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

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.

This, to me, seems like a great solution for a young toddler: we are beyond the infant car seat, but not ready for just a booster. This harness provides some added safety without the hassle of a large carseat (which is a pain to carry when traveling as a family, and pretty much impossible if I'm traveling alone with my daughter–I just can't get it around). After 2, the child has to be in their own seat during take-off and landing, and the airplane seatbelt alone doesn't feel like quite enough. Like other reviewers have mentioned, there's no strap between the legs, and with the material / shape of the airline seats, she tends to slip downwards after some time in the harness. Just happens. You do have to loop the harness around the seat. So far I've had no issues doing this–you can usually open up the tray table of the seat behind, loop the harness around, and close the tray table again right over–but I guess there are airplane seat designs that would require you loop it over the tray table, making it impossible for the person behind the seat to use the tray (while the harness is installed). These issues, for us, were mostly nullified by the reality of my toddler refusing to stay still and harnessed for the majority of the flight anyways. I was contented to have her well secured for take-off, landing, and any turbulence; the rest of the time we do our best to stay belted, but tend to be in and out. So, if you were ruining the day of the passenger behind you by disabling their tray, you could just plan to do so during take-off and landing, and go with just the seatbelt for the rest. It is expensive, but has felt worth it to us. It's well made, labeled, and easy to use; I think it's a very clever idea.

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.

This worked for us for two reasons. As some reviewers had mentioned there is no bottom strap so if you have a "wiggler" who cannot sit still or if your child is to young to comprehend the safety options, such as the choice of using the harness or we will have to bring the car seat then this may not work for your travels. Also, if your child is small for his or her's age then opt for the car seat. So, keep in mind your child's size and maturity level prior to purchase. With that said, our toddler who just turned three (the 1st time we used it) was able to use this harness and felt like a big boy on the plane. We have used this on four separate occasions and will be using it again in a few months when he turns 4. I always read reviews and I was prepared for the need to install the strap around back of the seat; which means you have to open the tray of the passenger behind you, then close the tray back up. Typically you board first when traveling w/ a toddler so you have time to do this prior to the passenger seated behind you boards the plane. This allows you time to install the harness. On one occasion the passenger behind was already seated and we explained we just needed to momentarily open and close the tray so we could hook up the safety harness. The passenger behind was able to remain seated and had no problem w/ the tray being temporarily opened and closed. In fact, the passenger thought that it was a cool device. It will only make their tray useless if you place the strap over the closed tray. Easily avoid this by strapping it under an open tray when installing. In addition, the harness systems comes w/ a video and instructions. Practice at home w/ a high back chair and you will become comfortable before having to use it. As for the need for a head rest then purchase a little travel neck pillow if you don't already use one in a car. Again, this allowed him the big boy feeling as we too have travel neck pillows. Definitely a great purchase for us by being able to check in our car seat w/ our luggage or in some cases renting a car seat w/ our car rental. So much easier to carry a small red bag w/ the harness than lugging a full size car seat onto the plane. Happy toddler too! Looking forward to our next trip!

Choose your own adventure. You have a young child (2 to 6) and a long-haul flight ahead. Do you bring your 50 lb monstrosity of a carseat, packing it through a crowded airport with your squalling, bouncy offspring at holiday time? Or do you bring a 9-inch long box about as wide as a lady's wrist? If you selected carseat, turn to page 5 and cry your eyes out at the herculean expedition. Also, start planning for Iron Man Races because clearly you have mad chops. If you selected box, then purchase the travel harness. Yes, the Cares system looks expensive over $50, though sometimes you can catch a deal. For something this straightforward and simple I admit I'm surprised at the lack of competitors. But for sheer convenience, the Cares harness is hard to beat. Effectively it works like this: thread the top loop over the airplane seat, and tighten. Connect the seatbelt through the bottom loops and adjust for your child's comfort. The middle pieces form a four point harness. That's it but how effective it is! From unpacking the box to settling a bouncy 34 month old, the system took me approximately three minutes to fully assemble, secure, and tighten. The instruction card is helpful but this is effectively as simple as it gets. The only fiddly part lies in wrapping the top part around a seat with a seatback table, so lower the table first and get the main strap situated with your child sitting on the seat for the best accuracy with height. Once or twice the harness slipped down the seat, but pulling it back up and digging on the adjustment strap is no trouble. Quick releases for trips to the bathroom for my little guy were also simple enough. He tugged a bit on the straps at first, but they held almost as solidly as his car seat. He felt very secure and stable, and when we hit turbulence, he barely bounced. The best part is how easily it all wraps back up into the box, stuck in its red drawstring pouch for the next visit. I'm not dealing with a big carseat in an airport ever again. Even for a two hour flight, this is going to be a staple in my travel box. Parental seal of approval.

