I’ve been busy testing four different brands of toddler and child car seats that ultimately become booster seats. Not all are “convertible” in the traditional sense that they each go from rear-facing car seats to forward-facing, but all convert in one way or another:
- Graco Nautilus
- Britax Frontier XT
- Diono RadianGTX
- Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite
- evenflo Symphony DLX
- Britax Frontier ClickTight
While there are dozens more car seats on the market, these are among the top four seats that come up in Google searches when parents are looking for a convertible car seat comparison – usually beyond the infant bucket-seat stage.
Since I’m rather opinionated (read: wordy), I decided it would be best to include a fulsome chart here on Mommy Gearest so the magazine article I wrote (pgs. 38 & 39) about this very topic wouldn’t take up eight pages.
What I can’t stress enough is that keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible is the safest position. In many Scandinavian countries, it’s illegal to face your baby forward until age two. Health Canada recommends age two, and I suspect it will be law in the near future. Would you rather risk a broken femur from crossed legs or a broken spine (or death) from forward-motion impact? Something to think about as you itch to turn your baby around.
So, here you go – from worst to best, these are my personal thoughts on these four car seats:
Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite ($220)
THE GOOD
- Easiest-to-manage price point (around $220 full price, but watch for sales as I often see it as low as $169 at various retailers)
- Very easy to assemble
- This is a three-in-one seat, with a rear-facing option for infants
- Forward-facing with five-point harness to 65 lbs. and with seatbelt to 100 lbs. (up to 52” tall)
- Long harness for bigger children
- Has arm rests
- Offers some side-impact protection
- Eight-year expiration date
THE GAFFE
- Installation presented some challenges, so if you’re a novice and you decide on this seat, consider professional installation
- Fabric is the least desirable of all four models
- Buckles feel the flimsiest of the four models (though never disengaged during testing)
- No cup holders or any cup holder attachment options (even though online specs will tell you otherwise, I didn’t get a cup holder with mine nor is there an obvious place to add one)
- Harness slots seem too high for newborns and are too low for an average four year old
THE GEARS = 2.5/5
Graco Nautilus ($250)
THE GOOD
- Although regularly priced at around $250, I scored one for $99 at a grocery store. Though I haven’t seen a steal like this since, it’s worth watching for sales
- Installation was fairly straightforward
- A three-stage forward-facing car seat: five-point harness to 65 lbs., which then converts to a belt-positioning high-back booster and later a backless booster to 100 lbs. (up to 57” tall)
- Offers good side-impact protection
- Steel-reinforced frame
- Nice, soft fabric
- One built-in cup holder
- Armrests are sturdy
- Features energy-absorbing foam
- Head rest is easy to adjust
- Removable, washable seat pad
- Converts to a no-back booster
THE GAFFE
- Assembly was a tad finicky because of the LATCH connectors
- The harness is much too short for the average three year old; my two year old can barely get strapped in and my five year old can no longer use it [Editor’s note: I have heard you loud and clear…YOUR five year old fits in this model just fine. Great. Good for you. But my five year old doesn’t, at least not with the five-point harness. And my opinion is that EVERY five year old should still be in a five-point harness.]
- As your child grows, you need to re-thread the harness, which is annoying
- Quite narrow; bigger children simply won’t be comfortable in this seat for long
THE GEARS = 3.5/5
evenflo Symphony DLX ($300)
THE GOOD
- Incredibly easy to install
- Works from birth as rear-facing right through to booster mode, handling up to 110 pounds
- Some of the most obvious side-impact protection wings I’ve seen on any car seat
- Good overall design
- Nice, long harness; this means my almost five year old fits into this seat with ease
- All of the adjustments are easy to make
- The way the harness pulls down on the hips (called the EasySlide Harness) seems to make more sense than the way ALL other car seat harnesses tighten on your child
THE GAFFE
- This used to be a much cheaper seat; I believe last year’s model was $220, but when I look at ToysRUs.ca this year, it’s $300. And that’s really too bad because that’s what I always praised this seat so highly for – affordability. At $300, it’s not as easy to make that argument. Honestly, this is what takes it from being a 4.5/5 car seat to a 4/5
- There’s no getting around it: this seat is huge. To me, that spells safe but I know for many, this might be a more challenging model to fit in smaller vehicles and there’s no way you’re getting three across a back seat
- It’s also on the heavier side, so weaker parents may have a tougher time hoisting this in and out of their vehicles
THE GEARS = 4/5
Britax Frontier XT ($300)
THE GOOD
- Incredible nine-year expiration date
- True side-impact technology
- Forward-facing with five-point harness to 65 lbs. and with seatbelt to 120 lbs. (up to a noteworthy 65” tall)
- Easy-to-adjust no-thread harness
- The tether strap is designed to help minimize forward movement on impact
- Energy-absorbing foam
- Wide, comfortable seat – ideal for bigger children
- Two built-in cup holders
- Converts to a belt-positioning booster
- Tall harness slots, which means this seat will truly grow with your child
- Amazing customer service
THE GAFFE
- About $300, which starts to feel tough for many families
- Forward-facing only
- Tether (which is what I call the excess part of the harness strap at the bottom of the car seat, though a reader wisely points out in the comments section that it’s still the harness!) frayed within one year of use (but replaced for free within days and with easy instructions)
- Door-side arm rest has come loose from being used as leverage to get into the car seat
- You must remove the seat to raise or lower the headrest
THE GEARS = 4/5
Diono Radian GTX ($350+)
THE GOOD
- The Cadillac of car seats
- Three-in-one seat that goes from rear-facing (from just five pounds!) to forward-facing to booster
- Forward-facing with five-point harness to a whopping 80 lbs.* and with seatbelt to 120 lbs. (up to 57” tall)
- Can be used to 45 lbs. rear-facing!
