Make Young Kids Safer On Flights Without The Car Seat || The Tranquil Parent

Make young kids safer on flights, without the car seat

By Jennifer happier

October 02, 2008

Make young kids safer on flights, without the car seat

Z doodling in her CARES restraint during a recent flight. During takeoff, landing, turbulence, and any resting state we tighten the side straps and she sits back in her seat.

On our recent flight to Las Vegas for the ABC Kids Expo, we took the opportunity to test out the Kids Fly Safe CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System). When we've flown in the past, we've brought our folding Sunshine Kids Radian 80 with us and grunted and puffed (well, I stood there while Jeremiah grunted and puffed) until we had successfully installed it in Z's airline seat. Even with a folding car seat, it's still a pain to get it down those ever-skinner airline aisles and to maneuver in your ever-narrower row. On this last trip, we gate-checked our car seat and walked down the aisles a lot lighter. Instead of joining me in watching Jeremiah grunting and puffing, Z sat in her seat while we looped the FAA-approved (yes, even for takeoff and landing) CARES restraint over the back of her seat and adjusted it to the appropriate height. We buckled her in and were ready to go... actually, almost that quickly. It took us about 2 minutes to install it.

How it works

The way CARES works is simple. Looking at it from the front, it's a "pi"-shaped arrangement of seat belt fabric, with the top bar in fact a loop that hugs the back of the airline seat at your child's head height and drops two "legs" down the child's chest, which the seat's own safety belt is threaded through. I guess the shape is more of a Roman numeral "II" - hmm, maybe it's just better to give you another view of things:

In flight, we left her buckled in the CARES restraint and in addition to their being a lot more elbow room for all of us (since the car seat wasn't taking up so much space), it gave her a bit more freedom for "projects" (coloring, eating, stickering, etc). During takeoff and landing, we had the straps cinched as we would in a car seat, with the front clip positioned at Z's upper chest level; during the remainder of the flight, it was essential to loosen the straps, as she otherwise would not have been able to reach her tray table, and she, and we, would have been miserable. We were confident that if we hit any turbulence (and we did) we could cinch up the straps and ask her to sit back for a few minutes. (That's when videos on our portable DVD player came in handy.)

The bottom line

I was initially hesitant to test out the CARES restraint because I wasn't sure how this product could replace having a car seat along. We aren't crazy about checking our car seat with the rest of our luggage - we've seen how those pieces get thrown around and come tumbling down the conveyor belt. We're also reasonably wary of renting one so bringing a car seat and gate-checking it seemed the only reasonable option. (If you must check your car seat with your luggage, try to use the original manufacturer's packaging - anyone still have that? - or wrap it with padding and place it in a duffle bag.) And, we reasoned, if you're going to all the trouble to schlep the car seat through the airport, what's the point of having a different restraint for the flight?

What I figured out is that it really makes a big difference during the actual flight.

It meant we didn't have to unbag, unfold, install, uninstall, refold, rebag when boarding and deboarding and that means less of those stressful moments when a whole line of people is waiting for you, your luggage, and your restless child to get out of their way. It also meant not having to worry about bonking someone's elbow with our Radian, backpack-style, on the march to the seat. The CARES restraint is stored in a fabric drawstring back about the size of a petite lunch bag.

Because it is so easy to install, we had a lot more time to arrange ourselves and our daughter before takeoff - time we spent getting her prepared with a small project to keep her occupied during that dead zone of take-off and cruising altitude time when you can't do anything. We had time to get ourselves settled in - getting out the water bottles, finding the magazine, searching for the headphones you bought on the last flight so you don't have to buy them again (more on that in a later travel post), hiding a few in-flight trinkets for preschool diversionary tactics, try to find some leg room among the bags.

As for safety: The CARES restraint is the first and only restraint approved by the FAA for use throughout a flight as an alternative to a car seat. It is clear how it works, why it offers additional protection, and how it benefits children who wear it. Certification has also been approved in many other countries and continues to advance, and FAA regulations stipulate that airline personnel cannot restrict the use of CARES at their discretion. On our flight, we had an anxious stewardess pass slowly by and then return with another to ask us about it, stating that she hadn't seen one before; the FAA certification label quickly put her at ease.

Future plans

We knew then and there that we'd be using our CARES restraint as long as we could - but noted with disappointment that Z was about at the end of the limits for use of the device, which tops out at 44" or 40 pounds. When we got to the trade show, I went to meet with Louise Stoll, inventor of the CARES restraint, to tell her our one complaint - that there wasn't one for the 4+ age group. She told me that they have a CARES product for that age group in the process of FAA testing and certification right now! Not only is this a step in the right direction, but it will address a growing need for parents who practice extended harnessing, as many of those larger-sized seats are not FAA-certified for use because of their bulky dimensions.

