Tuesday, November 27th 2012, was somewhat of a historic day. For the first time ever, CPS Advocates from 7 different manufacturers, including Diono, met with NHTSA in Washington, D.C., to help shape a ruling that will become effective in 2014. As a group, we presented some great suggestions to NHTSA and hope they take them into consideration when making the change in the ruling. Most important was the presence of David Strickland, Administrator for NHTSA. David is the country's top automotive safety official and he is also a certified CPST!...

Car seats can be green - not just the color of the fabric, and not because your child ate peas for lunch! These days environmentally savvy parents want to do more than just throw their old car seats into the garbage dump. Many of the parts can be recycled, especially the plastic. Here are a few options for disposing of your child restraint: 1. Donate First thing to consider is donating the seat to your local Child Passenger Safety Instructor or Safekids Coalition. Your used seat could be used as a demo seat during certification classes, or by an instructor when teaching a prenatal class or Mommy And Me class. Another option is to give it to friend or family member. Note: you can do this only if it has never been in a crash, has not expired, and has been stored properly when not in regular use. 2. Recycle...

If you think child restraints have not improved over the last thirty years, just take a look at some of these photos. Doesn't it make you just cringe? At the time, it was all that was available and these seats probably saved a life or two, or many. Looking at them now, needless to say, it was better to use these than having a child unrestrained in a vehicle. Fortunately, the companies who made these seats have made a lot of progress over the years and newer companies go to great lengths to establish themselves as safety innovators. Who are the leaders in safety innovation? Are all car seat manufacturers equal? When searching for the "safest" car seat available, there are several things to consider: All car seats have to meet the same FMVSS213 standards. All car seat manufacturers self-certify their seats. All car seats are designed by highly trained...

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently established a new policy recommending children ride rear-facing up to 2 years, or to the upper weight limits of the car seat. Parents who are not familiar with the benefits of extended rear-facing are puzzled why this should be the recommendation. After all, most parents are anxious to see their baby while they are driving the car so they can keep an eye on them. I did when my first born was younger. As a matter of fact, his pediatrician at the time said he was big enough to go forward-facing at nine months old. You can imagine how delighted I was! Now, after 11 years of being a CPS instructor, I am horrified to think what would have happened if we were in a crash. While it is tempting to turn babies around to face the front of the vehicle, it is important...

Allana Pinkerton stays busy as Diono's Child Passenger Safety Advocate.  Her job not only includes keeping children safe, but encompasses many duties within our company. The main component of her job is to train retail staff. This is important to parents as they shop for a new car seat. As you know, there are hundreds of child restraints on the store shelves and it can be confusing when trying to choose one. It is reassuring to a parent when the retail staff can tell them about safety features, conveniences and guide them to resources within their community. Allana doesn't just go into our retail customers' store and try to sell them on a Diono seat. She actually teaches beyond the Radian and Monterey. Most retail employees are parents or grandparents too. With great passion, Allana explains the issues with Child Passenger Safety, teaches about crash dynamics, rattles off statistics, and talks...

Are you one of those parents who had to go back to the store 3-5 times to exchange the car seat you purchased because it did not install correctly in your car? Why is it so difficult for car seat manufacturers to make a car seat to fit every car? Let's take a look at some of the most popular vehicle manufacturers and their products. Chevrolet makes 16 different models in the categories of cars, SUVs, crossovers, trucks and vans. Ford has a total of 17. Toyota makes 18 different models. Mercedes Benz totals 13. Volkswagen makes 11 model vehicles. BMW rounds out with 10 and Volvo makes only 9. Within these 94 different makes and models there are differences in: Seat belt retractors: Emergency locking, switchable and automatic Latch plates: Light-weight locking, sliding or fixed Buckles: Placement of buckles in the seat bite, forward of the seat bite and...

Question: If children have to ride in a car seat while in a motor vehicle, shouldn’t they also ride in a car seat while on an airplane? Unfortunately, there’s no real answer or regulation regarding kids in cars seats on an airplane. It is entirely up to the parents and the airline. Furthermore, airplane seat belts and seats are not designed with car seats in mind. They are designed for the safety and comfort of adult passengers. While the likelihood of an airplane crash is extremely minimal, in the event of a severe crash a car seat will probably not serve its intended purpose. However, during take-offs, landings, and turbulent flight a car seat can provide a child with a great deal of protection, just as it does in a motor vehicle. It also provides the child the added comfort and security of being in their "usual seat." Here are a...

When you call Diono with a question or concern, first and foremost we are here to help you. Our Customer Service staff has over 50 years combined experience providing excellent service to our customers. We pride ourselves on our knowledge and passion for child safety, and the fact that we make one of the safest child restraints on the market. Your child’s safety is our utmost concern. The Radian car seat is a simple seat to install in most vehicles. In order to better serve you, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your call to Customer Service: Please have your car seat’s serial number and date of manufacture available when you call. This helps us identify your seat and determine if it is still under warranty. You can find this information on a small white label on the left side of the seat (your...

Interesting comment from a mom of twins: "It seems our moms in the Multiples Club know about the Radian. My friends with just one child do not until I tell them about it. I LOVE the Radian. My husband is an engineer and we both have been in severe car crashes. When we were researching seats, we knew we had to choose a Radian.”...

Have you ever wondered what would happen to Radian’s steel frame in a car crash? It is definitely something to think about when it comes to keeping your children safe in a vehicle. On November 9th there was a terrible crash involving several vehicles on Interstate 59 in Houston, TX. One of the vehicles, a minivan with a family inside, was struck by a 1500 lb steel pipe when the driver of an 18-wheeler carrying the pipes lost control of his truck. The minivan was crushed but, thankfully, all the children were restrained in car seats and did not suffer any major injuries. Two were in Diono Radian seats which were rear facing in the third row. Most modern vehicles, like the minivan in the Houston crash, are designed with crumple zones which spread crash forces away from the occupants. The Radian’s frame, like the minivan, is made of steel. However,...