- Narrow enough that you can fitthree of these across the backseat of a vehicle, but wide enough that it fits bigger children comfortably
- Option to add up to four cup holders (comes with two)
- Cushion-y memory foam padding to keep your child cozy
- Longer seat bottom means legs have more support as they grow
- Many optional cushions to keep your child comfortable no matter how tiny or ginormous s/he is
- It comes with a seat protector!
- Really impressive, strong buckles
- Stain-resistant fabric is easy to spot clean, but also machine washable and dryable
- Easiest installation of all four seats tested
- Folds flat for travel, and has two straps that convert it to backpack-style for easy carrying
- Steel-alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides
- Lots of side-impact protection and impact-absorbing foam
- I like the ratchet system for tightening the harness; ensures you don’t accidentally tighten the straps too fast and hurt your child
- Ten-year expiration date!
THE GAFFE
- It’s more than $350 at many Canadian retailers; however, if you use it from birth, it’s less expensive than buying a bucket seat and a convertible seat down the road
- I have only two big issues with the RadianGTX, and the main one is that this car seat only goes to 57”? Really?! This meant we still had to buy a booster when we reached the height limit rather than weight limit. My almost five year old has basically outgrown this (very expensive) seat because she’s still harnessed
- The cup holders totally suck. They don’t really click into place well and are easy for toddlers to remove; they also sit on an angle, which isn’t ideal for all children’s cups
- Now for the insignificant concerns: This is one heavy seat; it may convert into a backpack, but unless you’ve got serious strength, you won’t be able to tote it easily on your back. It’s easily the heaviest seat of them all
- Headrest repositioning can be tricky – but at least you don’t have to remove the seat to adjust it up or down
THE GEARS = 4/5
Britax Frontier ClickTight ($400)
THE GOOD
- The Cadillac of car seats (it has all of the great features noted above in the Frontier XT write-up)
- Seriously, I have never (EVER) been able to put a car seat in using a seatbelt as easily and effectively as this one. No contest! Usually, I need my very strong husband to help me secure the car seats tightly. After all, the installation is probably more important than the type of car seat you actually have… But not this one. I installed it in about 30 seconds and the thing DID NOT BUDGE. And still hasn’t months later!
- Great cup holders! They’re built in on either side of the arm rest and work beautifully. There’s even an extra spot to slide in a small device, like an iPod Touch
- Lots of cushioning and padding make this comfy enough to fall asleep in. Over and over and over
- Really easy to make all adjustments
- In my experience, the Britax Frontier series is the best option for tall children with parents who want them to stay in a five-point harness for as long as possible. This and the Frontier XT are the only car seats that my almost five year old fits into comfortably and can still be harnessed. In fact, my son made it to age 6.5 in the Frontier before we had to move him into a booster. This is a HUGE win and what gives this seat top honours in my opinion
- Honestly? WORTH EVERY PENNY
THE GAFFE
- Not every family can afford $400 for a single seat that can only be used forward-facing. I get that (but I maintain that it’s worth it)
THE GEARS = 4.5/5
Have you had any good or bad experiences with these or other car seats? Is there a seat you love or hate that I didn’t include that you’d like to mention? Go for it – in the comments section below. I guess it’s true that, sometimes, you get what you pay for. That said, I still don’t believe you can really get away with owning just ONE car seat throughout your child’s life. After all, if you install something like the evenflo Symphony DLX, you miss out on the convenience of a bucket seat (like the Graco SnugRide – my personal fave) during those first several months.
* Be sure to check local laws to ensure you can legally keep your child in a five-point harness to 80 lbs.
Melanie Therese says
I am really confused on your cons of the Nautilus. My 5 year old uses it no problem and is big for his age. (not fat, just tall). He still has a lot of room to grow.
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Melanie,
All I can say is that my daughter at age 3 could barely fit into it properly. My son at age 5 couldn’t get into it AT ALL. Now, this is as a five-point harness car seat — not a booster. Perhaps that makes a big difference, but I don’t take my kids out of five-point harnesses until they reach the max weight limit.
Melanie Therese says
I am really confused on your cons of the Nautilus. My 5 year old uses it no problem and is big for his age. (not fat, just tall). He still has a lot of room to grow.
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Melanie,
All I can say is that my daughter at age 3 could barely fit into it properly. My son at age 5 couldn’t get into it AT ALL. Now, this is as a five-point harness car seat — not a booster. Perhaps that makes a big difference, but I don’t take my kids out of five-point harnesses until they reach the max weight limit.
Laura Evans says
Thanks for the review. This pretty much reinforces the research and life experience (we’ve had the Radian 80 for three years), which helps me to stop my OCD researching 🙂 on this subject.
Laura Evans says
Thanks for the review. This pretty much reinforces the research and life experience (we’ve had the Radian 80 for three years), which helps me to stop my OCD researching 🙂 on this subject.
Tracy Wager says
Forgot to say that we r.f. to 4yrs old & 45lb (the max of our seat model) without one complaint from my very tall, not thin boy. Now he is almost 5 and 50 lbs still f.f. and harnessed in his radian!
