CARES harness

[AmyRI]

Has anyone used the CARES harness on flights? What age was your child when you used it?

We're going to SIL's wedding in Colorado in June. We will have a 3-year-old (guess about 35 pounds then) and an 18-month-old (24-25 pounds is my best guess - 22# now).

We will be buying 4 tickets. I'm really tempted to just spend the money and get 2 CARES harnesses so we can check the carseats and not have to lug them through the airport, but I'm wondering if they're really a good option for an 18 month old or if I'm going to end up wishing I had her carseat instead. I'm guessing the 3yo would rather be in the adult seat with a 5 pt harness. Is this crazy? (We'd have a stroller with us to carry either DD or bags, and DS already walks almost everywhere so moving him through the airport isn't a concern.)

[drloretta]

We have one that we never used. I've always been concerned the strap on the back of the seat will interfere with the person behind us, esp if they have a tv screen.

DD has been using the regular seat belt since age 2. Our travels usually involve seeing family, so they bought a cheap carseat for when we get there

[GracieLouFreebush1]

I have a friend who flies w/ her DS a LOT and they use and like the CARES harness. She definitely used it before age 2.

[monpetitchou]

I haven't used it but will on flights we are taking in June. My DS will be 15 months and we won't be bringing a carseat with us at all, so CARES it is. I'm interested to hear others' thoughts on it, but I'm also not too worried because we don't have another option. it is what it is.

[Mushe]

We used it for the first time when our son was 22 months old, on our London to SFO flight. Direct, so it was an 11 hour or so flight.

Kiddo mostly did not want to be buckled in. I think it would have been easier to be in a car seat, but we didn't take one on the trip, so it wasn't an option.

I'd check Mommy Points. She had some helpful tips for traveling with small kids, and the CARES harness in particular.

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2014 9:56:43 GMT -5 drloretta said:

We have one that we never used. I've always been concerned the strap on the back of the seat will interfere with the person behind us, esp if they have a tv screen.

DD has been using the regular seat belt since age 2. Our travels usually involve seeing family, so they bought a cheap carseat for when we get there

Do you have any interest in selling yours? We're looking to get one before we start our spring/summer trips this year.

[drloretta]

Jan 10, 2014 11:50:29 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

Jan 10, 2014 9:56:43 GMT -5 drloretta said:

We have one that we never used. I've always been concerned the strap on the back of the seat will interfere with the person behind us, esp if they have a tv screen.

DD has been using the regular seat belt since age 2. Our travels usually involve seeing family, so they bought a cheap carseat for when we get there

Do you have any interest in selling yours? We're looking to get one before we start our spring/summer trips this year.

Sure. Let me see if I can find it, LOL

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2014 12:00:44 GMT -5 drloretta said:

Jan 10, 2014 11:50:29 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

Do you have any interest in selling yours? We're looking to get one before we start our spring/summer trips this year.

Sure. Let me see if I can find it, LOL

LOL. Let me know  

[dbsk8dance]

We started using it when he was about 2. We used it through last summer at 4.

Just make sure you don't leave the on the plane! We did and realized it right away. It was already gone. Our new one has our names and phone numbers all over it so ppl can't sell it on Craigslist.

Eta- the strap in the back goes behind the tray table and has never interfered with the person behind. They just have to drop the tray for you and then put it back up. Our kid is pretty tall and it's still never been an issue.

[AmyRI]

Jan 10, 2014 13:46:35 GMT -5 dbsk8dance said:

We started using it when he was about 2. We used it through last summer at 4.

Just make sure you don't leave the on the plane! We did and realized it right away. It was already gone. Our new one has our names and phone numbers all over it so ppl can't sell it on Craigslist.

Oooh, thank you for this tip! I don't know that I would have remembered to label it.

[frlcb]

We have traveled with them often. I think 18 months is fine to use it, we started around then. We stop around 4, but if your 3 year old is a good flyer and will sit with their seatbelt buckled I think you could even skip it with them. We fly all the time with our kids so let me know if you have any questions!

[frlcb]

Jan 10, 2014 9:56:43 GMT -5 drloretta said:

We have one that we never used. I've always been concerned the strap on the back of the seat will interfere with the person behind us, esp if they have a tv screen.

DD has been using the regular seat belt since age 2. Our travels usually involve seeing family, so they bought a cheap carseat for when we get there

It goes behind the tray table so it won't affect the person behind you at all.

[AmyRI]

Jan 10, 2014 14:05:40 GMT -5 frlcb said:

We have traveled with them often. I think 18 months is fine to use it, we started around then. We stop around 4, but if your 3 year old is a good flyer and will sit with their seatbelt buckled I think you could even skip it with them. We fly all the time with our kids so let me know if you have any questions!

This is a dangerous generous offer

We haven't flown with the will-be-three year old since he was 14 months, so I have no idea how well behaved (or not) he will be. For the 18mo, do you think it's easier to have her in the carseat or in a harness? I don't trust rental seats so we'll either check the carseat or use it on the plane. I'm either looking at a $50-75 investment in a carseat cart or the $75 for another CARES harness.

[frlcb]

Jan 10, 2014 14:29:28 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Jan 10, 2014 14:05:40 GMT -5 frlcb said:

We have traveled with them often. I think 18 months is fine to use it, we started around then. We stop around 4, but if your 3 year old is a good flyer and will sit with their seatbelt buckled I think you could even skip it with them. We fly all the time with our kids so let me know if you have any questions!

This is a dangerous generous offer

We haven't flown with the will-be-three year old since he was 14 months, so I have no idea how well behaved (or not) he will be. For the 18mo, do you think it's easier to have her in the carseat or in a harness? I don't trust rental seats so we'll either check the carseat or use it on the plane. I'm either looking at a $50-75 investment in a carseat cart or the $75 for another CARES harness.

You will get mixed opinions on this. Personally, knowing our kids, we stop using the car seat before 18 months on a plane. It puts them at the right angle to kick the seat in front of them, they can't use the tray table, and generally it is a hassle. But we also don't have an issue checking the car seat, and I know some people do. You can rent a CARES from ebay for much less than buying one. I wouldn't buy a second one, especially if you don't travel often and the next time you fly your older child likely won't want to be in one. How long is your flight? I would, personally, just bring one CARES and use it for the 18 month old. Before the flight I would talk up the importance of sitting in your seat on the play with DS, and that the seat belt has to stay buckled. We are also not above bribery, at all, and would use lollipops or m&ms or a new toy to keep him quiet and in his seat (along with an arsenal of other stuff, like an ipad and coloring books)

[caramia17]

We have used a CARES harness and it has been great. The longest flight we used it on was 5 hours, so take that into consideration, but it has worked out really well. It goes behind the tray table and people are very accomodating even when I am traveling alone with Caramini and have to fumble around to get things situated.

She tolerates it very well and is still not tall enough to reach the seat back in front to kick. She is a little back from the tray table, so I bring things for her to do on her lap, but I like not lugging the car seat!

[doctorsbaby]

We started using ours right after DD turned 2 and we haven't had any problems. I really like it because it reminds her to keep her butt on the seat. It's easy for her to forget with just the lap belt bc it doesn't fit her very well in its on.