Air Travel Safety for Kids
“The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that all occupants be restrained during take off, landing and turbulent conditions and that all infants and small children be restrained in a manner appropriate to their size.”
When flying with my children I am always emotionally conflicted about how to keep them safe (being a mother comes with a lot of guilt…). On the one hand, it is physically impossible for me to carry a child, carry on baggage, and a car seat through an airport. Conversely, I find myself wishing I had a safe way to restrain my child when the airplane experiences scary, jolting turbulence. Shouldn’t children aged 1-4 be as safe on an airplane as they are in a car?
I was relieved when I found a solution that is both easy to carry AND extremely safe.
CARES is a child aviation restraint that slides around the seat back and attaches to the lap belt to give young children the much-needed sternum strap that traditional car seats provide.
The CARES child flight safety device is the only FAA certified child restraint that is equal to the safety level of a car seat. CARES is manufactured by AmSafe, the leading maker of airplane seat belts and pilot restraints.
CARES is the ONLY alternative to a car seat that is permitted on planes.
CARES is designed for children between 22 and 44 lbs who sit in their own seat.
One thing I love about CARES is that it weighs only 1 lb and folds up very very small:
It comes with it’s own 6″ storage sack and an instructional DVD (although it only takes one minute to install the CARES harness on the plane seat, watching the instructional DVD might boost your confidence).
CARES has won numerous awards, including the Good Housekeeping 2008 Good Buy Award, the National Parenting Center 2007 Seal of Approval, and several others!
My preschooler thinks CARES is “cool”, like a real pilot would wear! Who knows, it might even encourage him to stay in his seat. A Mom can dream!
Kids Fly Safe, LLC is giving one VERY lucky Mom Most Traveled reader a CARES safety restraint (retail value $74.95)!
To enter, visit the Kids Fly Safe website and look around. Leave a comment on this post telling what you like about CARES, and who would use it if you are the winner!
This contest will close on May 30th, 9pm CST. A winner will be selected via Random Number Generator.
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23 May 2008, 3:58 pm
Now that my daughter is 2 she is no longer free to ride in a plane. BooHoo! I have seen these for a while now and if I don’t win one I will be buying one. I love that they keep her safe all through the flight and that it is very compact.
We will be making two plane trips across the country (WA to NY, WA to MO) this summer so I really need it.
23 May 2008, 4:51 pm
Love that they actually care about safe travel for small children. We are taking a LONG trek across the pond this summer and my little boy could really use this. fingers crossed.
Stephanie V.
23 May 2008, 5:04 pm
Wow! I love how much thought they put into this, especially in trying to give it the same safety features as a carseat’s harness. And ease of use, and making sure it wouldn’t interfere with the back of the seat… they did a great job. This would be fantastic for either of my kids this summer (the 4 yr old isn’t 44 lbs yet) or for my 2 yr old later in the year after the 4 yr old grows out of it.
23 May 2008, 5:05 pm
I love that its FAA certified. While my son is to little for this, I would lend it to my jet-setting best friend. She needs it for her rambunctious kids.
23 May 2008, 6:03 pm
I would send it to my brother and sister in law who are flying out here in a month. They could try it with their neice for me and then I’d love to use it! I love that it is light weight. It seems like there are so many wieght limits and size limits starting to happen, that anything smaller is way better!
23 May 2008, 6:19 pm
I love that it is so compact! I’ve only flown with my son once, when he was 2, and it was horrible carting his car seat through the airport and down the airplane aisle. Even worse that American Airlines no longer lets parents with small children board early! So I had to struggle down the aisle with this big carseat and bother all the people who were already seated. I would definitely use this with my son (now 3), and later with his little sister.
23 May 2008, 6:37 pm
I was delighted when I discovered CARES. We have been dreading lugging a car seat through an airport–we would like to be able to travel without sherpas. We would use it quite a bit for our little one, who will be two next year, as we fly back and forth to see gramma and grandpa quite a bit.
23 May 2008, 6:46 pm
i like that it makes kidsstay in their seats. i fly often with a 2 year old and an infant. it would help me use one hand for each.
23 May 2008, 6:59 pm
I love that it is so portable but does not compromise on safety at all. A brilliant design. It would great for taking our 2 y.o. daughter to see her grandparents.
23 May 2008, 6:59 pm
I have never had much confidence in the lap belt restraining a toddler. My son would benefit from CARES on our trips to see his grandparents
23 May 2008, 7:26 pm
We will be flying overseas if my hubby chooses orders to Germany and I’d like for my 15 month old to be safe and secure and this contraption sounds excellent!
23 May 2008, 7:31 pm
I love the fact that it’s so light and easy to transport AND the fact that it’s FAA-approved. This would be perfect for my 2 y.o. this summer as we make the trip to Taiwan!