Tracy Wager says
Forgot to say that we r.f. to 4yrs old & 45lb (the max of our seat model) without one complaint from my very tall, not thin boy. Now he is almost 5 and 50 lbs still f.f. and harnessed in his radian!
Tracy Wager says
I ♡♡♡♡ my Radian!!! I’ve had it for 2 years. My oldest son and his wife already understand that I will be buying the car seats for my grand babies. They will only ride in Radians. That it is a heavy carseat and the first time you install it, it is a pain in the butt. Oh Well! I trust it with my little one and theirs.
Tracy Wager says
I ♡♡♡♡ my Radian!!! I’ve had it for 2 years. My oldest son and his wife already understand that I will be buying the car seats for my grand babies. They will only ride in Radians. That it is a heavy carseat and the first time you install it, it is a pain in the butt. Oh Well! I trust it with my little one and theirs.
Sarah WIllock says
Chart is super helpful!
Sarah WIllock says
Chart is super helpful!
Britni Bradford says
the 10 yr expiration on the diono is amazing! i desperately want to switch to these before baby the next baby arrives. i think it’s the only way the car seats will all fit!
Mommy Gearest says
I’m pretty sure it’s the longest expiry date of any car seat!!
Britni Bradford says
the 10 yr expiration on the diono is amazing! i desperately want to switch to these before baby the next baby arrives. i think it’s the only way the car seats will all fit!
Mommy Gearest says
I’m pretty sure it’s the longest expiry date of any car seat!!
Ashley says
Great chart for parents. Wish I knew more before investing money. We are currently trying to upgrade to prevent off at a young age.
Ashley says
Great chart for parents. Wish I knew more before investing money. We are currently trying to upgrade to prevent off at a young age.
Kristine Laird says
This is a great chart, I’ll remember this when someone asks me about carseats! I have the Alpha Omega Elite, and the Diono RXT plus a Recaro ProRide….Alpha Omega Elite SUCKS, Recaro is definitely awesome but doesn’t have the range that the Diono has. I <3 my Diono, for sure!
Kristine Laird says
This is a great chart, I’ll remember this when someone asks me about carseats! I have the Alpha Omega Elite, and the Diono RXT plus a Recaro ProRide….Alpha Omega Elite SUCKS, Recaro is definitely awesome but doesn’t have the range that the Diono has. I <3 my Diono, for sure!
Janet Butler says
Comparison chart rocks – but the Diono has my heart!
Janet Butler says
Comparison chart rocks – but the Diono has my heart!
Cassandra Eastman says
I’ve never owned a diono, but it really looks amazing. This comparision chart helped a ton! We use to have the Nautilus for my son and it was alright but yes you get what you pay for.
Cassandra Eastman says
I’ve never owned a diono, but it really looks amazing. This comparision chart helped a ton! We use to have the Nautilus for my son and it was alright but yes you get what you pay for.
SJ says
We love our Radian RXT and just got a second one for a second car!
SJ says
We love our Radian RXT and just got a second one for a second car!
Brittany Thomas says
Love the comparison chart. We have and LOVE our Diono Radian’s (RXT but it’s almost the same as the GTX). We do still use the infant seat when they are little because of the convenience but after that it’s only the Diono for us!
Brittany Thomas says
Love the comparison chart. We have and LOVE our Diono Radian’s (RXT but it’s almost the same as the GTX). We do still use the infant seat when they are little because of the convenience but after that it’s only the Diono for us!
a.b. says
This is really helpful, especially the comparison chart. I just started researching “post infant” seats last week and there are a lot of things you mention that I haven’t even considered!
Mommy Gearest says
So glad it helped – even a little!
a.b. says
This is really helpful, especially the comparison chart. I just started researching “post infant” seats last week and there are a lot of things you mention that I haven’t even considered!
Mommy Gearest says
So glad it helped – even a little!
angela m says
Thanks for the great review, very detailed.
The Diono sounds amazing with all the features.
angela m says
Thanks for the great review, very detailed.
The Diono sounds amazing with all the features.
Ashley N says
Thanks for the chart view! So much easier to compare than an article. I’ve been leaning towards a Radian for my growing girl and appreciate the cons as much as the pros!
Ashley N says
Thanks for the chart view! So much easier to compare than an article. I’ve been leaning towards a Radian for my growing girl and appreciate the cons as much as the pros!
kailee bowman says
Great review. I haven’t had one Yet, we are about to have our first child soon. So we are looking to find what had the best reviews.
kailee bowman says
Great review. I haven’t had one Yet, we are about to have our first child soon. So we are looking to find what had the best reviews.
Areta says
I am expecting and researching car seats right now. Your analysis is very helpful! Thank you!
Areta says
I am expecting and researching car seats right now. Your analysis is very helpful! Thank you!
Amanda B says
I have a safety 1st infant seat right now. I have no idea where to go from there when he grows out of it. This was very helpful. Thanks!
Amanda B says
I have a safety 1st infant seat right now. I have no idea where to go from there when he grows out of it. This was very helpful. Thanks!
Jeannie says
Thanks for the great comparison chart. I picked up the Britax Advocate last year and I don’t really regret it, but now we are looking for a another one for my youngest and this chart is definitely influencing our next car seat purchase.
Jeannie says
Thanks for the great comparison chart. I picked up the Britax Advocate last year and I don’t really regret it, but now we are looking for a another one for my youngest and this chart is definitely influencing our next car seat purchase.
Tannis W says
Wow, now that’s a detailed comparison! I still feel like I wouldn’t know where to start with buying a carseat, but your guide is helpful.
