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...

Thank goodness a child restraint does come with an instruction manual! Product Assembly Law: If all else fails, read the instructions. This is so true when it comes to using and installing your child’s car seat correctly. Yes, the Diono manual is 47 pages long. Do not let this intimidate you. All child restraint manuals have this many pages or more. A lot of the information in the manual is mandated by NHTSA regulations and must be stated within the contents of the pages. What may be obvious to you is not obvious to others. Therefore, the manual is not just giving instructions, but also educating those who would otherwise not think of situations that might harm their children. Hence the term "Life does not come with a manual." Manuals are usually written in a language and context at the level of a sixth grade reader. This is not to demean...

The much-anticipated Angle Adjuster arrived just before Thanksgiving. Now parents are able to install their Radian car seat at a more upright angle, giving them more front seat leg room and keeping them a safer distance from the air bag (a good rule of thumb is to sit at least 12 inches away from the air bag). The Angle Adjuster can be used with all Radian car seats. It is not for use with car seats made by other manufacturers. It is made of high density foam and fits directly under the car seat in the rear-facing position only. The Angle Adjuster is intended for children at least one year of age and who have good head control. Remember, newborns and some children with special needs need to be reclined more so their airway passage is not obstructed. For those parents who are subscribing to extended rear-facing, the Angle Adjuster...

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...