d pick Shadow.
I’d pick Spring.
i prefer storm color
the color I would select would be storm. It would go nicely with the car
I love the plum colored seat!
I would love the Daytona color!
I would coose storm
I love storm and shadow!
I like Shadow and Daytona.
I like spring best but I would probably get storm.
daytona or cobalt
I would choose Shadow.
I would choose the storm because it is netural and could be used for a boy or a girl! Right now it would be used for my son!
I would choose the shadow color.
I like RUGBY:)
jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com
Spring
Christine M Tubbytelly recently posted..Win a Kiddy City Stroller 11/13 US
i’d love storm
I like the shadow!
Id choose cobalt
I would choose shadow
Storm
I would choose Plum
Katy Emanuel recently posted..13 Months
i love this in shadow!
i would choose plum
Cobalt
I love the shadow color!!
I really like Storm!
Plum
Chrystal @ Happy Mothering recently posted..Kinetic Go Green Glasslock Food Storage
shadow
I really like the storm color
I would choose their Spring print.
I’d pick Rugby.
I like the brightness of the cobalt color
I love the cobalt and shadow.
I would pick the storm color
I would pick Spring if I won. Thanks for the giveaway
callawishes(at)hotmail(dot)com
Shadow!
i would chose shadow.
I would pick rugby
I would pick the plum or spring! so cute and love everything about the carseat
cobalt
I like storm.
i like the colbalt
Storm
Rugby because it matches my car. Although, a darker color might be smarter!!
I would pick Plum or Spring.
I’d choose Plum!
I’d probably choose plum.
storm or rugby
I would pick Spring or Cobalt
I like the Spring.
I would love to have the storm color!
I would choose Storm
I think I would pick Cobalt for my little guy, but I love the plum color too!
plum or shadow!
I would pick the shadow color
I would choose the gray colored one ~ RadianRXT Shadow =)
I’d pick Cobalt
lol…second time I clicked on the wheat pancakes….GRR I need me a grinder to grind wheat!
My favorite color is COBALT!!! Thanks for a great giveaway!
Love spring and plum for my little girl.
I would pick Cobalt, its gorgeous!
I’d pick Shadow for my Godson
I would choose storm!
I would be the Dayton
Plum!
Red
spring! love it for my 10 month old!
nicole recently posted..pumpkin patch!
I’d do the Storm or the Spring
Both are lovely!
We have an older model Radian that we just *love*…with a new baby on the way, I’m thrilled to have a chance to win a new one. Thanks!
I think I’d go with Storm.
I would choose either shadow or daytona.
Spring for my winter baby coming next month
I like Shadow
I’d pick Spring!
Cobalt blue
Since the trekk print is not an option I would go with a boyish color. My boys will use it longer than big sis.
I love the plum color!
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I’d pick the Shadow color.
I love Shadow!
Daytona
Daytona!! So I can match with big sisters seat
I would pick Storm, I have to change my 10 months old to this type of car seat ASAP!
And the Storm fabric goes great with my toddler seat!
I would pick Rugby. I love the Spring but I like that Rugby is neutral.
I would love this in the Red.
Cobalt
I’d pick plum
I like Shadow
I would pick Daytona!
I like the color Plum
I would choose Plum.
storm or shadow
Daytona!!
I would choose Daytona!
Plum, Cobalt or Shadow — I love all of them, really!
I’d pick Shadow
Thanks for the chance!
I like the spring and the plum.
Storm or cobalt
love this!
shadow
shadow
I like the spring. I finally get to pick a girlie cover.
Plum is so pretty
shadow
STORM
I would pick Spring for my baby girl. Plum is a close second though.
Plum please
I like all the colors but probably “storm” thanks.
Spring! Without a doubt.
I would pick the “Shadow” color
I like storm and I could really use one for my baby
#1 pick would be storm, #2 rugby, #3 Spring
i like the Spring colored one or Plum!
Plum
Shadow
I would choose shadow.
I would choose cobalt!
I love the Spring print.
i would pick plum!
I like the shadow color
I love Daytona. Thanks.
Already have one in Storm, I love the Daytona too!
I love the spring print!
Plum! Gender neutral and perfect for surprise sex of bébé #2 and big bro.
Theek recently posted..The Little Gym Free Introductory Class: A Review
I would have to say that Plum is my favorite.
Daytona
Cobalt!
Love the Plum color!
I would pick the rugby color.
Probably Storm or Shadow. Although I like them all!
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I’d get the Daytona for my son.
I’d use spring!
I would choose the Shadow. These carseats look great!
I like storm.
Rugby
I love the Rugby color because it would stay cooler on those hot days. Gorgeous car seat.
I love the Cobalt & Plum!!
i like it in shadow
I would choose Storm.
i would pick the shadow seat!
I like the Storm color.
Shadow!
Daytona or shadow! such a hard pick…
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I would like Rugby
Trista Anderson recently posted..The League Of Incredible Vegetables Review & Giveaway
i would go with storm to match my daughter’s seat. she was just talking about how her baby brother needed a gray car seat just like hers.
I would love to have Daytona for my son!!!
I would choose Daytona
Daytona, red is my son’s favorite color!
My daughter wants the red one!
I’d love to get the plum colored one!
I would pick the shadow, I think it would be the easiest to clean.
Daytona!
Storm
Anastasia @ eco-babyz recently posted..Litiquette Soft Sole Baby Shoes Review and Giveaway
I would pick shadow.
Storm
Love Spring, but Plum is nice too
Karine Traverse recently posted..Bloggers Sign-Up: $500 Christmas Cash Giveaway
I would choose the Rugby colored car seat.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I would pick Storm.
So hard to choose! Anything girly for me youngest princess.
Cobalt or Rugby.
storm or shadow
I’d pick Plum or Daytona.. Can’t decide!
I really like the shadow color!
We have boys so any color would be fine as long as it wasnt the plum!
Definitely plum. SKOL VIKINGS!!
Storm for sure
I like the Daytona!
I really like shadow
Probably shadow
I would pick spring!
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We would have to get the plum!!
Love this car seat! I’ve been eyeing them. I love the plum if I knew I was having a girl, but it’s early yet so I’d go with Storm I think!
I’d pick Plum
love the spring!!!
Nicole C. recently posted..How to Paint a Spiderman Face Step by Step Tutorial
I love Shadow!
I like the shadow!
I love the shadow color!
I like storm but my son would want cobalt.
I like plum or spring!
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Rugby.
I like the daytona or cobalt!