2-in-1 booster
Diono Connect3 RXT 2-in-1 High-Back Booster
| Mode | Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High-back booster | 40–120 lb | 38–63 in |
| Backless booster | 40–120 lb | 38–63 in |
- Seat weight
- Not published
- Width
- Not published
- Usable life
- 8 years
- Aircraft
- Not certified
Diono does not sell this seat on Amazon. See its own site for photos.
Diono Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster
A 2-in-1 booster seat with 2 modes: high-back booster 40 to 120 lb, 38 to 63 in; backless booster 40 to 120 lb, 38 to 63 in.
At a glance
- Fits children from 40 to 120 lb
- Up to 63 in tall
- 2 modes: high-back booster, backless booster
- 8-year usable life
Not sold on Amazon
Diono lists this seat on its US site. Buy from Diono or an authorized retailer, and confirm the exact model number before you buy.
Who is the Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster for?
The Connect3 R 2-in-1 is a belt-positioning booster that works as a high-back booster or, with the backrest removed, a backless booster. Its manual lists children from 40 to 120 lb and 38 to 63 in, using only the vehicle lap and shoulder belt. It is not certified for aircraft and expires after eight years.
Reasons to consider it
- High-back and backless modes in one booster
- A two-position recline to match the vehicle seat
- A height adjuster that moves the headrest and backrest together
- Diono lists it at 16.3 in wide and 10.8 lb, with one cup holder included
Things to weigh up
- No LATCH connectors; secure it with the belt even when empty
- Not certified for use on aircraft
- Expires over eight years from the date of purchase
- With its cup holder attached, Diono lists the width at 18.1 in
My take on the Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster
It suits a child who has outgrown a harness and needs a booster that can later lose its back. The main trade-off against the Connect3 RXT 2-in-1 is that the R manual describes no LATCH connectors, so the booster is held only by the seat belt. Diono lists it at 16.3 in wide. Both versions share the 40 to 120 lb and 38 to 63 in limits.
A research summary of Diono’s published specifications and manual, read . Not a hands-on test or a crash-safety rating.
Who the Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster fits
This seat covers 2 stages, and a child has to meet every limit of the stage they are in. Diono gives it a 8-year life from the date of manufacture, so check the date label before using a hand-me-down.
- High-back booster40 to 120 lb · 38 to 63 in
- The seat’s own back and belt guide route the vehicle belt across the shoulder, and the sides give the child something to lean on when they sleep.
- Backless booster40 to 120 lb · 38 to 63 in
- Only the base is left, so the vehicle seat has to support the child’s back and head, and the belt guide sits at the hip.
What are the Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster weight, height and age limits?
| Mode | Child weight | Child height | Minimum age | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-back booster | 40 to 120 lb | 38 to 63 in | Not published | — |
| Backless booster | 40 to 120 lb | 38 to 63 in | Not published | Child's ears must be below the top of the fully raised vehicle seat or headrest |
A child must meet every limit for the mode they use. The labels on your seat and its manual are the final word.
Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster specifications
- Seat weight
- Not published
- Width
- Not published
- Usable life
- 8 years
- Aircraft use
- Not certified for aircraft
Will it fit your car?
Diono does not publish a width for this seat, so measure your back seat and compare it with the seat in a store before buying.
- Check your vehicle manual for lower anchor positions and any head-restraint rules.
- Rear-facing seats need front-seat room: try the install behind the driver before you commit.
- Not certified for aircraft use: plan on gate-checking it or using a different seat to fly.
What to know before you live with it
Setting up the high-back mode
The armrests click into their slots with the waffle pattern facing out, and the manual says they cannot be removed once attached. The backrest hooks onto the seat mounting bar and rotates upright. It has a two-stage recline, and a gap behind it is acceptable as long as the head support touches the vehicle seat back or headrest. Raise or lower the headrest and backrest with the height adjuster lever until the shoulder belt guide is slightly above the child's shoulders, at least 1 cm. The lap belt goes through both lap belt guides, and the shoulder belt must not pass over the armrest.
