Sunday, September 18, 2016

Safety Habits For Driving With Kids PLUS Diono Radian RXT Giveaway!

I think we can all agree that keeping our children safe is a top priority. When it comes to carseats,  I try and follow best practice, and have gone beyond what the law states in terms of rear facing and 5 point harnesses.  When my oldest was 15 months old we switched him forward facing. At the time, I had never heard of extended rear facing, otherwise I likely would have kept him rear facing longer. When my youngest came along 2 years later, I knew we would extend that period to 2 years.  At 9 years old, my oldest still uses a low back booster in the car since he is not quite tall enough for the seatbelt to fit correctly.  Mr. K, 6, is in a high back booster. We kept him in a harness until 5 in my vehicle and 6 in my hubby's truck.  Before that he just did not have the maturity to sit still and not move around.

September 18th -24th is Child Passenger Safety Week, and Diono wants to help you keep your kids safe.  They have provided me with some tips from Allana Pinkerton, a Child Passenger Safety Advocate at Diono.

Top 5 safety Habits for Driving with Children, in honor of Child Passenger Safety Week in September

  1. Be sure to select the right car seat for your child’s, age, height and weight. Did you know many car seats on the market allow a child to stay rear-facing up to 3, 4 and even 5 years old? This keeps them 5x safer in a frontal crash because their head, neck and spinal cord is supported by the back of the car seat. 
  2. Before installing your car seat, read the car seat manual and vehicle manual! Watch installation videos from the manufacturer’s website and then double check your work by consulting with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. During CPS Week, many organizations will hold special events, but you can make appointments throughout the year. Find your nearest location here: http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm
  3. #LookforBaby sounds silly, but we are all living more distracted lives these days. Too many children are unintentionally being left in hot cars. It can happen to anyone. Keep your purse or phone on the floor in the back seat. When you reach your destination you are more likely to remember to get those items which will help you keep an eye on baby before you lock the door. 
  4. Check the car seat installation before every ride. Just give it a tug at the belt path to be sure it is still secured to the seat belt or with the lower anchors. Which reminds me, be sure it’s just one or the other, not both. Most car seats only allow installation using one method. 
  5. Harness baby properly every ride. The harness straps for a rear-facing child should be placed at or just slightly below their shoulders. For a forward-facing child they should be at or slightly above their shoulders. The straps should be snug and comfortable, but not super tight. Try the pinch test at the collar bone. If your fingers slide and you can’t grasp any webbing, it’s a proper fit. Lastly, slide the plastic chest clip to armpit level. This helps keep the straps on top of the child’s shoulders. This is especially important for newborns whose tiny shoulders are more rounded and tend to make fitting a harness a challenge. With winter around the corner, think twice about placing your child in a thick coat when harnessing them into their car seat. Check out why: https://us.diono.com/whats-the-fluffing-problem-car-seats-winter-coats/
Allana Pinkerton, Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician
Allana has been a Certified CPS Technician for over 10 years. She became passionate about the issue out of concern for her own children’s safety on school buses. She has worked to instruct and present to others about the danger of not properly installing and utilizing car seats and seat buckles. She has worked in children’s hospitals and at community events with companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and State Farm. She has been actively involved with the Annual Kidz in Motion CPS Conference, and in 2013 was elected to Chair the Manufacturer’s Alliance for Child Passenger Safety. Currently, Allana also serves as the Global Safety Advocate for Diono.

And now for some GREAT news - Diono has generously offered up one Diono Radian RXT for a GIVEAWAY to my readers! That's right, one of you will be lucky and WIN a Diono Radian RXT for your very own car.
(subject to change based on availability at time of shipping)

This giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents that are 18+. To enter, all you need to do is fill out the form below - make sure you complete BOTH mandatory entries or you will be disqualified. This is open until September 28th at 1159pm EST.

Good luck

174 comments:

  1. What a fantastic giveaway! This is a great seat.
    I'm thankful I came across a very car seat literate friend when I gave birth who coached us on the ins and outs. Our daughter rearfaced until 3 and was happy as a clam doing so.

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  2. What a wonderful giveaway! I would love to win this to give to my niece who's about to switch out of a bucket

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  3. This is such a top of the line seat. My littlest is just outgrowing her bucket seat and this would be perfect for her.

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  4. I want to win this for my friend's child.