I bought two of these for a 3 year old and an 18 month old. We used them on two 3 hour flights. Pros: Fits easily into carry-on bags Lightweight Easy to install Cons: Child can slip down easily (especially if they try to) Pricey for an item that will probably get used sporadically for only a few years Neither child acted like this was a car seat. Both tried to wiggle out. Overall, I would recommend it more if it were a little cheaper. For what it is - essentially three straps, a buckle, and a metal sliding bar, it is extremely pricey. I bought this because my daughter flies so much better in her car seat. She is used to being buckled in and stays in her car seat happily while the car is in motion because she knows she has to. The one time I took her car seat on the plane I got the same results - happy content child waiting until the plane stopped to request to be out. But her car seat is heavy and now that I had two children, I didn't want to lug them, all their stuff, and two car seats on a plane. So I bought these instead. However, neither child accepted these as a substitute car seat. They both wiggled the entire time, whined to be let free to run the plane, and tried to slide down and out. My 18 month old son definitely wanted out. After a few firm "no's", my daughter gave up, but with my son it was a battle of wills the entire time. Because this product does not have a crotch strap, I definitely had to use some mommy muscle to keep hoisting him back into a sitting position. That said, it did do its job. With close Mommy supervision, both children stayed buckled in their seats. It was lightweight and easy to install as advertised. We didn't have turbulence or problems on our flights, but it does seem like it would keep them safer than just a lap belt in those situations. Amazon does have the best prices to purchase these; although, you can rent them for 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of a new one from various places.

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.

I love it the fact that it's safe for my child, but my child (3 year old) refused to wear it and unbuckle his seat belt then slide down the seat to escape from wearing it. Perhaps this year he may accept it better. 😊 I also had a problem losing one part of the chest clippers, but the customer service was so nice. Helping me by sending the new clippers without any cost. I'm so impressed with that. 👍👍👍👍👍

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.

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

Nach einem Bericht Fernsehen über die Unfallgefahr für Kinder beim Fliegen wollte ich unbedingt etwas für die Sicherheit meines 2jährigen Sohnes tun. Als Auswahl blieben ein aufblasbarer Kindersitz (der leider nicht von allen Fluggesellschaften akzeptiert wird) und dieses einfache sowie super geniale Gurtsystem. Trotz des hohen Preises entschied ich mich für das Gurtsystem und ich habe diesen Schritt nicht bereut!!! Das Handling ist dermaßen einfach, man kann nichts falsch machen! Der rote Gurt wird über die Rückenlehne des Kindes gelegt und festgezogen, die Höhe ist knapp über den Schultern des Kindes. An diesem roten Gurt sind die Hosenträgergurte für das Kind schon fest verankert, nun nur noch den Beckengurt vom Flugzeug durch die unteren Schlaufen, alles festziehen - FERTIG! Das Flugpersonal (Tunis Air) war skeptisch und gleichzeitig neugierig - und danach hellauf begeistert. Und mein Sohn war sicher - nichts drückte und klemmte, er war nicht beengt, alles super. Ich kann diesen Gurt absolut weiterempfehlen für alle verantwortungsbewussten Eltern, die etwas für die Flugsicherheit ihrer Kinder tun wollen!

seule ceinture pour bébés de plus d'un an et jeunes enfants admise dans TOUS les avions commerciaux du monde. agréée par la FAA aux USA. très léger, tient dans la poche, fabrication de grande qualité (Amsafe est le leader mondial de ce type de produit). remplace un siège auto si on ne peut voyager avec (car encombrant et lourd). produit rare, pas facile à trouver.