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Bottom Line
For optimum comfort, safety, and the flexibility of growing with your child, choose the Diono Monterey XT Convertible Booster Seat. It’s a premium quality car seat preferred for your older ones.
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Without any doubt, safety is your number one priority as a parent. With a lot of unpredictability and hustles on the road, you want peace of mind that your child is safe and comfortable at the same time. Since there are a lot of car seats in the market, you might get into frustration by analyzing all of them.
You just don’t need to worry about it anymore because we have already tested and analyzed all of those choices for you comprehensively. You can easily guess which one is best for you. One of the most convenient car seats has been reviewed by our product experts in this Diono Monterey XT Review. Read on for our insights.
Diono has come up with the Monterey XT High Back Booster Seat to solve all of the problems which your children face during long drives. It provides numerous quality-oriented features and grows with them as they get older.
Having a fully adjustable seat with ultimate versatility is always worth buying. As it is a high back booster, it can also be converted to the backless booster seat. It will protect your little one no matter which way you use it.
Some of its worthy features are listed below.
As the Diono Monterey XT is one of the latest models of Diono, it provides various advanced features. Its design adheres to all the recognized safety and usability standards.
For parents wanting to keep their children in a booster seat, it’s an excellent choice. Because of its expanded height and weight limits, children with up to 12 years of age can use it flawlessly.
See also: Best Booster Car Seats
If you are looking for a seat with ease of installation and premium protection, the Diono Monterey XT is for you. Since it comes with extra padding, many kids feel more comfortable in it.
Do you have a limited budget? It becomes quite challenging to find a quality seat with multiple convertible options, but the Monterey XT has solved the puzzle. Thanks to its reasonable price and value-added features.
Because of its simple installation procedures, the setup of the Diono Monterey XT is also quite convenient. If you have faced trouble during the installation of previous car seats, you will surely love it.
Are you waiting for a new baby and considering buying items for the warm welcome? Unfortunately, the Diono Monterey XT is not the best option for you because it is a booster seat. Booster seats are only suitable for older children.
Since child safety is the primary concern of every parent, the Diono XT has equipped with the robust frame assuring ultimate safety. Parents have loved it due to its safety features.
When buying a convertible booster seat, many factors have to be considered in advance. From assembling the seat to detaching and washing it, all of these elements have been reviewed, analyzed, and tested by our product experts to provide you ease of selection.
The Diono Monterey XT is as easy to use as your child can install and configure it. Because of its convenient design that makes buckling much easier, kids can use retainers to keep the belt properly positioned.
LATCH anchors can be used with this booster seat to keep it from moving freely about the car. Although it can be harder to use the anchors because of their clip style, front tightening straps make the installation process more straightforward.
When the back is off, the shoulder strap retainer can be challenging to push somewhat, but once it is attached to the belt, it stays on it correctly.
Are you frustrated with the complex adjustments of convertible car seats? Luckily, the Diono Monterey Seat has a knob on its back that can be used to adjust the width of the seat. Just make sure to fix it before its installation.
Before installation, you should also adjust the headrest height from the back. The lower anchors of the Diono Car Seat Monterey are not required. It contains connectors that can be used in vehicles having lower anchors, which are directly aligned behind those connectors.
Recommendation: With offset anchors, you should not use the lower anchor connectors on a booster seat in a vehicle seating position. If it happens, it booster wouldn’t fit correctly to use the seat belt.
The attaching mechanism of these lower anchor connectors is different from those used for installation on harnessed car seats. It may feel like they are upside down, but during our analysis, we found that it is the most appropriate way of installing them.
For installation using the lower anchors, first, you have to lose the straps that can be done by pressing the cam lock under the front of the seat. Then you will pull the lower anchor connector out. After that, you will attach the lower anchors with those lower anchor connectors and pull the straps to make them comfortable.
There is no need to ensure that the seat is not moving for about even an inch after that because the lower anchors are not restraining the seat, but the seat belt does it. Just make sure to use the lower anchors only if they are not interfering with the vehicle seat belt.
Want to have a durable seat with the ability to adapt your little one’s growing age numbers? Yes, it’s here. The Diono Monterey XT is designed to adjust to the measurements of your child correctly.