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  5. I would use this for my youngest. Good luck to all. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  6. I would love to win the seat for myself, I do not have one and always have to ask my daughter to use hers, and she gets quite mad at me, she says its a pain taking hers out of the truck, and if I don't have one me and my granddaughter are stuck at home and can not go anywhere, this would be such an awesome gift for myself!!

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  7. Would love to win this for my middle child who is getting ready to transition into a new seat!

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  8. My mom just got in an accident and needs to replace a few seats (3 kids)

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  9. Great giveaway! Would love to win for me as surprise baby #6 is just about out of his bucket seat.
    Molly

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  10. I would love to win this for my little guy to be able to do extended rear facing. I want to leave him rear facing as long as possible and these seats have one of the highest rf limits on the market.

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  11. Hoping to win this seat for my baby boy on the way!

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  12. I would love to win for myself!!

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  13. I would love to win this seat for my toddler so I can rear face him again!

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  14. What a great giveaway! My little one would love this seat!

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  15. I would like to win this to use for my 2year old daughter!

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  16. I'd love this..we recently purchased a second vehicle so we need another car seat! Perfect timing for a giveaway!

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  17. I'd use this for my youngest son!

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  18. I love the rear facing specs on this seat!

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  19. Great giveaway. Would love this for our family

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  20. I would like to win this for my daughter.

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  21. What an amazing giveaway! My son is using a used seat right now so we're in need of a new one!

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  22. Awesome giveaway! We would be using this seat for our newest addition on the way (shhh, it's still a surprise!).

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  23. Would love to win this for my youngest! What a great giveaway!

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  24. This is an amazing giveaway. We are in need of a seat for my fourth daughter very soon.

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  25. This is great! I will use this for my baby girl once we switch her from the bucket seat

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  26. I'd like to win the car seat for my daughter. But, I have two other children that fit, so you never know.

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  27. I don't know who needs this more my daughter or me. Ok I guess my daughter. She has 4 kids and a baby that just turned one. But a car seat in grandmas car is so convenient. It would be awesome to win

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  28. Great read! We love our Diono for our son and would like the same safety seat for his baby sister. Thanks!

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  29. We have three kiddies and this would fit great in our car so all three could be in the same vehicle at the same time!

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  30. I'd love to win this seat for my tall 2 year old daughter so i can keep her rearfacing as long as possible!

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  31. Id love to win this seat for Isabelle

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  32. I want to win this for a future special edition in the family :)

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  33. I would love to win this car seat for my last baby so that she can rear face as long as her brothers have when she outgrows the bucket! Still rear facing both of them at 2.5 & 4.5 in Dionos.

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  34. I would love to win this seat for my sister in law who is pregnant and due in November.

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  35. I'd love to win this for us! Having another seat would be amazing...transferring from car to car is annoying.

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  36. For a toddler ready to transition to FFing!

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  37. I would love to win the Diono for our new little one.

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  38. I would love to win this for our son. We have 2 vehicles but only one seat...so it would give us more opportunities to take him along. I would love a better quality seat for him.

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  39. I'd love to win this for my daughter! We recently got a second vehicle and have to transfer the carseat between the two!

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  40. This is a great car seat! Thank you for the opportunity to win it! My grandson would love this..or his mom would!

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  41. I would absolutely love to win this for my youngest child! She needs a new seat soon because she is outgrowing hers. This would be a dream seat to have for her!

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  42. I usually would want to win something like this for other people who are close to me and can use it but my husband and I are looking to extend our family very soon and this would really come in handy and will be needed.

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  43. Wow! What a giveaway! This would be perfect for my 8 month old daughter!

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  44. Would love this for my child - looks like a wonderful seat!

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  45. I would love to win this for my son. He will be growing out of his current carseat and we will need to move him into a bigger carseat. This carseat would be perfect.

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  46. I'd like to win this for my niece. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  47. would love to win this for my cousin who is having a baby

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  48. this would be for my new grandson, who is due in December

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  49. I would love to have this for my son

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  50. this car seat would be for my grandson
    jan

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  51. I would love o win this for my friend's new baby!

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  52. I would like this sit for my youngest.

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  53. I would love to win this for my own children.

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  54. I have 2 friends who have had babies in the past few months & this would be a super gift for one of them (I guess they'd have to draw straws for it!)

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  55. This would be great to win for our second baby who is due in december. I've heard that this is a wonderful seat to use!

