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Comments (22)
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Save/ShareThe Child Aviation Restraint System goes by the acronym CARES, a good call because the full name sounds a bit like a pint-size straitjacket. The product made a splash a while back when it came on the market, but since then it's seemed to fade away. I can't recall ever seeing anyone using one on a plane.
The CARES harness, designed for kids weighing 22 to 44 pounds and approved by the FAA, serves an obvious purpose. When attached to an airline seat, it holds a child in place with car seat-like over-the-shoulders straps, an arrangement that's much safer and more secure than the standard airline lap belt.
If the CARES is like a car seat, why not just bring an actually car seat onto the plane? Well, doing that is a real pain. You've got to lug the car seat through the airport. And, as anyone who has tried to use a car seat on a plane can tell you, airline seats are not designed to accommodate car seats. By some amount of shoving, strapping, and sweating, you can awkwardly get a car seat fastened into an airline seat. But the fit will be less than ideal, and chances are you'll have a toddler whose feet are pressed up against the seat in front of you. And, as anyone who has been around children a bit can tell you, toddlers have been known to kick, if not angrily than simply to stretch their legs.
So why hasn't the CARES system been adopted across the board? For one thing, it costs $75, and many parents aren't going to be flying all that often while their kids are in the 22- to 44-pound window, and therefore won't get that much use out of it.
But cost can't be the only reason. Have you tried this product? If so, what's your take?
Seeing as this is a safety issue, should airlines have a dozen of these harnesses on each plane and loan them out to parents as needed?
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I'll be flying with my then-9-month-old daughter in April. We've decided to keep her on our lap, and use the Baby Bjorn as needed. We'll let you know how it goes!
Posted By Anthony F on February 12, 2010, 1:03 PM
We bought two and used them on a 2 and 4 year old last summer on a long trip to England. They are excellent for take off and landing. However, the strap that goes around the back of the seat to hold the harness in place also is located behind the child's head and sticks out from the seat. This makes it difficult for the kids to get comfortable and sleep in harness. We ended up with the kids on our laps when they slept.
Overall, makes take-off and landing much safer, and those are the most dangerous times.
Posted By John Wyatt on February 12, 2010, 2:18 PM
We used it for our daughter. It was much easier than lugging a car seat on board. It is small and easy to keep in a carry on bag. Overall, it was worth the $75 knowing she was safer.
Posted By Tammi P on February 13, 2010, 3:46 PM
My mother, Louise, invented the CARES harness. She did so after watching me, 8 months pregnant, with a toddler in hand and a bulky car seat weighing me down, trying to disembark from an airplane. That was 10 years ago. CARES did make a huge splash when it first was introduced and it has continued to do so. Louise has now sold over 55,000 and there are retail stores in 26 states and 8 countries as well as many web stores that sell CARES. CARES has done so well because, as Brad notes, it is easy to carry (weighs just a pound!), installs in just a few seconds and provides the same level of safety as a car seat. It also has proven to be quite comfortable for the kids who use it, take a look at photos of happy kids -- some napping -- in their CARES that have been sent to Louise to post on her website,www.kidsflysafe.com/user-feedback/what-users-say. Louise and I love to hear from CARES users and their families so please don't hesitate to contact us if you have a question, comment or photo you would like to share, www.kidsflysafe.com.
Posted By Miriam Stoll on February 15, 2010, 2:21 PM
To Anthony F.
My husband and I also had the idea of using our Baby Bjorn on the plane but on 2 out of our 4 flights the flight attendant wouldn't allow us to use it because it was not approved for use on the plane. We had to hold our baby.
Posted By Julie S. on February 15, 2010, 8:59 PM
I used a car seat until my daughter was 2, then bought the CARES strap. It worked great! It takes a few minutes to install when you're not used to it, but on the way back from our trip I was a pro. Also, by the time my daughter was 2 she could put her feet on the seat in front of her while in a car seat. In the CARES system, she can't kick the seat in front of her. On a 5 hour flight EVERONE appreciates that! :)
Posted By Nicole B on February 16, 2010, 9:51 AM
Belated thanks to Miriam for her comment about the success of CARES, her mother's invention. More than 55,000 sold over 10 years. That's quite the entrepreneurial achievement!