23 May 2008, 7:41 pm
I love how this looks easy to fold up and lightweight. I think it would be perfect to use on the way back home with the child we are adopting from Russia!
heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net
our adoption story: http://www.russianblessings.wordpress.com
23 May 2008, 7:59 pm
Wow! What a great invention…and finally too. I will have to buy one of these if I don’t win because we will be traveling to New Zealand this fall with our 2 children, they will be 2 1/2 and 1 when we go. A huge pat on the back for coming up with this product. Thanks for having a give-a-way too.
clkiwis72305 at yahoo dot com
23 May 2008, 8:12 pm
What a great idea. My in-laws and my parents live overseas, so we do a lot of traveling. I think this will be very useful for traveling with our son.
23 May 2008, 9:28 pm
I could actually use two of these for Roo and Jasper. I’d love to be able to check the carseats at the gate…
23 May 2008, 10:31 pm
We are travelling in a few weeks with my two little boys, 3 and 1 yr old- this would really help me a lot. Thanks for the chance to win!
23 May 2008, 10:40 pm
I love that it’s compact and easy to use. No more lugging the giant carseat thru the airport, I can check it!
23 May 2008, 11:54 pm
I like the fact that they are trying to think up a creative, not so bulky way to travel with little ones. I would definitely use this for my daughter. Great giveaway, thanks!
24 May 2008, 6:48 am
I like that is helps a child safer and saves mom’s back by being so small. I would use this on my daughter, her carseat is huge and hard to take on a plane
24 May 2008, 10:32 am
I like that there is finally an FAA approved safety harness for use on airplanes, that is so much more convenient than dragging a heavy car seat up and down the aisles. I also like that since the child uses the plane’s seat itself, that they are less likely to be able to kick the seat back of the person in front of them. My kids are a little to big for this harness now, but if I won, I would give it to my sister, who just went through all of the hassle of flying with her son to visit me a couple of months ago. She really could have used this at that time.
michelle at northofthe49 dot com
24 May 2008, 6:24 pm
I love how easy it is to install and how light it is. And my 2 year old daughter would love being able to sit in the “big airplane seat like mama and daddy.”
24 May 2008, 7:38 pm
I like that it is made by AmSafe Aviation. My daughter would use it for our upcoming trip to Alabama.
24 May 2008, 9:02 pm
If we won, my son would use it.
I love that they have the certificates available in pdf form right there on the website. We once had a flight attendant refuse to let us take our twins’ seats away from us insisting they weren’t approved even though they specifically said they were. So having those documents available might help save parents some hassle.
24 May 2008, 10:10 pm
This is a such a great product. We fly a lot to see grandparents and it is such a hassle to bring a carseat with us - along with all of our other necessities. I love that it is FAA approved as sometimes the stewardesses question us about our car seat.
24 May 2008, 11:09 pm
We live many many hours from the grandparents, and I have been dreading flying with a carseat. I’d use it on my little boy.
25 May 2008, 12:02 am
I like the safety factor most of all but the fact that it’s compact and comes in a little 6inch bag means it will be used because of it’s so convenient and portable.
25 May 2008, 1:38 am
The one pound weight and the simplicity of the harness make it a must have. I really hope this becomes a standard offering on airplanes.
In the mean time, I would love to have one for our flight to Disney in the Fall with our 3 little girls (1,3, and 7 years). Still contemplating how to pack for this trip…thanks for your consideration!
25 May 2008, 2:33 am
I love that it is FAA certified. My 2 year old son would be the one using it, as well as some of his friends who I know would want to borrow it!
25 May 2008, 6:35 am
This would be such a fabulous item to win. My family travels A LOT. I have admired the CARES product and appreciate that it is FAA aproved.
disarray at onebox dot com
25 May 2008, 1:36 pm
This sweepstakes has been featured on Sweepstakes Advantage, http://www.sweepsadvantage.com. The Web’s Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes. Good Luck to Everyone!
25 May 2008, 3:45 pm
My grandson is 3 an cant sit still so when flying he will need this,we are planning a trip to disney,this would be great,please count me in too,thanks
vlbelk@hotmail.com
25 May 2008, 4:57 pm
Lightweight, very portable, easily packable…all of the things a carseat isn’t! My daughter would be the proud user of this great innovation!
jesspeq@hotmail.com
25 May 2008, 5:51 pm
looks wonderful
25 May 2008, 6:25 pm
have a friend who would definitely use this
25 May 2008, 8:43 pm
Lightweight safety equipment? My 4-year-old son would use this when he travels to visit Grandma and Grandpa with his dad and younger brother. If they only have to carry one carseat on the plane, they’ll be much happier!
25 May 2008, 11:54 pm
Would be for my son! How awesome to not have to lug around a big heavy carseat!!!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
26 May 2008, 12:00 am
This would be so great for our vacation. It looks so compact and easily to install.