Tannis W says
Wow, now that’s a detailed comparison! I still feel like I wouldn’t know where to start with buying a carseat, but your guide is helpful.
Amy says
This really supports the research I’ve done so far. The Radian is really edging out the competition, which for me consists only of the Foonf by Clek.
Amy says
This really supports the research I’ve done so far. The Radian is really edging out the competition, which for me consists only of the Foonf by Clek.
melis says
would love to win one of these car seats 🙂
melis says
would love to win one of these car seats 🙂
natasha says
This is great!! Thanks and what a great prize to win!!
natasha says
This is great!! Thanks and what a great prize to win!!
Yolanda Yeung says
Love my Diono Radian RXT! My LO love being able to climb in by herself and love the slim profile!
Yolanda Yeung says
Love my Diono Radian RXT! My LO love being able to climb in by herself and love the slim profile!
Renee says
Thanks for the comparison. I’ll have to share with my husband because I really want to get a second Radian RTX for baby #2. We have 1 for our first child, and a generic car seat (cosco) for our other car which she rarely rides in. I’d love to win the GTX for our second child.
Renee says
Thanks for the comparison. I’ll have to share with my husband because I really want to get a second Radian RTX for baby #2. We have 1 for our first child, and a generic car seat (cosco) for our other car which she rarely rides in. I’d love to win the GTX for our second child.
Janel says
I’d love to get a Diono for my toddler. And while the bucket car seat works for most infants, my high spirited kiddo hated being in a car seat until we switched him from his Graco to our Britax, so I’m not sure if we’ll even buy a bucket seat next time around. We love our Britax, but boy is it bulky, and my leggy son has to be creative with his leg placement at 17 months (rear-facing).
Janel says
I’d love to get a Diono for my toddler. And while the bucket car seat works for most infants, my high spirited kiddo hated being in a car seat until we switched him from his Graco to our Britax, so I’m not sure if we’ll even buy a bucket seat next time around. We love our Britax, but boy is it bulky, and my leggy son has to be creative with his leg placement at 17 months (rear-facing).
Justine says
Love the Diono!
Justine says
Love the Diono!
Leigh A says
Great chart! I bought the Radian for most of these reasons and have no regrets. It is an awesome seat. We need another for baby #2! It will fit with no problem!!
Leigh A says
Great chart! I bought the Radian for most of these reasons and have no regrets. It is an awesome seat. We need another for baby #2! It will fit with no problem!!
Amy B says
Oh yea- forgot to add- the Alpha Omega Elite makes a DEADLY booster and should *NEVER EVER* be used as such. It positions the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt on the child’s belly which will cause deadly internal organ damage in the event of a crash. Why did it pass the safety test to be able to be sold on store shelves, you ask? There are no abdominal sensors on the crash test dummies.
Amy B says
Oh yea- forgot to add- the Alpha Omega Elite makes a DEADLY booster and should *NEVER EVER* be used as such. It positions the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt on the child’s belly which will cause deadly internal organ damage in the event of a crash. Why did it pass the safety test to be able to be sold on store shelves, you ask? There are no abdominal sensors on the crash test dummies.
Amy B says
Thank you for the detailed review. You answered several of my questions that I was wondering! However, when you said, “Would you rather risk a broken femur from crossed legs or a broken spine (or death) from forward-motion impact?” this is a very inaccurate statement and it implies that a child is at higher risk of breaking a leg from rear-facing. The truth is that they are MORE likely to break a limb when they are forward facing. You should edit this out of your article, or better yet, clarify that rear-facing children are LESS likely to break a limb!!!!!!!!
Mommy Gearest says
I’ve read a few arguments like this and it’s a great point to raise (though I’m not going to edit out my statement because there are a lot of people who need something jarring like that to even consider extended rear-facing). 🙂
Amy B says
Thank you for the detailed review. You answered several of my questions that I was wondering! However, when you said, “Would you rather risk a broken femur from crossed legs or a broken spine (or death) from forward-motion impact?” this is a very inaccurate statement and it implies that a child is at higher risk of breaking a leg from rear-facing. The truth is that they are MORE likely to break a limb when they are forward facing. You should edit this out of your article, or better yet, clarify that rear-facing children are LESS likely to break a limb!!!!!!!!
Mommy Gearest says
I’ve read a few arguments like this and it’s a great point to raise (though I’m not going to edit out my statement because there are a lot of people who need something jarring like that to even consider extended rear-facing). 🙂
Heather G. says
We have been using a Diono 120 (identical to this seat other than not having wings) with my 18 month old son. I love it. The ‘storm’ and ‘rugby’ patterns don’t have additional fire retardants added as chemicals since they tested safe enough without them. Just one more reason to love this incredible seat! (Trust me, I did MONTHS of researching the best and safest of all.)
Heather G. says
We have been using a Diono 120 (identical to this seat other than not having wings) with my 18 month old son. I love it. The ‘storm’ and ‘rugby’ patterns don’t have additional fire retardants added as chemicals since they tested safe enough without them. Just one more reason to love this incredible seat! (Trust me, I did MONTHS of researching the best and safest of all.)
Nicole says
Having owned graco and britax in the past, i wish i knew about diono(sunshine kids back then). About to make the move and put them back in a 5pt harness!
Nicole says
Having owned graco and britax in the past, i wish i knew about diono(sunshine kids back then). About to make the move and put them back in a 5pt harness!
