Carseats don't have to suck!
May 1, 2020
TL;DR: BUY THIS CARSEAT. You won't be disappointed. (For our next kiddo, I'm seriously contemplating skipping the infant bucket entirely, and just getting another one of these!)
I started researching carseats when my son was about six months old. We had been using an infant seat since birth, and I thought I had done a good job researching which infant seat I wanted, but I ended up absolutely hating it (hence the search for a convertible seat at an early age). After months of agonizing over which carseat to buy, the price point and ratings of the Diono Radian 3RXT could not be beat! So we pulled the trigger, and let me tell you: I LOVE THIS THING. The straps glide like a hot knife through butter. It's built like a tank, so I never feel like my little guy isn't safe. The design of the carseat allows my kiddo to stay cool, even when the sun is hitting him. And, it will grow with him until he's out of carseats. I never have to buy another seat! I have a 2012 4Runner, and my son sits behind the driver's seat because the LATCH system can't be used in the middle seat. I'm about 5' 4", and can move my seat forwards and back no problem. We have not tried it with my husband driving (he's a little over 6'), but I think it shouldn't be an issue.
One of my biggest concerns with purchasing this carseat was that installation would be hard (many reviews I read mentioned it was). Installing this thing is not hard at all if directions are followed. Pro tip: watch the Diono carseat installation videos as suggested and make sure you follow the directions! It took about 15-20 minutes to open the box, make sure the straps were in the right place for the little guy, and pop it into the car.
The only thing I do not love about this carseat are the cushions that go on the straps. They are very thick and sit kind of awkwardly on my guy. Note: I have not tried troubleshooting this, and I'm sure it's a user error as opposed to a design flaw.
If I could make one change, it would be to include the angle adjuster (sold separately by Diono) in with the purchase of the seat. If the seat doesn't work with my husband in the driver's seat, we will have to purchase one, but at the time of this writing (May 2020), they are next to impossible to come by.
With regards to Albee Baby, the price point couldn't be beat, and the shipping was FAST!
Pros
- Built of steel which makes it kind of heavy, but I also know my kid is super safe
- Folds up for flying/travel
- Design of carseat keeps the child cool
- Memory foam seats
- Can be used starting at birth
Cons
- Kind of heavy
- Super thick cushioning for straps