Posted By Blog Editor on February 16, 2010, 10:12 AM
We used the CARES seatbelt several times with my daughter. Our experience was good overall. One of the key benefits was that it kept her in her seat. Previously, she would unfasten the airplane seat belt and want to be running around. The CARES system seemed to remind her more of her car seat, because she just accepted it and stayed in her seat much better. Not only safer but much easier for us to manage during the trip!
Posted By Mandy on February 16, 2010, 12:34 PM
Please. Please. Please. Do not hold your child on your lap during a flight. Not during takeoff, not during landing, not during the flight. The AFA has been agitating for an END to the notion of "lap babies" for years. I don't CARE if it costs you money. BUY YOUR UNDER-TWO CHILD A SEAT AND BRING YOUR CARSEAT OR CARES AND KEEP YOUR CHILD IN IT WHENEVER THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN IS ON. Even if you just can't afford a seat, BRING THE CAR SEAT TO THE GATES OR HAVE CARES IN YOUR CARRYON AND ASK THE AGENT/CREW IF THERE IS AN EMPTY SEAT YOU CAN USE. THEY WILL LET YOU DO SO FOR FREE IF THERE IS AN EMPTY SEAT. If you DO manage to buy/borrow a seat for your child, do not remove your child except when the FSB sign is OFF.
Posted By Toni on February 16, 2010, 1:43 PM
First, thanks for pointing out that car seats and kids in car seats on planes don't really fit. (A toddler's legs can get crushed if the person in the seat ahead decides to recline.)
I tried CARES once on loan from a friend. Despite checking the CARES website beforehand, it did not fit our seat. (Using up points at Christmas time so we flew business class for a little more than coach.)
Wouldn't it be great if CARES or something like it were standard safety equipment on airplanes like child life vests? (
Posted By Meg on February 16, 2010, 2:11 PM
Beyond the obvious safety issues, I was hoping that the harness might make my daughter feel like she does in her car seat (and assume she couldn't roam around while in transit) but the way the straps are behind her head makes her uncomfortable and she doesn't last long in them. I didn't find the size of the car seat would work in a plane easily and can't get it to the airport with luggage and child easily, so I try to use the harness and rent cars with car seats instead. Nothing has seemed like quite the best solution yet. You'd think the airlines would have special seats for small people they could put in as needed if they are going to sell you tickets for small people.
Posted By Beth on February 16, 2010, 2:35 PM
Meg... asking the airlines to make CARES standard safety equipment on airplanes... GOOD LUCK! The airlines don't even want to give out free peanuts and have shrunk the seats. You want them to be concerned about our children. The airlines only concern is $$$$MONEY that is all!
Posted By Lisa From Folsom CA on February 16, 2010, 2:45 PM
Anthony, we held our 9 month old on our lap on a 7 hour flight DEN-HNL - NEVER AGAIN. He was so fidgety and wanted down to stand in the aisle constantly. Normally he would have taken 2 two hours naps during that time period, but he didn't sleep once the whole trip, despite me carrying him up and down the aisles in the Ergo.
Julie is right - flight attendants will not allow you to carry the child in the Bjorn during take off or landing, and don't have to let you use it at all during the flight.
We just drove CO to MO for Christmas (12 hours) and my son (1 yr at that point) did extremely well in his car seat - taking naps right on schedule, so we will be buying a seat for him on all future flights.
[If you need further arguments for buying a seat for all children, check out jetwithkids.com for some scary - and eye-opening - stories].
Posted By Susan on February 16, 2010, 2:49 PM
I echo the sentiments of those who say do NOT fly with your child on your lap. I did that once, then read the story of the plane that cartwheeled on landing at . . . Sioux Falls (?) about 20 years ago. One woman's child was found IN the overhead luggage compartment. Lap kids were just flung around in the plane because you can't keep your grip on them. In a snuggly or whatever you'd squish them on a bad landing. We always took the car seats on board - a pain but the kids were used to them and slept. Lots of comments from other passengers on our "well behaved" 2-y-o and 9-m-o. Um, not so much. It was the car seat they were used to!