Since it is a forward-facing seat, newborns, and babies that require a full seat cannot use it. It is designed for the usage of kids who are 40 pounds to 120 pounds. If we come up with an age number, then kids from 3 or 4 to 12 years old can quickly get comfort from this masterpiece.
Some of the usage dimensions are as follows.
Although it is not an all-in-one convertible seat, it provides various additional features to maintain its usability. Through our tests, we found it pretty easy for older kids to sit in it and use it without any directions by the parents.
Due to its adjustable, full width, your child will be protected for numerous years. It will be usable for your kids until there is no need to put them in a booster seat, and they can use the vehicle seat belt themselves.
The Monterey XT is designed to grow with your child. With the help of fully adjustable headrest, the height of the seat can be adjusted easily through its several height adjustment levels.
Does your child get sleepy during long rides? Thanks to the Diono’s adjustable headrest sides. These headrest sides can fit securely to your child’s head so that they can rest their head to sleep. They also get comfort through the room it provides by widening its headrest.
Not only the headrest, but the sides of the Monterey XT booster seat is also adjustable. When your child’s body expands, it can be adjusted accordingly without any challenge.
When it comes to the materials, it uses EPS foam, which is energy absorbing and can bear shocks easily. The retractable cup holders on each side make it easy to make the rides enjoyable through drinks and their favorite snacks just a hand away.
As the Diono XT comes with multiple convertible modes, you can use it either as a high back booster or backless booster. When you plan to use it as a backless booster, you can easily remove the back from the bottom portion of the seat.
Since the entire seat is connected to your vehicle through the LATCH system, its handy design gives you the ability to adjust and tighten the seat by just pulling two straps on the front side.
Are you sick of using bulky seats? Fortunately, the Diono XT is one of the lightest models of all time. With its ability to be folded, it can be removed from the car, and traveling with or transferring it to another vehicle is also quite more relaxed.
Some notable design features of it are mentioned as follows.
The cover of Diono Monterey Car Seat is also machine washable and of premium quality. The process of removing the cover is also quite simple. There are various options on the back. The machine can quickly vanish the spots.
You can pull the two cup holders who are hidden underneath the sides of the seat. The location of these cup holders provides convenience to your child and keeps things within reach.
The cup holders are big enough to hold water bottles and large sippy cups. In that way, your little one can enjoy the ride without distracting you. These holders also serve the purpose of snack trays; you can also place smaller toys and stuffed animals into them.
When we analyzed the design, we concluded that it has one of the best flexible models on the market. From the adjustable width and headrest to sleek seat bottom design, it doesn’t only provides body and head support but also ultimate comfort and stability for your growing children.
Are you a fan of machine-washable covers? The Diono XT provides you the ability to machine-wash its cover, which is a safe and reliable method. It becomes effortless when you just take off the cover and put that in the machine.
Recommendation: When necessary, it is recommended to spot clean the car seat because taking the cover on or off from the seat can be difficult sometimes.
When your seat arrives, you will observe that the cover has been fitted perfectly by the manufacturer. There is no guarantee that the fitting remains the same when you put it back by yourself.
Spot cleaning with an ordinary fabric cleaner and spray will be a better choice over removing the cover and doing the messy work. Since your child will be a bit less clumsy because of the growing age, there are fewer chances for the spills. Therefore, spot cleaning is the preferred choice.
The Diono Monterey Vehicle Seat is the epitome of safety because of its robust body and structure. Thanks to its adjustability and adaptability, according to your growing kid.
The Monterey XT is backed by a firm shock-absorbing EPS foam, which takes the impact of the collision and saves your child dramatically. The LATCH connectors keep the vehicle seat intact, whether it is in the high back mode or back less mode.
Proper adjustment of the headrest and width of the seat is not only essential for the comfort but also equally beneficial for the safety perspectives. Some of the settings can be found on seat bottom while others on the seat back.
Connecting the seat properly through the LATCH will ensure that the seat is securely clipped. It will prevent it from accidentally coming loose or sliding off the seat back.
If you place the seat in the car without putting your baby in it, the seat will not move a bit even if you make a sudden stop. In that way, the Monterey XT could be said as the most reliable seat in terms of safety than other booster seats.