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  56. I would love to win this for my grandson!

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  57. We have a baby on the way, our first! I would love to win this!

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  58. I've heard great things about these seats! Would love to win this for my daughter!

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  59. My daughter is expecting our first grand child. Nothing but the best for our future grand son.
    (Debbie W)

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  60. I would love to win for my cousin who just had a baby.

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  61. I want to gift this to my son and daughter-in-law for my 3 month old granddaughter.

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  62. I would like to win this car seat for my daughter! she will be ready for a big seat in a month and this would be amazing!

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  63. Im looking to win this for me as this would be great for our unborn child

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  64. I would love to win this seat for my son to upgrade his other one

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  65. I would want to win the seat for my new arrival, thank you for the giveaway!

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  66. I would like to win the seat for my soon to arrive child :)

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  67. I have a diono for my first and love it . I want to get another one for my second that is due in Feb

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  68. I want to win this for my daughter, who is expecting in November.

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  69. My kids are still in car seats but ours are expiring and I'd like them in car seats for as long as possible.

    Besos, Sarah
    Journeys of The Zoo

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  70. I'd love to win it for a friend's little one.

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  71. I would love to win this for my niece.

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  72. I would love to win this for my daughter who is having her 1st in Feb.

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  73. i wish to win for my niece who is due

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  74. i would love to win this for myself. mini will need this

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  75. I would give this toy sister from my nephew

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  76. I'd love to win this for my baby boy on the way.

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  77. Love the Diono and my daughter needs a new seat!

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  78. I would love to win this for my sister in law!! Thanks :D

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  79. I would love to win it , baby Kayden need one

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  80. would love to win this fantastic car seat for my kiddo!

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  81. I would love to win this for my son! Love that it even converts to a booster! What an amazing seat. Thanks for the chance.

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  82. Would love this for my daughter as she needs to transition from her infant seat soon!

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  83. For my 6months old son :)

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  84. I'd love to win for my little niece so she'll be as safe as possible!

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  85. I would love to win this so I can gift it to my little sister. She has two young sons including a 6 month old so this would go a long way for her. Thank you for the chance!

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  86. We have 2 Diono Radians and love them. We currently need 2 more as our youngest is transitioning to a convertible seat! Thanks for the opportunity!!

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  87. I would love to win this for my granddaughter.

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  88. I would love to win this for my Grand kids , i like to have my own car seat for the little ones , this would be perfect thanks for the chance :) Treen Goodwin rafflecopter name :)

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  89. I would love to win this. I would give it to a mom in need with a car seat installation/check (CPST).

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  90. Would love to win this for my 7 month old son! He's in need of a new seat very soon! LOVE the low profile of Dionos as I drive a truck and it makes the in and out easier!

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  91. I would love to win this for my youngest son, jasper! Thanks for the chance!!!

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  92. Amazing giveaway! Thank you so much for the opportunity! This would be so helpful, with baby #4 on the way! ❤

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  93. What a great giveaway! And in the new style too!

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  94. I would love this seat for our second vehicle! Thanks so much for the opportunity! (Lydia Louise)

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  95. Amazing giveaway! Thank you so much for the opportunity! This would be so helpful, with baby #4 on the way! ❤

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  96. I would love to win this seat! We are planning on expanding our family and my 15 month old daughter will get great use out of this for years to come :)

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  97. What a wonderful giveaway!I like the new design.

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  98. I would love to win the Diono seat for my 15 month old daughter.

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  100. I'm actually a car seat tech in Ottawa, Ontario. I'd love to win a Radian. I've heard fabulous things about it, and I would use it in my son's caregiver's vehicle because I have heard fantastic things about this seat, but have yet to use one or even install one.

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  101. We love our Diono RXT seat!! We're hoping for a second child soon and would love to expand our collection :)

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  102. Would be awesome to win for second baby!

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  103. Great article and nice and to the point!

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  104. Thanks for this! After reading the article, I checked my car seat and realized it wasn't adjusted properly!
    I'd love to win a Dioni car seat for our second child! We love ours. It's the best!

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  105. What a great giveaway! Would love to win this for my daughter :) [Posted by S.Tremblay]

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  106. Would love to win this for my adorable son Lincoln! Thanks for an amazing giveaway!

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  107. What a wonderful giveaway. This seat seems so amazing, just a little out of budget right now. Would be so wonderful to be able to have one of my little ones in one of these seats. Thank you for the opportunity!