Bel says
Good job. I have 2 radians and live them. Need to get a 3rd one soon!
Bel says
Good job. I have 2 radians and live them. Need to get a 3rd one soon!
Lisa says
Good comparison chart. We have two Radian RXTs (one for each boy) and the older Sunshine Kids model, and love them. My almost 4 year old will probably remain rear-facing in his Radian until he’s 5! Plus, they’re super compact… we can easily fit two rear-facing in the tiny backseat of daddy’s Jeep Wrangler. 🙂
Lisa says
Good comparison chart. We have two Radian RXTs (one for each boy) and the older Sunshine Kids model, and love them. My almost 4 year old will probably remain rear-facing in his Radian until he’s 5! Plus, they’re super compact… we can easily fit two rear-facing in the tiny backseat of daddy’s Jeep Wrangler. 🙂
Kate Schwartz says
i am a fan of the diono car-seats, for a reason that most dont think of… rashes. my daughter has extremely sensitive skin and after looking at reviews and websites finding the toxicity in some car seats (britax being one of the worst) diono sparked my interest. we were gifted one and WOW! we love love love it! my daughter doesnt burst out in a rash, it didnt have that overbearing smell that most carseats have when opening the package, not to mention they actually give us more space in the back seat for our littles!!
Kate Schwartz says
i am a fan of the diono car-seats, for a reason that most dont think of… rashes. my daughter has extremely sensitive skin and after looking at reviews and websites finding the toxicity in some car seats (britax being one of the worst) diono sparked my interest. we were gifted one and WOW! we love love love it! my daughter doesnt burst out in a rash, it didnt have that overbearing smell that most carseats have when opening the package, not to mention they actually give us more space in the back seat for our littles!!
Reanne says
This is a great review and makes it so much easier for parents to compare. I ended up with the Diono Radian and we love it. Probably getting a second one for the little one too.
Reanne says
This is a great review and makes it so much easier for parents to compare. I ended up with the Diono Radian and we love it. Probably getting a second one for the little one too.
Sharyn Kopel says
Very helpful, thanks for the info. I’m in the market for a new car seat that will hold my large 2.5 year old. Thanks!!
Sharyn Kopel says
Very helpful, thanks for the info. I’m in the market for a new car seat that will hold my large 2.5 year old. Thanks!!
Mihaela says
Great review! We have three Radian RXT in our van and looking to acquire another one as baby number four comes. We switched to Radian RXT when we had two in anticipation of baby number three. They fit perfectly across in our Jeep Liberty. They are heavy but we do not mind the comfort. We traveled multiple times with these in airplanes with our three kids and I cannot recommend enough them for the ease of installation in the planes.
Mihaela says
Great review! We have three Radian RXT in our van and looking to acquire another one as baby number four comes. We switched to Radian RXT when we had two in anticipation of baby number three. They fit perfectly across in our Jeep Liberty. They are heavy but we do not mind the comfort. We traveled multiple times with these in airplanes with our three kids and I cannot recommend enough them for the ease of installation in the planes.
Danielle Blech says
We have a Diono and love it. My one concern is the complicated installation, but love that it will last for years and is durable. Planning to get another for baby 2 due in January!
Mommy Gearest says
Hm! We found the installation the easiest of any car seat we’ve owned!
Danielle Blech says
We have a Diono and love it. My one concern is the complicated installation, but love that it will last for years and is durable. Planning to get another for baby 2 due in January!
Mommy Gearest says
Hm! We found the installation the easiest of any car seat we’ve owned!
Krisha Collins says
The comparison chart is very helpful. I do well when post include them. LOL
Krisha Collins says
The comparison chart is very helpful. I do well when post include them. LOL
Hanna Davidson says
Love it! Have on. Need another. Would be awesome. 🙂
Hanna Davidson says
Love it! Have on. Need another. Would be awesome. 🙂
Selena Huminsky says
The first convertible seat we bought was the AOE for our daughter. We didn’t have any major problems with it, but we were only able to rear face her to 2 (she’s 4 now), and we upgraded her seat when she was a little past 2 to an Evenflo Maestro, and now a Britax Frontier 85. We know much more now and our son’s next seat (currently in a First Years True Fit) to a Diono Radian, either the 120 or RXT.
Selena Huminsky says
The first convertible seat we bought was the AOE for our daughter. We didn’t have any major problems with it, but we were only able to rear face her to 2 (she’s 4 now), and we upgraded her seat when she was a little past 2 to an Evenflo Maestro, and now a Britax Frontier 85. We know much more now and our son’s next seat (currently in a First Years True Fit) to a Diono Radian, either the 120 or RXT.
Susan W says
What a great prize!
Susan W says
What a great prize!
Shelly Jones says
I love how the Diono Radian goes from rear facing to forward harnessed to booster! It is low without sides on the base, so it is easy to put kids in or have them climb in themselves. Most people switch at a year from a carrier to a convertible, so with an 8 year expiration, this car seat can work for a child all the way to age 9 in many cases!
Shelly Jones says
I love how the Diono Radian goes from rear facing to forward harnessed to booster! It is low without sides on the base, so it is easy to put kids in or have them climb in themselves. Most people switch at a year from a carrier to a convertible, so with an 8 year expiration, this car seat can work for a child all the way to age 9 in many cases!
kelli vickers says
These are all of the car seats I have been looking at and the Diono is the one that I want for my son! He is my first born and I want nothing but the best for him! This chart is so helpful
kelli vickers says
These are all of the car seats I have been looking at and the Diono is the one that I want for my son! He is my first born and I want nothing but the best for him! This chart is so helpful
Jessica says
Another gaffe for the Nautilus (we have since switched to the Radian because of this), the latch gets stuck. I had to shake it just to get it to open up so my son could get out of the car. In the event of an emergency, that would have been quite dangerous!
