CARES Child Aviation Restraint System
by CARES
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List Price: Our Price: $63.93 You Save: $11.06 (15%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of CARES Child Aviation Restraint System
Customer Review: So much easier than a car seat!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I've used both the CARES restraint and a car seat when flying with my almost 2 year-old son, and the CARES restraint is the hands down winner for ease of use. It's not the lugging of the car seat through the airport that I mind so much (we have the JL Childress Ultimate Car Seat Travel Bag which is awesome), it is the getting it on the plane and installed part that I hate. Even with 2 adults the car seat route is a pain, but I managed the CARES restraint all by myself. It took me just a minute or two to install it, and in all 4 planes we took, I was able to install it so that the person behind us could use their tray table.
The reason to not give this product 5 stars is the whole slumping and sleeping discomfort issue that other reviewers have pointed out. Most of the time we have two, short connecting flights which makes the ease of use factor most important to us, but if we were on a longer flight where I wanted my son to sleep, I would use the car seat. However, I would still probably use the CARES restraint and gate check the car seat on our first, shorter flight and reserve the hassle of the car seat for the longer leg.
Traveling with children is never easy, and there is no single miracle product out there. This is a great product for our particular situation, and I love the fact that I have options.
Customer Review: Overpriced and didn't work for us
Summary: 2 Stars
Overall I was pretty disappointed by this device. I did like the convenience of carrying it around (versus a car seat) and installing it on the plane was easy enough but it didn't work on any of our flights.
The seats we had (in Delta coach) had a very contoured profile... the seat-backs were very bucket like to cradle your back while you sat in the seat. While this may make it more comfortable for adult passengers, it was nothing but trouble for this restraint system. The red strap in the picture is a large loop that you place around the whole seatback (getting to know the person sitting behind you in the process). You then pull this as tight as you can to form a stable anchor line for the shoulder straps to attach to. Unfortunately, with the very contoured seatbacks the red strap did not sit flat on the seat and caused a "clothesline" effect for my daughter. When she sat in her seat with the restraint, the strap got in the way of her head and caused her head to angle forward uncomfortably (similar to stuffing a few pillows directly behind your head when seated upright).
Once we reached our cruising altitude, I took it off and dealt with the standard lap-belt.
We'll take it on future flights hoping for more compatible seats but so far it was a waste of almost [...].
Customer Review: I don't like it...
Summary: 1 Stars
We bought this for a trip I was taking by myself with my large, 34 inch tall 16 month old. I installed it correctly and put my son in it. It was very easy to install, but the red strap that fits around the seat was directly behind his head, making him keep his head forward. Also, as another reviewer stated, the chest strap was right under his chin, which I feared would decapitate him in an accident. Because there is no middle strap between the child's legs like in a carseat, they do slide down and the chest strap is literally at their neck. I even brought drawer liner with us and put it under my son's bum to keep him from sliding out, but it didn't help.
Lastly, the airplane seatbelt (we flew on American) didn't get tight enough to really keep him in place. He's a large child and at 26 pounds is way over the minimum weight of 20 lbs. I cannot imagine using this with a smaller child.
I ended up bringing his carseat on with us and using that on the flight back. I will be selling my CARES and getting this instead for next time. Go Go Kidz TravelMate - Black/ Orange
Customer Review: works well but read this TIP
Summary: 4 Stars
We just used this for a flight with our almost 2 year old, 29 lbs, at least 33 inches tall.
It worked well, but there was one issue. Our son kept sliding down in the seat, to almost a reclining position because the airplane seat was that slippery leather. I kept having to slide him back up. I had the belt tight enough, too. Next time I will bring a small piece of that rubbery kitchen shelf liner (for padding under dishes, etc) so he won't slip down. We've used that liner so he doesn't slide in his baby swing or stroller, as well.
This was very easy to install, although the flight attendant did not want him in it for take off and landing. I didn't push it, maybe if I had shown him it would have been fine. Also, it could have been because my son was younger than 2 (he'll be 2 in a couple of weeks.)
Bottom line, I would recommend this with the addition of a non-slip pad under your little one.
One more thing, I was very careful not to show my son how to unlock his regular airplane seatbelt so he wouldn't do it himself. Be aware that if your child knows how to do this, it will be difficult to keep them in the CARES system.
Customer Review: Flight Attendant was pleased we had it
Summary: 4 Stars
I used the CARES Harness for my 2 year old son who weighs about 32 lbs. It was a lot easier than taking his car seat. On the flight to our destination, it kept slipping down the seat, but I later realized it was my error in adjusting it properly. For the flight home, I had no trouble keeping it in place. My son found it a bit uncomfortable, however, when he tried falling asleep. It really keeps a child upright and it's tough for them to hang their head to sleep. I may look into pillows/cushions similar to what hooks onto car seat straps to make that more comfortable the next time we use it. One flight attendant in particular kept coming over and complimenting us on the CARES Harness. She was extremely pleased that we had it, and said she wished more parents would make use of it. It seems to me that the only reason to bring a car seat on board the plane (as opposed to checking it, if needed at your destination)is if your child is too big/old for the lap seat, but not yet at the minimum weight/size requirement for the CARES. This was definitely easier than lugging a car seat on board and setting that up on the seat, and I've now done both.