During our crash tests, the Monterey XT earned a relatively better score than other expensive booster seats. It’s because of its strongly-reinforced frame and sturdy material.
There are eleven headrest positions in it. Adjusting the headrest height is the first step in assuring a safe and comfortable journey. The height can be adjusted by pulling up a red handle, which is at the back of the Diono XT seat. By just cupping your fingers under the handle and pulling it up, the headrest will begin to rise, and you can adjust it according to the height of your youngster.
Have you ever heard of car seats with the capabilities of an airplane seat? Yes! The Diono Monterey Booster Vehicle Seat is here for you. It provides much flexibility through its headrest folding like that of airplane seats, which lets you sleep comfortably in your car.
The Diono Monterey High Back Booster has a most notable feature which can rarely be found in any other booster that is called “the adjustable backrest.” On the seat back, the booster contains a red dial that can be used to adjust the backrest width.
The backrest does have a recline feature as well. With two different recline positions, your child will get ultimate comfort. The Diono Monterey is equally safe with the back and without the back booster.
The reason behind its reasonable weight and ultimate safety is its reinforced aluminum sides. These sides and the flexible structure make the Diono an impactful booster, among others.
Luckily, the Diono XT High Back Booster Vehicle Seat has a reasonable price. When its features are reviewed, we can surely say that the price seems less than its worthy features.
With the retail price range of $90 to $160, a booster made of robust material, adjustable width, and conversion option from bareback to high back is worth-buying.
The Diono is an ultra-safe seat with a mid-range price tag so that it can fit into your budget easily. The number of years it will be there to help protect and give comfort to your child will be more than the cost in terms of usability and reliability.
Do you often travel through airplanes with your family? Thanks to its compliance with FAA standards, you can use it freely while traveling around the world.
You can easily buy this fantastic seat and its available for delivery in many countries of the world—no matter where the location is. For instance, if its Canada, you can purchase the Diono Monterey XT Canada by typing “Diono Monterey Canada” in amazon. You can buy this one with a fantastic discount as well. Just click on the provided link to check today’s price and purchase.
Evenflo Spectrum Booster Seat: The most notable feature of this seat is foam which provides superior cushioning and increased airflow for memorable rides. The price range varies from $100 to $170 throughout different platforms and regions.
After analyzing its performance through tests and the Evenflo Spectrum reviews from the parents, we can say that it has been performing really well. It is also an expandable booster with a wider adjustable width. All other capabilities are the same as the Monterey XT except the foam and sleek looks.
If you are looking for a seat with more breathable padding, then you should go for the Evenflo Spectrum. Otherwise, there are a lot of the same features provided by Diono Monetry XT at less price.
Chicco KidFit 2in1 Booster Car Seat: Chicco KidFit booster is the latest model by Chicco with a couple of new cool and different features. It comes with a price range of $150 to $200, which is slightly higher than the XT.
Both the height and width are adjustable along with remodeled head positions. It has exo-shell panels and an improved fabric cover—slightly bigger cup-holders than the XT. The seat bottom is also smaller by 30mm to make it less bulky without reducing the capacity of the inside of the seat.
Eventually, the most considerable aspect is its higher price. If you want to have the same quality you expect from the Chicco company, the XT is probably the right choice. However, Chicco KidFit is significantly more comfortable and worth the price.
Evenflo Chase Booster Seat: By having three configurations, namely harnessed booster, no back booster, and seat belt booster, it provides one of the best support for your child. The retail price range stands between $120 to $160, which is a bit higher than the Monterey XT.
It can support kids from 3 to 12 years with side-impact protection capability. It’s also lightweight and easy to use as the Monterey XT but has various luxurious features that most other booster seats are unable to provide.
To summarize, if you have a little more budget to spend, we prefer the Evenflo Chase seat over Diono XT. But, if you have used Diono’s products earlier or have a limited budget, the Monterey XT is the best choice for you.
Worth buying comfort and adaptability!
The Diono Monterey XT Booster Seat is one of the most affordable booster seats for the amount of safety and comfort it provides. Since it can accommodate the growth spurts of your little one, buying a booster seat with that much adaptability and safety is always the best decision.
See also: Best Car Seat Buying Guide
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