This is really a great comparison list though. New parents (and those in search of a new car seat) should definitely check this out.
Jessica says
Another gaffe for the Nautilus (we have since switched to the Radian because of this), the latch gets stuck. I had to shake it just to get it to open up so my son could get out of the car. In the event of an emergency, that would have been quite dangerous!
This is really a great comparison list though. New parents (and those in search of a new car seat) should definitely check this out.
Sarah Schroder says
I am a huge fan of Diono. They make great car seats! What a nice comparison chart too. It always helps to see things next to each other like that.
Sarah Schroder says
I am a huge fan of Diono. They make great car seats! What a nice comparison chart too. It always helps to see things next to each other like that.
AmyK says
I love this chart. My daughter is outgrowing her seat for her dad’s truck so we are shopping. I have the Radian (Sunshine Kids) in my car and love it for my tall girl. We are torn between another Radian or the Frontier
Mommy Gearest says
Really, you can’t go wrong with either.
AmyK says
I love this chart. My daughter is outgrowing her seat for her dad’s truck so we are shopping. I have the Radian (Sunshine Kids) in my car and love it for my tall girl. We are torn between another Radian or the Frontier
Mommy Gearest says
Really, you can’t go wrong with either.
Erin Thompson says
I love the comparison chart. That is great. When I had a hard time installing my one seat i drove over to the police station in my city and asked for one of the officers to come do it. They have a bunch of them that are certified to do this. So if you ever have any installation issues, that may help you out 🙂 Thanks for the chance!
Erin Thompson says
I love the comparison chart. That is great. When I had a hard time installing my one seat i drove over to the police station in my city and asked for one of the officers to come do it. They have a bunch of them that are certified to do this. So if you ever have any installation issues, that may help you out 🙂 Thanks for the chance!
Angela Mitchell says
My son is 8 months now and nearing the weight limit for his bucket seat so I having been doing a bunch of research trying to decide on which seat to get next. I am very interested in the Radian now.
Angela Mitchell says
My son is 8 months now and nearing the weight limit for his bucket seat so I having been doing a bunch of research trying to decide on which seat to get next. I am very interested in the Radian now.
Noa G says
Wish I saw this chart comparison earlier… I have the Alpha Omega Elite and am really unhappy with it… The belt is impossible to manipulate, and my son has been getting a belt burn from the seatbelt rubbing against his neck!
Would love to trade to the Diono!!
Mommy Gearest says
Ugh – so sorry to hear! I’m with you…seriously unimpressed with both the quality, design and safety features of the Alpha Omega Elite. Good luck!
Noa G says
Wish I saw this chart comparison earlier… I have the Alpha Omega Elite and am really unhappy with it… The belt is impossible to manipulate, and my son has been getting a belt burn from the seatbelt rubbing against his neck!
Would love to trade to the Diono!!
Mommy Gearest says
Ugh – so sorry to hear! I’m with you…seriously unimpressed with both the quality, design and safety features of the Alpha Omega Elite. Good luck!
tennille says
I agree, I really like the bucket seat option and then at 6 months we switched to a rear facing car seat. We have Safety 1st carseats and have been happy so far. The other options we just too expensive as hubby works shift work and I part time we have outfitted both vehicles with 2 seats each and that adds up.
tennille says
I agree, I really like the bucket seat option and then at 6 months we switched to a rear facing car seat. We have Safety 1st carseats and have been happy so far. The other options we just too expensive as hubby works shift work and I part time we have outfitted both vehicles with 2 seats each and that adds up.
Monique L. S. says
I started with a bucket seat for my daughter. She is now 11 months old, and quite tall, so we need a convertible seat. Great to see the comparison chart above. There are so many seats out there to consider. I have heard good things about the Radian though.
Monique L. S. says
I started with a bucket seat for my daughter. She is now 11 months old, and quite tall, so we need a convertible seat. Great to see the comparison chart above. There are so many seats out there to consider. I have heard good things about the Radian though.
Megan says
My son is juuust about to outgrow his bucket seat, and I’m finding it hard to decipher what our next car seat purchase should be. Our car is itsy-bitsy, and we’re wanting to hold onto it for hopefully another year, so while safety is of course, most important, size is also right up there. I’m really interested in the angle adjuster on the Diono. Did you use it too??
Mommy Gearest says
I’ve never used it – I have a CUV so all of the car seats we have fit. I’d be interested to hear how it works, though!
Megan says
My son is juuust about to outgrow his bucket seat, and I’m finding it hard to decipher what our next car seat purchase should be. Our car is itsy-bitsy, and we’re wanting to hold onto it for hopefully another year, so while safety is of course, most important, size is also right up there. I’m really interested in the angle adjuster on the Diono. Did you use it too??
Mommy Gearest says
I’ve never used it – I have a CUV so all of the car seats we have fit. I’d be interested to hear how it works, though!
Subashini Caru says
Diono Radian Rxt is the best car seat ever. Got it for my daughter and absolutely love it. Hoping we can win it for my son!!!
