My detailed CARES harness review – the flight safety harness for children from Kids Fly Safe approved by the FAA as a child aviation restraint for use in all phases of flight.
I’ve used CARES when flying with all 3 of my children at different ages and stages. This CARES review includes the pros and cons of the product, photos in use, tips for how to use CARES safety harness on airplanes and more.
The first time we used the CARES airplane safety harness, I was 7 months pregnant and traveling with two children under the age of 5 years. As you can see, CARES was a tremendous help and convenience to us all.
With each 1 lb. CARES harness stored in its small stuff sack, we were able to breeze through the airport with our kids and our carry-on bags without any special effort. As you can see from the photo, two CARES harnesses travel much more easily through the airport than two car seats!
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Since then, I’ve gone on to use CARES with each of my 3 children at different times. I’ve also flown without CARES, depending on the trip and circumstances of our travels.
I hope this review of CARES will help you decide whether it’s the right option for flying with your own toddler or preschooler. I’ll start with a quick overview of the CARES flight safety harness.
What is the CARES airplane harness?
CARES stands for “Child Aviation Restraint System” and is an additional set of straps that fits over an airplane seat back, attaching to the standard lap seat belt. It converts the airplane’s lap belt into a 4-point harness, securing the child against the airplane seat back.
It’s the only child aviation safety device approved by the FAA as an in-flight alternative to car seats. What’s better, this flight safety harness weighs only 1 lb, and packs into a 6” stuff sack — or easily tucks into your diaper bag or purse.
But note: CARES can be used in airplanes only, not in automobiles (see more recommended Car Seat Alternatives for travel).
Who can use CARES?
CARES can be used by children who are at least one year old and weigh a minimum of 22 lbs. Toddlers and children weighing up to 44 lbs. can continue using the CARES harness until they’d be big enough to fly without a car seat.
Note: Children using CARES must have their own assigned seats on the aircraft.
When to use CARES:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved CARES for use during all phases of flying, including taxiing, take-off, and landing. The CARES harness is not intended for use in cars or other motor vehicles however (please see the RideSafer Travel Vest).
Where to use CARES:
Since CARES does not block the passage of others onboard the aircraft any more than an airplane seat belt, CARES can be used in center and aisle seats. Car seats can only be installed in window seats or the center-most seats of jumbo jets with two aisles.
How to install CARES on your child’s airplane seat:
1. Lower the tray table on the back side of the seat where you want to use CARES. You might want to explain to your rear neighbor if he’s already seated!
2. Then slip the red cinch strap around the seat back with the black straps hanging down, buckles facing outward.
3. Slide the red strap down to where it is at or just above your child’s shoulders and tighten this strap. If necessary due to the seat shape, move up higher if necessary.
4. Next, feed the airplane seat belt through the loops at the lower ends of the two black CARES straps. Adjust their length as appropriate for your child.
6. Fasten, and tighten the airplane’s safety belt around your child. And lastly, don’t forget to raise your neighbor’s tray table back into place!
It’s not hard to install a CARES harness, and it really does only take a few minutes, but we found that the specific shape and even upholstery of the airplane seat can present some challenges (and it was different for us on each flight).
For example, with an airplane seat that has sides curving forward from the back, it was easiest to install the main strap higher on the seat than at or just above the shoulders, as recommended.
Placed lower and closer to the shoulders, the seat’s shape worked against it; the red CARES strap would actually stick out from the seat center and kept sliding down. Moving it up higher did the trick and didn’t seem to be a problem for our 2-year-old.
Leather (or faux…) is more slippery, so we needed to adjust the main belt much more snugly around the seat back than we did when flying with a fuzzy, upholstered seat.
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Flying with CARES vs. Car Seats:
Are you still deciding between flying with CARES or flying with your child in a car seat? The main drawback we found using CARES instead of a car seat were that neither child could see out of her airplane window when seated. (A non-issue if they weren’t in window seats, hoping to look out.)
Also, when both girls were very tired and I hoped at least one would snooze, the harness straps did little to comfort or support them. In contrast, a car seat with deep side wings and a slight recline might have aided in the nodding off.
However, I’ve since discovered that some car seat strap cushions can be added to CARES to help support the cheek or chin during red-eye and nap-time flights (see The Cradler in Car Seat Travel Accessories).
You can see from this photo how CARES gives children more legroom than most car seats installed on airplanes. While it was more difficult for both children to reach their trays, it made it impossible for them to kick the seats in front of them (bonus!).
Buy CARES online at: Amazon.com (thank you for supporting this site!)
Others you might consider:
CARES is a truly unique product for toddlers and young kids riding in their own seats. No other car seat alternative is FAA-approved for use during all phases of air travel.
As an alternative to using CARES during the flight, you might consider using:
The WAYB Pico Lightweight Folding Car Seat for Travel
Any of the recommended car seats for travel
These car seat travel bags and carriers.
If you will be using CARES for your flight, you might also be interested in pairing it with the RideSafer Travel Vest to use in motor vehicles on the other end. Buy CARES online at: Amazon.com (thank you for supporting this site!)