Child Airplane Travel Harness - Cares Safety Restraint System - The Only FAA Approved Child Flying Safety Device

I got this so that my toddler would be more secure in her airplane seat. The good: it’s super light, about a pound and very easy to install. It can fit on any airplane seat, even lay flat first class seats. It helped to keep her in place, and I felt like she was safer during take off and landing. The bad: because there’s no crotch strap, she slides down in the airplane seat. Overall, if you want your toddler to be more secure on the airplane, get this! It’s easier to travel with than a car seat in flight.

Bought this for our 2.5 year old on a recent trip. I didn't want to lug around a huge car seat so I thought this would be a great alternative. It's much more convenient to use and install than a car seat on an airplane IMO, and you don't have to worry about flight attendants asking whether your car seat is FAA approved. We had one very conscientious flight attendant ask us if it was a CARES system and examine it to make sure it was the real thing, and it passed her tests, so that's a good thing. I suspect an experienced flight attendant will have seen one before, so you probably won't have to go through that scrutiny most times. Sadly, as is the case with most toddlers, they don't like being buckled up very much at all, so there's probably no way you'll be able to keep your kid in this for the whole flight (unless it's a short one). Still, having them secured during takeoff and landing is the most important thing, and for that, it was worth it. Installing it is pretty easy - however, depending on the type of seat you have, you'll probably have to ask the person sitting behind your toddler to lower their tray to install it. It won't affect the use of the tray during the flight, but it has to be installed behind the tray in most cases. Not an issue, just an FYI (if you're confused, just read the instructions). Pros: Tiny (compared to a car seat) and compact Comes with its own bag to carry it with Fairly quick and easy to install; the instructions are pretty clear Works as advertised - keeps the kid secured and safe, as far as I can tell Is FAA approved Doesn't weigh 10-15 lbs Oh, did I mention it's much smaller and easier to carry around than a large car seat? Cons: Cannot use in a car A bit pricey - you'll have to decide whether or not it's worth it to you depending on how often you travel You'll have to probably explain to the person directly behind your kid's seat what it is, but I haven't had any issues with that.

UPDATE 2018: ...and we are STILL traveling with the CARES harness, 4 years later, now our youngest is in it. Still, everything I wrote below holds true, but I wanted to add, that I did run into a few flight attendants claiming the harness was not approved or allowed on their aircraft - I politely insisted to ask a colleague or the "head flight attendant" on board - and each time it turned out the initial flight attendant was mistaken - it was approved - sometimes the attendants are just not familiar with it. As far as the tray tables and entertainment systems - the strap has to be widened/loosened, then put over the seat behind your child - under the tray table, below the entertainment system, then tightened - and then you close the tray table - which we have never found to be a problem. Our experience is with domestic flights, mainly with Jet Blue and Southwest, on different aircraft. Original Review 2014: We got this the day before our flight (Jet Blue), no chance to practice at home, watched the video (comes with DVD, but on product website there is also a video). This was our first flight with our very squirmy, super active 25 lbs. 34 inches toddler. Easy install on a full flight, fitting around the seat under the tray table, just watch out that it is just above shoulder height, and that the shoulder straps point the right way before you tighten it around the seat. Our toddler accepted the CARES like sitting in a car seat. Without it, I'm sure our toddler would have climbed all over us, and possibly tried to climb into the next row! With it (and some entertainment and snacks) we had a very peaceful flight (despite a lot of turbulence). The only minor issue with this harness is, that you will have to pull up your toddler a few times, because the device creates a four point, not a five point harness. We also found that it helps for the toddler to wear a shirt with a little neck collar so that the shoulder straps don't dig into the neck, and finally; having a dry diaper at all times was the solution to stop any squirming or scooting. On our flight back we put a little blanket on one side (a neck pillow did not work - pushing head to far forward) between shoulder and head, and slightly reclined the seat, and our toddler slept. The CARES comes with a roomy (!) pouch, that is a welcome change from those pouches where you have to fold something just so to fit it in. Other specs: -for children between 22 and 44 lbs. (10-20 kg) -for children with height less than 40 inches (100 cm) -child has to be able to sit upright alone -only for use in forward facing seats -3 metal buckles (one around seat, one on each shoulder), easily adjusted. -1 plastic buckle (connecting chest straps across breastbone) -pictorial instructions on device itself -address label on device itself (did not see this until after the flight, but a great idea, as I can see how you forget to take it with you!) -parts are from the US and Germany, assembled in China. -we used it on an Embraer Jet and on an Airbus 320.

If this is the only product recommended/approved by the FAA other than bringing the entire car seat, I will use this. However, it's not the best product. You can tell that this design has been used since the 90s or early 2000s. It works fine on ULCC, LCC or some full-service airlines. Pros 1. Keeps the child secured and with shoulder support 2. Easy to install Cons: 1. Asking the passenger behind to install this. 2. The newer airline seats have more curvature like a racing car seat. It creates the bowing effect of the strap against the seat which could be uncomfortable for the child. 3. The newer airline seats have bi-fold tables, entertainment screens, and additional plastic pockets making it hard or sometimes not useable for the flight. Please see the image attached, this is on an older JAL 787-8, the plastic pieces on the side of the table prevent the harness from going under the tray table and tightening. If your child is smaller it can go below that so the person behind you can close the tray table but if your child is taller, it prevents the tray from closing because of that handing plastic pieces on the side of the tray table.

Really good for providing a much better and safer restraint for small children on aircraft. It does need some cooperation from the person sat behind to slot the strap under their tray table but we found people were happy to help. My only concern was whether the product was genuine but as far as I can tell it does seem to be.

Como nuestra peque es menor de 2 años y le compramos un asiento para vuelos largos, nos obligan a cogerla en brazos durante el despegue, aterrizaje y el recorrido por la pista o por las turbulencias. Me imagino que, cuando tenga más de 2 años, nos dejarán usarlo en todo momento. Es mucho, muchísimo más seguro que el cinturón normal. De hecho, me hace pensar por qué no sacan algo así para adultos, porque el cinturón normal es una birria. Yo, personalmente, estoy muy contenta: está hecho del mismo material que los cinturones de los aviones y sujeta bien. Si tenemos otro niño, compraremos uno más.

Et obligatoire en dessous certain age

Fácil de usar, como abuela lo recomiendo, proporciona mucha confianza en turbulencia.

I honestly didn't even know there was an alternative to bringing a carseat on the airplane until I did the research. This was pretty decent. It was easy to install/remove and adjust. Almost like their carseat buckles. It's small to carry on the airplane and compact, so that's always a bonus for your carry ons. It comes with a carry bag which is handy. The only downside is the limitation of the use. My son is pretty big for a 2 yr old, so he'll eventually grow out of it really quickly for travelling. I'd say if you're travelling a fair amount within their first few years then by all means the price is worth it instead of hauling a carseat around. BUT if you're only using it once then that's a pricey expense.