The CARES restraint ranges in price from about $65 to its MSRP of $75. You can purchase it from the manufacturer, KidsFlySafe, or from Amazon.com.

But! And, to quote Pee Wee Herman, this is one big but - KidsFlySafe has also agreed to give away three CARES restraints as our ZRecs Newsletter giveaway for the month of October. If you are already a subscriber to our monthly email newsletter, you are already entered to win; if not, subscribe and you'll be all set. We'll draw three winners at random at the beginning of November from the subscriber rolls, announce winners in the next newsletter, and they'll get a CARES system in time for any holiday travel, and beyond. You can sign up here or find the link in the subscription box that appears in the righthand column of all ZRecs blogs. Please note, you will be receiving one, and only one, email a month from us, so please sign up only if you want a monthly compendium of news, information, and deals from ZRecs in your inbox.

Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Entrants must be 18 or older and reside in the United States. Item will be shipped to a U.S. address only. Winner will be announced in subsequent ZRecs Monthly Newsletter; failure to respond within 5 business days of contact with a valid U.S. mailing address for shipment will result in forfeiture of prize and awarding of prize to an alternate designated by ZRecs. Neither the prize sponsor nor ZRecs is responsible for items lost or damaged in transit. Winner will be selected on or around Nov. 1, 2008.

Categories: car seats, travel

1. Shannon [10/03/08]

We bought this b/c we thought it was a terrific idea...until we were told by a flight attendant that we couldn’t use it on the plane. We had already flown with it a couple of times and really loved the ease of use and the fact that our son felt like he was sitting in a “big seat.” The flight attendent was adamant that the FAA does not approve anything other than a car seat for safe flying. Not sure if she’s an anomoly, but if you can get away with it, this is definitely a good product to have!

2. Christy [10/03/08]

Shannon, your flight attendant was most likely wrong. Next time you use it, there is an information page at the KidsFlySafe website that you can print and take with you. That way, if you encounter a flight attendant that isn’t properly “schooled” in the use of the device, you can educate them right there on the spot. (In a nice, friendly way, of course.)

We use ours about once every other month or so. We have had no problems. In fact, I have had MANY people stop and ask me where to get one. I love ours.

3. Tiffany [10/04/08]

Thanks for reviewing the CARES harness! Until now, we’ve been schlepping our Britax Marathon on and off the plane with our son (and what a pain that was), but we’re going to have to switch to the Frontier soon (thanks for that review too!) because he’s so tall- and there’s just no way I can haul that one through the airport… My husband and I have been debating the CARES harness, and your review has definitely helped me. I think we’ll be getting it for the next time we fly- although it would be even better to win one! But thanks for the review, as well as for the tips to take the FAA cert information- I’ve even had flight attendants question my son’s car seat (???!), so I’m a little worried about the questions re. this harness. Another helpful review by you guys- thanks!

4. SkylarKD [1/03/09]

For anyone flying on Air Canada, the airline website specifically mentions that CARES is certified (scroll down to Child Restraint Policy).

Still, good to print it off and bring with you!

http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/youngtravellers/infant-child.html

5. Mike [2/04/09]

this is certified for what age group?

6. Jeremiah [2/04/09]

Mike, it’s approved for use with children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. As far as we know, a version for older children is still in the works.

7. kritin [3/30/09]

Any thoughts on using this for a 2 1/2 yr old? He is just at that age where he wants to use the tray table and the car seat doesn’t allow it to come down all the way for playing, drawing, dvd watching etc. On a selfish note I think using this would mean his little legs couldn’t reach the seat in front of him as they do with this car seat. Has anyone used it with a smaller or younger child?

8. Christy [3/30/09]

@kritin, I have used this with my daughter since she was 2 years old and heavy enough to meet the weight requirement. It has been fantastic. She can use the tray table right in front of her to draw/color. We have found that just the concept of sitting in a “big girl seat” is a great incentive for good behavior!

She turned 3 in November and we are still using the harness. It has been a great investment for our family.

9. Jeremiah [3/30/09]

@kritin, the CARES restraint is rated for up to 44 lbs. and 40” tall. Our daughter Z just outgrew hers heightwise - at 4.5!

10. Punta Cana Mom [4/06/09]

@kritin, We just used this seat with our daughter on a recent trip. She was 2 yrs 4 mos at the time, and she’s on the petite side, but it was a huge success. Her legs were definitely not able to reach the seats in front of her. The trays (both pull-down and lift-out-of-the-armrest styles) were also accessible. If you want to read yet another testimony, here’s link to my comments on using CARES during our March ‘09 trip.

11. Jacki [12/01/09]

We used this with our son - it is wonderful. The flight attendants all commented on how much easier it was than using a car seat. (We’ve never flown with a car seat so I can’t speak to that.)

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.