The diono Monterey XT Fix Booster Car Seat is a really flexible car seat ideal for growing children. It has an extending headrest which can be adapted into 11 different positions and the seat has a really easy one-handed height adjustment.

The Monterey XT’s lower anchors are not required and can only be used in vehicles where the lower anchors align directly behind the connectors on the Monterey XT. You shouldn’t use the lower anchor connectors on a booster in a vehicle seating position with offset anchors, as the booster won’t be positioned correctly for the seat belt to fit properly. Some kids at the top of the size range may find that the seat doesn’t offer quite enough support for their thighs, which can cause them to move out of the ideal position. Usually we don’t want more than a few inches of unsupported thigh. The lower anchor connectors are upside down compared to the lower anchor connectors on most other car seats. This is intentional, there’s no need to flip them over. Adjustable Headrest and Side Wings The Monterey XT fits his frame perfectly. We can adjust the side wings to give his shoulders more room, and the internal width of the seat pan is a generous 12.5 inches wide, giving him plenty of room to maneuver the seat belt into position and ride in comfort. The depth of the seat is 14 inches — enough to keep even long-legged booster riders well supported.Fortunately the Diono Monterey 5iST should fit in the overhead bin on many planes (at least in the US and Canada). The folded size is 17″ x 8″ x 23.5″. As you can see, it’s about the same size as my carry-on suitcase so it should go in the proper way. Not only does the headrest adjust but the seat has a 6″ deep sidewall expansion. Simply turn the dial at the rear of the car seat to expand or reduce the sidewalls. This is a fantastic feature and will accommodate children who have wider frames and will also be good for when children wear extra layers in the winter. I love how versatile this car booster seat is. It could be used for any child who needs a Group 2 or 3 car booster seat and can be adapted to suit a different child within a few minutes. The Diono Headrest/height adjusts from behind and may need to be done prior to installation and before the child is in the seat. The LATCH anchors on the Diono are tightened from the front of the booster which makes it easier to install than a traditional car seat.

But being a research nerd, I relished the challenge of finding the best seat for my needs. And in the process, I gathered a ton of info! A collection of posts taking part in the Me and Mine photography project; a monthly family portrait to treasure and to capture the memories Me and Mine Parents of bigger littles will understand the frustration in finding a booster seat that works for their kid. Most boosters seem to have very narrow seat pans, making them uncomfortable for littles with larger thighs or bums. Since I’m all about helping parents keep their kids safe when traveling, I’ll give traveling its own section. We travel often (in normal times) so I’m always looking out for the best booster seat for travel with my own kids. The Diono did its best to keep up with the big boys, and in some metrics, it rallied valiantly. However, in the end, there are better options available. It is suitable for little ones up to 120 lbs and 63 inches, one of the largest limits in the group. It also has good crash test results and is fairly narrow at 18.4 inches. If the Diono were somewhat better quality or somewhat lighter, there might be a niche for this better-than-average booster. What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?Easy-adjust - 11-position headrest that grows up with your child. Engineered for safety and comfort with 2 layers of SafePlus® Side Impact Protection. This model is 8 years old, weighs 100 pounds, and is 54.5 inches tall. The Monterey XT fit her well in both modes. Honouring the first collaboration between Diono and Berlin based design studio, WhiteID, Monterey® 5iST FixSafe™ combined our signature world-class American engineering with forward-thinking, edgy European design to create the next generation of child car seat. Monterey® 5iST FixSafe™ continued to turn heads across Europe, catching the attention of industry experts and innovators of the technology of tomorrow.

Will it actually fit a kid who is my height and 120lbs? At that point it’ll depend a lot on body structure, but rest assured it does get very, very wide. As with all boosters, you need to make sure that their ears are fully contained within the booster seat. Be sure to review the rules for flying with a booster seat– the most important thing to remember is that your child can’t use it on board, just like any booster seat.Remember: Kids aren’t ready to ride with the seatbelt alone until they can fit properly. That’s usually between 10 and 12 years old. Sadly we see many more serious injuries in school age kids riding in the seatbelt than in young kids in car seats. These lower anchor connectors are attached to the seat differently from those that are used for installation on harnessed car seats. They look like they are upside down and it will feel strange to install them this way, but it is correct. The Monterey XT includes lower anchor connectors. While they aren’t required for use, they do secure the booster in the vehicle when it’s not in use. They also secure the bottom portion of the booster in place when the child is climbing in and out. Diono won prestigious iF DESIGN AWARDS in product design for the Monterey® 5iST FixSafe™ chosen by the 98-member jury, made up of independent experts from all over the world in 2021 and 2022. This booster has better crash test analysis results and is super comfy, it is somewhat heavy, but the price is good

The underside of the bottom is not smooth and could cause wear on your vehicle seat over time if you don't use a protective mat. While some might argue that the quality is on par with the lower price, at least one competitor scored higher for quality and costs less. Should You Buy the Monterey XT? Instructions: 2/5 stars because the instruction manual can be difficult to find. (It comes inside a cloth sleeve attached to the bottom of the seat). Here in the US, definitive voice for millennial parents, The Bump, announced the winners of its ninth annual The Bump Best of Baby Awards, honoring the most outstanding baby and new parent products for 2021. The Diono model weighs a few pounds less, which can be significant if you’re partial to a model that’s easy for your child to be able to carry around for carpooling purposes.The car seat has ISOFIX connectors which help with the safety and performance of the car seat. We have always used car seats with ISOFIX attachments as in our opinion, it limits the risk of any of our children being injured in a collision. The seat is relatively simple to attach to the chassis of the car with ISOFIX and must be fitted prior to use. the base of the booster seat prior to fitting in the vehicle Child-friendly features For daily use my kids find the Diono Monterey 5iST to be very comfortable. My kids are spoiled by our fleet over extremely comfortable booster seats but they’re happy to ride in this one. It is a subjective matter, as some kids prefer a firmer ride or a squishier ride and different kids have different arm rest preferences.