Please help me decide about CARES!

Shaggy · Apr 4, 2010

I will be traveling with my 3 year old to Europe in May. We have a 2 hour internal flight, connection in Houston, and then a 9-10 hour trans-Atlantic overnight flight. For convenience I would really like to use a CARES harness and then a safety vest in the car at the other end. My other option is to buy a seat - probably a Maestro. Obviously all children are different but would you (or have you) put a 3 year in a CARES harness for such a long flight? I'm assuming she couldn't keep it on the whole time as she'd be too uncomfortable to sleep, but I don't like the thought of her being unrestrained. And then since she'll be overtired and grouchy at the landing I anticipate problems persuading her to put it back on.
I don't know - any thoughts anyone?
I really don't want to lug a stroller, a car seat, hand luggage and a 3 year old!
Many thanks.

Maybe I should have added...she's 32lbs and 39" tall. Not sure on the torso height - around 14" I think as she's just reaching the top slot on her scenera.

spokaneCPST · Apr 5, 2010

I flew to and from China (1hr flight, 11hr flight, 5hr flight) with my almost 3 year old (she turned 3 two weeks after we came home). I chose to use CARES instead of a carseat since we would not be using a carseat in China. Here is a picture of her using CARES:

She was (is) tiny. I don't remember exact stats at that time, but somewhere around 23-24 pounds and 36 inches. She would not have fit if she had been much smaller.

She did sleep in the harness. I loosened the shoulder straps a little and she slumped against me and put her legs up on the other side of her, curled up and went to sleep.

aeormsby · Apr 5, 2010

My DD fell asleep with her Cares harness on a flight last week. A child sized neck pillow (one of those 'U' shaped ones) might have been nice for her to have, I don't think her seat was reclined at all. I've also put a folded jacket behind her back to give her a little more back support.

I've been pretty happy with our Cares, we have a Safeguard GO that we take with for vehicles at our destination.

bella_1818 · Apr 18, 2010

We have a CARES harness and I really like it for my son when he is awake. Having the extra straps makes him settle down in the plane, which is more pleasant for everyone. I really wished the CARES harness had a crotch strap though. When my son falls asleep, he starts to "melt" down the seat leaving the lap belt around his soft belly and the chest clip at his neck. I have to either keep pulling him back up or remove the harness after he has fallen asleep.

In this picture he is about 2.5 yr/ 28lb/ 37 inches

Please help me decide about CARES!

Shaggy

New member

spokaneCPST

CPST Instructor

aeormsby

New member

bella_1818

New member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics