Getting a two year old to cooperate in front of the camera is no easy feat. Now try restricting them in a car seat to take their picture and see how they do…. Well this was our dilemma as we attempted to take some photos for our Diono RadianRXT car seat review, but after a few meltdowns, and then candy and movies we managed to get a few decent shots to compliment this post and share how we really feel about our new toddler carseat.

This has been a week of ‘firsts’ and with so much change happening in our household (new school for big brother and new routine for the rest of us), a little change was in the works for our little baby girl. Not so much a baby anymore, this two year old was thrilled to have the opportunity to try out and have mama review the Diono RadianRXT car seat. Although we’ve been through our share of car seats, we’ve never owned one from Diono, so I was very excited to put all the good things we’ve heard about the brand to the test.

The first thing I have to say (no matter how superficial it sounds), is that this is one good looking car seat! I mean, the sleek Essex grey colour is elegant and refined, and the premium fabric is so smooth and cool on your child’s skin. Don’t get me wrong – safety is my #1 priority – but if you’re looking for a seat that ALSO happens to be super stylish – this is it!

When it comes to safety – the Diono RadianRXT is at the top of its class! Some highlights are that it has a full steel frame and aluminum reinforced sidewalls which are lined with thick, energy absorbing foam, it’s NCAP crash tested (the industry benchmark for severe accident testing), and it uses the SafeStop harness which reduces the forces affecting a child’s head, neck and chest in an accident.

We also love how versatile this car seat is. Even though we are just starting with it now, had we purchased it when Gemma was an infant it would have suited our needs from 5lbs all the way up to 120lbs. The seat can be used rear-facing, forward facing, in a 5-point harness, and then into a booster seat for older kids. This really is the only car seat you may ever need for you child and that means saving a LOT of money on purchasing one seat after another as your child grows.

Another bonus with this seat is that it folds down flat and can easily be stored or transported with ease. This would be amazing when having to bring it on an airplane or put in the trunk to bring somewhere else. The only con associated with this is that the seat is VERY heavy. As someone of a very petite stature, it is a bit cumbersome for me to carry due to the weight, but wouldn’t be a problem for my husband. One way to get around this though is that you can purchase extra shoulder straps so that you can carry it as a backpack, and I’m sure this would alleviate some of the weight and awkwardness.

If you also happen to be looking for a seat that is less bulky than the traditional seat, this is it again! We love how narrow the structure is and if you ever need to fill up your back seat with three carseats, three RadianRXT‘s fit across in most mid-size vehicles. While we will never need three carseats (fingers crossed), sometimes we do need to put two seats in the back of our Tahoe with a third space free for a passenger. This was never possible with other carseat brands/models, so we’re pretty happy we can do it now!

Above everything else and most important of all, is that this little girl LOVES her new carseat. Not one to embrace change very well (don’t ever try replacing her blankie with a ‘similar’ version), she immediately took to her new seat and felt comfortable from the first moment she sat in it. This upgrade to a big-girl carseat was just the ounce of independence this little miss-independent needed, and a happy toddler means a happy mama :)

*This post was written in collaboration with Diono. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions are always my own.

*The photographs in this review are for aesthetic purposes only. Our car seat was installed according to all manufacturer safety regulations.