Using it as a backless booster
Remove the backrest and fold the backrest insert under the seat bottom cover. In backless mode the child's ears must be below the top of the fully raised vehicle seat or headrest. The manual requires the red shoulder belt guide strap in this mode: feed it between the backrest mounting bar and the seat base, then attach the red guide to the shoulder belt just above the shoulder. The lap belt goes low across the hips, never over the belly. If the vehicle buckle is pulled across the lap belt guide into the seat, the manual says to choose another seating position.
Belts, vehicle seats and cleaning
Use only a lap and shoulder belt, never a lap belt alone. Motorized, dual retractor, inflatable and door-mounted belts cannot be used. The manual says never to lock the seat belt retractor and to check that the belt retracts before each use. Never place it in front of an active front air bag. For cleaning, remove the seat cushion, then machine wash the cover separately in cold water on a gentle cycle or hand wash, and dry flat out of direct sun. The side-wing covers pull over the pods without removing the foam. Spot clean the plastics.
Is the Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster recalled?
No campaign in the current NHTSA child-restraint data names this model family, and I have not run a separate review for it. Check your seat’s model number and date of manufacture before use.
Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster: common questions
What are the Connect3 R 2-in-1 weight and height limits?
The manual says to use it only with children who weigh 40 to 120 lb and are 38 to 63 in tall. Both limits apply in high-back and backless modes.
Diono Connect3 R 2-in-1 and Backless manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Does the Connect3 R 2-in-1 have LATCH?
The Connect3 R manual describes no LATCH connectors, and it says to secure the booster with the vehicle seat belt even when it is empty. The Connect3 RXT manual covers LATCH/UAS connectors for that version.
Diono Connect3 RXT 2-in-1 and Backless manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Can I take the Connect3 R 2-in-1 on a plane?
Not for use on the aircraft seat. The manual says it is not certified for aircraft because aircraft seats do not have the shoulder belts it requires.
Diono Connect3 R 2-in-1 and Backless manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
When does the Connect3 R 2-in-1 expire?
The manual says not to use it once it is over eight years from the date of purchase, or if parts are damaged or missing.
Diono Connect3 R 2-in-1 and Backless manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
When can my child use it without the back?
The weight and height limits stay at 40 to 120 lb and 38 to 63 in, but in backless mode the child's ears must also be below the top of the fully raised vehicle seat or headrest. The shoulder belt guide strap must be used.
Diono Connect3 R 2-in-1 and Backless manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
How wide is the Connect3 R 2-in-1?
Diono lists it at 16.3 in wide, or 18.1 in with the cup holder, 23.6 to 28.7 in tall and 10.8 lb. Depth is 18.1 to 24.8 in as a high-back and 15.4 in as a backless booster.
Diono support: What is the narrowest booster Diono offers (opens in a new tab)
Answers refer to the model and manual version on this page. Check the instructions supplied with your seat.
Before you buy
- Weigh and measure your child. The limits above are the manufacturer’s, and a child has to meet all of them for the mode they will use.
- Confirm the exact version. Colors, retail exclusives and model numbers change limits more often than you would expect.
- Read the manual before you buy, not after. It is linked above and holds the fit rules, the install methods and the expiry.
- Check recalls by model number and date of manufacture, and register the seat with Diono so you hear about the next one.
Sources
- Diono US product page
- Connect3_R_Universal_Manual_NA.pdf
- diono.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/32795887239699-Connect-3-R-2-in-1-High-Back-Booster-Manual
- Diono Connect3 R 2-in-1 and Backless manual (PDF)
- Diono Connect3 RXT 2-in-1 and Backless manual (PDF)
- Diono support: What is the narrowest booster Diono offers
- Diono support: Connect3 cup holders
- NHTSA car seat guidance
Other Diono booster seats
| Model | Top child weight | Seat weight | Width | Usable life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connect3 R 2-in-1 High-Back Booster (this seat) | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Connect3 R Backless Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Connect3 RXT 2-in-1 High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Connect3 RXT Backless Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Cambria 2 2-in-1 High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Cambria 2XT 2-in-1 High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Everett NXT High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Monterey 2XT 2-in-1 High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Monterey 4DXT 2-in-1 High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Monterey 5iST FixSafe High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Monterey 6XT SafePlus High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Monterey 6DXT SafePlus High-Back Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Solana Backless Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |
| Solana 2 Backless Booster | 120 lb | — | — | 8 years |