Posted By Judy on February 16, 2010, 3:09 PM
I've used CARES when my daughter, she used it when she weighed 22 pounds and stopped using it when she was over 50 pounds. When she was 5 months I purchased a seat and she sat in her carseat. Since CARES came out we started using it, and stopped taking the carseat. I find it helpful in the sense that I can enjoy being on the plane without have my daughter on my lap. I know it's expensive sometimes to purchase a seat, but for me comfort and safety come in to play. I let my friend use CARES when she took her daughter on vacation. I think it's GREAT!!
Posted By Lee on February 16, 2010, 3:41 PM
I have never heard of CARES before, but will say that on the trips to Europe, CA and FL from CT taken with our child, his carseat was a godsend. With carseats, children are restrained in their OWN seats that they tend to be comfortable in on a daily basis. They "understand" that they are secure there and that moving about is not really an option. It even allows parents the ability to nap themselves, knowing that their child is safe. Bonus: no paying extra at the car rental for a seat that may be dirty, expensive, or illfitting and perhaps dangerous.
Posted By Nann on February 16, 2010, 6:49 PM
Be very careful in buying anything to improve the safety of your child flying. I've experienced several instances were the stewardesses won't allow us to use equipment because its not FAA approved. And most things are not FAA approved becasue the FAA's job is not to review products for parents to bring on the airplane. Don't believe the product advertisements because chances are, you won't be allowed to use it, not matter how safe it makes your child. We were not allowed to use a baby bjorn like harness for our daughter to sit on our lap, we were not allowed to use a seat best extender to keep her buckled in, nor were we allowed to use our car booster seat. Three separate trips and three rejections. Companies sell all sorts of products to make parents feel safer about the children flying, but the antiquated FAA and airlines won't allow you to use most of it (even if it is safer). Its BS, but true. They want to cover the liabiity more than protect your child. Airlines have to follow guidlines of risk fines. As a parent, if I want to attach my child to my chest, then its my decision, but they would not let me. I had to hold my 1 year old. There is no way that is safer, but they insisted.
Posted By Robert on February 17, 2010, 9:08 AM
I have 2 boys now 7 & 5. We average 6-8 plane trips a year and just finished an overseas expat assignment that started when they were 2&4. I agree completely with the posters who have urged the use of a carseat. I used a Britax seat in my car everyday but it is very heavy and not ideal for travel so I bought a lighter Graco seat to travel with...later on a bought the carseat that has the telescoping handle and is a stroller which I preferred to lugging a bulky carseat and a stroller separately. Although this contraption was not the greatest carseat or the greatest stroller and would never be practical for everyday use, it was the perfect solution for traveling, pricey? Yes I think it was $150-$200 5 years ago but far better than anything else. On another note-In all those flights with carseats, Northwest was the only airline to ever check if my carseat was FAA approved.
Posted By Lisa Ceddia on February 18, 2010, 5:06 PM
@ Robert: CARES is FAA approved. I bought it when my daughter was not-quite 2 and have been using it for 3 years now. Never had any trouble with an airline letting me install it, and it's generated a lot of interest from flight attendants. I'd like to see them available on all flights; however, until that time, I'll continue to use the one I purchased quite contentedly.
Posted By Y Choate on February 19, 2010, 12:01 PM
I've been using CARES for over a year now and I got nothing less than praises for this brilliant product especially since most of my international travel are done alone with just my son. Now he proudly calls it his Pilot Seat-belt.
Posted By Maureen on February 26, 2010, 1:02 PM
Call me Scrooge but will someone explain to me again WHY kids should be allowed to fly with adults at all? I believe the time has come for kids (and those who act like kids) to have an airline that caters exclusively to their whims and tantrums. Just like holiday tables separating progeny from parents. However, until that happy day arrives, Thorazine them!
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