Subashini Caru says
Diono Radian Rxt is the best car seat ever. Got it for my daughter and absolutely love it. Hoping we can win it for my son!!!
smileycdngerl (@smileycdngerl) says
Thanks for the run down of the pros and cons for each of the car seat. Really helpful when deciding on what car seat to get.
smileycdngerl (@smileycdngerl) says
Thanks for the run down of the pros and cons for each of the car seat. Really helpful when deciding on what car seat to get.
Amy E says
Love my diono!! And the cupholders do click in really securely, but I am not strong enough to do it, my hubby has to!
Amy E says
Love my diono!! And the cupholders do click in really securely, but I am not strong enough to do it, my hubby has to!
Ruth says
Maybe it’s only a concern for me because I seem to drive a small car… can any of these be RF without putting a front seat out of commission? Our son is about to outgrow his bucket, and we’ve got a Boulevard for the van, but I’d really like to get a convertible for my car (sometimes the van’s just a bit… much). We’re getting a little tired of not being able to use the front passenger seat, though. We don’t so much care about side-to-side bulkiness, but everything seems to take up so much space front-to-back as a rear-facing seat 🙁
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Ruth! I only have an SUV and a truck so to be honest, I’ve never tried any of these seats in a smaller car. I would YouTube “Diono Radian” to see if anyone has a video about installing it RF in a car, then you should see how much room you have. We also have the Boulevard, and I think the Radian is taller overall. Do you have the option of going to a local store that sells it and trying the floor model in your car before you buy it?
Ruth says
Maybe it’s only a concern for me because I seem to drive a small car… can any of these be RF without putting a front seat out of commission? Our son is about to outgrow his bucket, and we’ve got a Boulevard for the van, but I’d really like to get a convertible for my car (sometimes the van’s just a bit… much). We’re getting a little tired of not being able to use the front passenger seat, though. We don’t so much care about side-to-side bulkiness, but everything seems to take up so much space front-to-back as a rear-facing seat 🙁
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Ruth! I only have an SUV and a truck so to be honest, I’ve never tried any of these seats in a smaller car. I would YouTube “Diono Radian” to see if anyone has a video about installing it RF in a car, then you should see how much room you have. We also have the Boulevard, and I think the Radian is taller overall. Do you have the option of going to a local store that sells it and trying the floor model in your car before you buy it?
Celia says
Just to be picky, two of these are not considered convertible car seats, they are actually combination seats (FF/boosters). To be a convertible they have to be able to RF. The only reason I mention this is because some people buy the Nautilus thinking the 3-1 makes it a seat suitable for a baby fresh out of a bucket seat… but it is not. Most 3-1s are RF/FF/boosters but this one (as you did mention) is a FF/high back booster/low back booster. For big kids only (i.e. over 2 y/o, as all agree children under 2 y/o should remain RFing).
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Celia! That is a REALLY great point, and I’m so glad you added a comment about it. I think the word convertible definitely trips people up – and it’s so important to read the manual of EVERY piece of baby and kid gear you buy to be sure you’re using it as directed. I’m with you on leaving kids rear-facing for as long as possible…the reality in Canada, however, is that people seem to think of baby’s first birthday as a milestone moment to make the switch. I’m adding some harrowing statistics about premature forward-facing to the article I’m writing for Pink & Blue Mag’s fall/winter issue.
Celia says
Just to be picky, two of these are not considered convertible car seats, they are actually combination seats (FF/boosters). To be a convertible they have to be able to RF. The only reason I mention this is because some people buy the Nautilus thinking the 3-1 makes it a seat suitable for a baby fresh out of a bucket seat… but it is not. Most 3-1s are RF/FF/boosters but this one (as you did mention) is a FF/high back booster/low back booster. For big kids only (i.e. over 2 y/o, as all agree children under 2 y/o should remain RFing).
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Celia! That is a REALLY great point, and I’m so glad you added a comment about it. I think the word convertible definitely trips people up – and it’s so important to read the manual of EVERY piece of baby and kid gear you buy to be sure you’re using it as directed. I’m with you on leaving kids rear-facing for as long as possible…the reality in Canada, however, is that people seem to think of baby’s first birthday as a milestone moment to make the switch. I’m adding some harrowing statistics about premature forward-facing to the article I’m writing for Pink & Blue Mag’s fall/winter issue.
Marianne says
Decent review. I just want to point out one thing. The “tether” is actually the top tether, which anchors to the rear of your car seat. When you refer to the tether being short, that would imply that it won’t reach the point behind your car seat. You should reword the review to say harness or straps rather then tether.
One thing you may want to note is how useful the seats are as booster. Eg, The Alpha Omega does not generally fit properly as a booster as it will pull the lap portion of the belt onto the abdomen.
The Radian also has the quirky little thing where it cannot be used as a booster until 50lbs, and is often outgrown around the same time.
Oh — and you may want to edit your radian weight limit. No seats in Canada are permitted to harness past 65lbs. The radian can only be used as a harnessed seat until 65lbs 🙂
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks… I always refer to that little piece as the tether, but I can understand the confusion and should clarify. I have never used these (yet) as boosters, so I can’t comment on their use solely as boosters – yet. But it’s so great to have someone’s experience with the Safety 1st seat added here. There’s one more reason it really can’t be recommended. I am personally not bothered by the fact that the Radian can’t be used as a “traditional” booster until 50 lbs. I’m a huge proponent of keeping kids in a 5-point harness as long as possible. My five year old weighs more than 50 lbs. and is certainly still VERY comfortable in the Radian. I’ll double-check with Diono on the harness weight limit – thank you so much for the great insight!