26 May 2008, 12:02 am
I don’t know if my daughter will be 22 pounds when we travel to san fran this summer, but with friends all over the country this would make airline travel much more enticing! I love that the product is so portable!
26 May 2008, 3:29 am
Last time we did an overseas flight with my 4 year old (who was then 3) we drove ourselves crazy finding a sit in stroll carseat stroller for the plane only to be told at the gate that they are not allowing carseats on the plane. I was nervous and neurotic the whole flight. Now that we’d like to fly again, possibly to visit relatives in Israel, I would love the have the peice of mind knowing that my son is safe and restrained. The weight and compactness of the CARES is so convenient!
26 May 2008, 5:45 am
I like that it takes ‘one minute” to install, that it is FAA approved and that it folds up so compactly. We’re going on an odyssey to Africa (19 hours non-stop), this would be so great!
belinda_streak(at)hotmail(dot)com
26 May 2008, 1:02 pm
we would use this a lot and I love that its so much easier than lugging a car seat!
26 May 2008, 8:33 pm
I’ve seen these online on a few different sites, and I love the idea. My son is almost 2, so soon he’ll be needing his own seat in the airplane and this would be perfect for him! I really like how small, yet safe the harness is.
byubabe at yahoo dot com
27 May 2008, 12:39 am
This looks really good. This would make me feel safer for my child!
cpullum@yahoo.com
27 May 2008, 6:07 am
We are actually planning on flying to Missouri this summer and Ive been dreading going with Connor.. This would seriously make all the difference as I wouldn’t have to lug my huge car seat onto the plane with a fussy toddler!
I blogged you on Prize-A-Tron!
http://www.prizeatron.com
27 May 2008, 3:05 pm
We have family that lives in North Carolina (grands, aunts, uncles, cousins). We used to drive but gas has made that nearly impossible. At times we can find cheap flights, but get intimidated when thinking about traveling w/ a toddler and carseat! Argh! This would be very helpful!
27 May 2008, 7:09 pm
installs quickly and is faa approved. i would use it for one of my 2 kids as we are flying to see grandma and grandpa this summer
27 May 2008, 7:56 pm
this is, in short, AMAZING! carrying a carseat and all that other stuff is nearly impossible! But I love how lightweight and easy this is, and more importantly, that it’s approved by the FAA! Talk about necessity being the mother of invention.
Anyway, I have a two year old and would love to be able to use this for him. Thanks for telling us about this! (even if I don’t win!)
27 May 2008, 11:39 pm
The fact that it is so small and easy to install is a huge benefit! An alternative to lugging a carseat onboard is a godsend! Since moving across the country from my family, I could really use this for my 2 year old on all the flights back to my sister’s I plan to make!
murphykatt(at)yahoo.com
28 May 2008, 6:38 pm
I love that it is compact and you don’t havee ot lug around a big bulky car seat. Thanks!
28 May 2008, 9:56 pm
I love their concern for safety for children. I find it amazing how some parents try to skate by and not have their children restrained according to laws, no concern for their safety. I would love a product like this, i have a newborn and a 3 year old and it would be great for my 3 year old for traveling. Great site.
29 May 2008, 12:46 am
I love the fact that Cares eliminates lugging around a carseat! This would come in handy once my son is a little older.
I have to gripe about the airlines making it ok for a baby to fly loose. Yes it’s free, but it’s unsafe. Then to be restrained in a carseat, you pay adult price for a ticket. As you can see I’ve had some issues trying to book a flight, lol. We’re just going to drive instead!
29 May 2008, 2:36 am
I love that it’s so easy to carry! I would use it with my child, due in September, when we fly home in the summers.
Thanks for hosting this! It’s a wonderful product.
pinkeareddog@gmail.com
29 May 2008, 9:28 pm
Very cool! It’s about time something had tought of this!
30 May 2008, 2:03 pm
I love that it’s so portble! I would use this for my littlest girl.
30 May 2008, 4:17 pm
What a great travel aide. I sure could use this on our next 6+ hour plane trip this summer.
30 May 2008, 4:52 pm
This will be great for my son. My wifes family is a flight (or two) away this would be great.
30 May 2008, 8:16 pm
please enter me
30 May 2008, 9:30 pm
Wow, people come up with the most marvelous items!
31 May 2008, 1:17 am
I love that is takes 1 minute to install. I would use it for my sons or daughter, who all would be much safer strapped in this way.
mccammacks(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
31 May 2008, 1:20 am
I love that you can just throw it in your bag and not have to worry about lugging or wheeling a big carseat, and that it keeps the kid in a regular seat (so his feet are not 1 inch away from the seat in front of him, like they are in a car seat). We’d use it for our 2 year old when we fly to Barcelona for a family trip this winter, and later for his younger brother.
06 October 2008, 9:03 am
[...] flight attendant helps me to install the CARES harness quickly and [...]