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  108. This carseat if won would be for my son , Silas. What a great car seat and very thankful for the give a way contest. Melissa Guedes

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  109. What an amazing giveaway. I have a 7 month old baby and am currently researching car seats like crazy. Definitely looking to do extended rear facing!

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  110. This is an amazing giveaway! I would love to use this car seat so that we can have a seat for each vehicle!!

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  111. What an amazing giveaway! If I won this car seat it would be used for my son so that we could have 2 seats!

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  112. Great giveaway!
    Would love this for my daughter Charlotte :)

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  113. My daughter is expecting a baby in the new upcoming year..I would love to win this prize for her new little one

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  114. This would be for my youngest.

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  115. I would love to win this seat as I need to buy a few in the next little while. It would probably go in my oldest daughter's car for my youngest daughter or my mom's car for my son or daughter.

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  116. Two of my friends are having a new born soon. This would be helpful.

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  117. I'd love to win this for my niece!

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  118. I would love to win this seat for my daughter! Thank you for the opportunity.

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  119. I would love to win this seat for my little girl, she'd love the diono over her current seat. More room to grow!

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  120. Hello! :) Thank you for the chance to win this amazing carseat! I would love this carseat for my 4 month old daughter Layla who will be transitioning into a new carseat within the next few months. This is the carseat I am planning to purchase for her. I love the safety features and design. Thank you again for this opportunity.

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  121. I would love to win the seat for my car! it would be perfect for two of my grand-babies! Always taking out seats or not being able to pick them up. This would be perfect!

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  122. My baby is about ready to grow out of her infant seat, so would love to get her a toddler seat.

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  123. Awesome site and giveaway!

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  124. This would be a caresest for my second son, currently 5.5 months old!

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  125. I would love to win the seat for our two month old daughter.

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  126. I would like to win this for my nephew's new little baby girl.

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  127. I would love to win this seat to use in our vehicle, for my grandson.

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  128. I would love to give this to my nephew who just had his 4th baby. thanks for the giveaway

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  129. I would love this for my youngest/16 month old son who is in need of a car seat.

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  130. I'd like this for my littles, 27 months and 9 months.

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  131. I want to give this to my cousin as she is pregnant.

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  132. I would love to win this seat for my daughter! Thank you for the opportunity!

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  133. I would love to win it for a present to my friends grandbaby

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  134. I would love to win this for a niece who jsut had a baby

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  135. I would love to win it for my granddaughter! Thank you!

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  136. I would love to win this for my son!!! We are in need of a carseat and this would be perfect location!

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  137. I would love to win this seat for my husband's nephew, he and his wife are first time parents and need a good quality carseat.

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  138. I would like to win this for a friend of mine who is preggers.

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  139. I know many families who are low income with babies on the way. I would love to gift a beautiful car seat like this to them. thanks for the opportunity!

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  140. I would love to win it for my little boy

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  141. I would love to win the seat for my daughter. Our son already has one.

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  142. I would love to win for my friend Jamie

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  143. I would love to win this for my new granddaughter

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  144. I would love to win this for my little girl! We badly need to replace the one she currently has.

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  145. for my friend's granddaughter.

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  146. For my Granddaughter! Thanks!

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  147. I want to win this for my young son.

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  148. For my son who is rapidly outgrowing his current seat!

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  149. I'd want to win this for myself! I just had twins and need double everything; this would be so helpful!

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  150. My son has this car seat and its amazing!

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  151. Would love to win this for my son Austin

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  152. Great giveaway! Would love an updated version of a great seat for my daughter!

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  153. I would love to win this for my third daughter currently on her way (due end of Nov)

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  154. Great giveaway! I'd like to win this seat for my son!

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  155. Hoping to win this for my first baby on the way.

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  156. I would like to win this for my nephew.

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  157. What a handy list of tips! We'll need a new seat soon for our youngest!

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  158. I would love to win this for my son, who's car seat is reaching its expiry date. Because he has developmental delays, he will be in a car seat for a long time!

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  159. I had to post my comment as Anonymous because it wouldn't
    let me post! My name is Joanne Jaffey! I need to replace both carseats bc I was hit in a car accident! Thank you!

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  160. Would love to win this seat for my brother and his new baby

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  161. I currently have 3 in carseats right now, but I think I would give it to my youngest because he still uses the 5 point harness.

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