Marianne says
Decent review. I just want to point out one thing. The “tether” is actually the top tether, which anchors to the rear of your car seat. When you refer to the tether being short, that would imply that it won’t reach the point behind your car seat. You should reword the review to say harness or straps rather then tether.
One thing you may want to note is how useful the seats are as booster. Eg, The Alpha Omega does not generally fit properly as a booster as it will pull the lap portion of the belt onto the abdomen.
The Radian also has the quirky little thing where it cannot be used as a booster until 50lbs, and is often outgrown around the same time.
Oh — and you may want to edit your radian weight limit. No seats in Canada are permitted to harness past 65lbs. The radian can only be used as a harnessed seat until 65lbs 🙂
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks… I always refer to that little piece as the tether, but I can understand the confusion and should clarify. I have never used these (yet) as boosters, so I can’t comment on their use solely as boosters – yet. But it’s so great to have someone’s experience with the Safety 1st seat added here. There’s one more reason it really can’t be recommended. I am personally not bothered by the fact that the Radian can’t be used as a “traditional” booster until 50 lbs. I’m a huge proponent of keeping kids in a 5-point harness as long as possible. My five year old weighs more than 50 lbs. and is certainly still VERY comfortable in the Radian. I’ll double-check with Diono on the harness weight limit – thank you so much for the great insight!
Jen says
Great review. We have 2 radians rxt’s in our main vehicle. (One was a sunshine kids model) our 2nd car has a britax boulevard and the graco snug ride 35 which still fits my 1 yr old. The RXT is essentially the same as the GTX without the seat protector and 8 instead of 10yr warranty I believe. Rear facing our almost 3 yr old still gets us some strange looks but I’m happy to have these awesome seats despite the hefty price tag.
Mommy Gearest says
Totally agree! It’s worth the price tag. What do you think of the Radian cup holders, though? We had the Boulevard for my kids when they were too big for the SnugRide (we didn’t have the 35 – I found it too heavy to carry) but not big or old enough to be turned around. LOVE the Britax Boulevard but had the Radian existed, I’d have gone with that for sure…longer life.
Jen says
Funny, i didnt find the snugride35 heavy at all. Especially compared to the peg perego friends of mine had. The weight limit of 35 and 32″ allowed us to keep it as a second seat until about 14 mths and likely my younger son will be able to stay in it far longer.
My original pre-diono radian doesn’t have cup holders. My new Radian does and I agree- they are on a little bit of an odd angle. My main issue is that they are not secured in the slot that holds them. My 1 yr old easily pulls it out. And if you do use the radians 3 across a backseat, you are unable to use any cup holders at all. But yes, all in all, worth the money.
Mommy Gearest says
My gf had the SnugRide35 and when I tried my son who was 8 weeks old at the time (and an ultra-heavy 15 pounds by then…already) and I felt the significant weight difference between my SnugRide and hers, I was really glad I got the lighter one!
Jen says
Great review. We have 2 radians rxt’s in our main vehicle. (One was a sunshine kids model) our 2nd car has a britax boulevard and the graco snug ride 35 which still fits my 1 yr old. The RXT is essentially the same as the GTX without the seat protector and 8 instead of 10yr warranty I believe. Rear facing our almost 3 yr old still gets us some strange looks but I’m happy to have these awesome seats despite the hefty price tag.
Mommy Gearest says
Totally agree! It’s worth the price tag. What do you think of the Radian cup holders, though? We had the Boulevard for my kids when they were too big for the SnugRide (we didn’t have the 35 – I found it too heavy to carry) but not big or old enough to be turned around. LOVE the Britax Boulevard but had the Radian existed, I’d have gone with that for sure…longer life.
Jen says
Funny, i didnt find the snugride35 heavy at all. Especially compared to the peg perego friends of mine had. The weight limit of 35 and 32″ allowed us to keep it as a second seat until about 14 mths and likely my younger son will be able to stay in it far longer.
My original pre-diono radian doesn’t have cup holders. My new Radian does and I agree- they are on a little bit of an odd angle. My main issue is that they are not secured in the slot that holds them. My 1 yr old easily pulls it out. And if you do use the radians 3 across a backseat, you are unable to use any cup holders at all. But yes, all in all, worth the money.
Mommy Gearest says
My gf had the SnugRide35 and when I tried my son who was 8 weeks old at the time (and an ultra-heavy 15 pounds by then…already) and I felt the significant weight difference between my SnugRide and hers, I was really glad I got the lighter one!
Olivia L says
Great review! This would have been so helpful to have two years ago! I love that you’ve done such a thorough feature comparison between all 4 models. I bought a Britax Advocate a couple of years ago and just got a Radian GTX. I kind of wish I had gotten 2 Radians instead. (The Britax is super bulky!)
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks!! The Britax is bulky compared to the Radian BUT overall is wider and allows a taller child to sit in it longer – so for extra-big kids, the added bulk might be a necessity. But, man, I do love that Radian!
Olivia L says
Great review! This would have been so helpful to have two years ago! I love that you’ve done such a thorough feature comparison between all 4 models. I bought a Britax Advocate a couple of years ago and just got a Radian GTX. I kind of wish I had gotten 2 Radians instead. (The Britax is super bulky!)
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks!! The Britax is bulky compared to the Radian BUT overall is wider and allows a taller child to sit in it longer – so for extra-big kids, the added bulk might be a necessity. But, man, I do love that Radian!