CARES harness thoughts

[lilpenguin]

I will be traveling alone w/2 kiddos and we will have seats at our destination. Wondering if I should lug the seat for DD2 (will be 2y 4m) or just use a CARES harness?

 

[creideamh]

If you have appropriate seats at your destination (i.e. you know the history, condition, etc) and your DD fits the CARES requirements, I'd use it.

 

[lilpenguin]

If you have appropriate seats at your destination (i.e. you know the history, condition, etc) and your DD fits the CARES requirements, I'd use it.

Actually, seats at our destination will be our regular seats, as DH is driving up to meet us.

Forgot to mention in OP that it would be only for a short 1h flight from LA to San Francisco.

 

[creideamh]

Actually, seats at our destination will be our regular seats, as DH is driving up to meet us.

Forgot to mention in OP that it would be only for a short 1h flight from LA to San Francisco.

Oh then yeah, go for it!

I keep waiting for the perfect circumstance like that to use mine...

 

[aeormsby]

Yes, I'd use the Cares harness. We have one and I always feel safer using it. Our trip next week will be the first time DD will only be using the plane belt, but she's 6.5 now and DS will be using the Cares.

 

[ketchupqueen]

It would depend, to me, on the build of the kid and whether the lap belt fits well. Because if the lap belt doesn't fit well, the CARES isn't much good.

It all depends on build when that happens. Lap belt fit was pretty great on my 3 1/2 year old last summer, who was about 36-37 lbs. at the time. She's built wide and solid. On the same trip the lap belt fit was abysmal on my 45-47 lb. 7 1/2 year old who is built long and lanky.

 

[gigi]

I found the cares pretty useless. My son outgrew it by height/weight before the lap belt fit was any good.

 

[wendytthomas]

It would depend, to me, on the build of the kid and whether the lap belt fits well. Because if the lap belt doesn't fit well, the CARES isn't much good.

It all depends on build when that happens. Lap belt fit was pretty great on my 3 1/2 year old last summer, who was about 36-37 lbs. at the time. She's built wide and solid. On the same trip the lap belt fit was abysmal on my 45-47 lb. 7 1/2 year old who is built long and lanky.

I found the cares pretty useless. My son outgrew it by height/weight before the lap belt fit was any good.

I agree with these. Generally the lap belt doesn't fit until about 40 pounds, and that's also the FAA's recommendation for using a carseat. My older daughter had one plane where she didn't fit properly at 53 pounds (long and thin), but generally she fit in all planes but that one by 43 pounds. Some at 38. Until then we traveled with a carseat. The CARES doesn't tighten the lap belt, doesn't have a crotch strap, and tends to pull the lap belt up. So I don't like it if the lap belt doesn't fit. And if the lap belt doesn't fit, kids can go right out from under it.

Also, even a five minute flight has taxiing, take off, and landing. The three most dangerous parts of the flight. Just because it's short doesn't mean you get to skip those parts.

Wendy

 

[AvIsmom]

Any way to test before hand if the CARES and lap belt will work on a child. We may be flying to Disney in Nov. with my DD (now 2y 3m 36"32#). Don't know how she will grow between now and then so I am wondering if a CARES would work for her or should we bring her myride (or AOE which she has outgrown RFing) on the plane w. us. Read that Mears, the Disney bus service, doesn't allow car seats and we wont have other transportation available to us to need a car seat. DD2 (now 1 y next week, 20#, 24") will be a different story. I'm thinking I may need to bring the car seat on the plane. Don't think there is anything out there for her to use.

 

[wendytthomas]

It's unlikely a 32 pound child will be able to have the lap belt tightened. And a one year old simply needs a seat on board. No way around it. I've brought seats before and left them in the hotel room, only to use again on the plane. No big deal.

Wendy

 

[AvIsmom]

Yeah, that is what I guessing but just thought I would check to see if I was missing anything. Thanks!!!

Another question. Any guesses or experience with either a Myride65 or AOE on a plane, which will work better? I know that all planes are different (learned that the hard way when I tried to take my infant seat on a Spirit flight and could not get it to fit ) so maybe I will just have to try and get seat measurements and try and "demo" it with my seats.

 

[wendytthomas]

I don't know which will fit better, but I know both fit. You may need to lift the armrest, though.

Wendy

 

[AvIsmom]

Thanks!!