Carseat or Cares Harness for Flight?

[nvsnot]

I'm flying in June with my daughter who will be 2.5 yrs. old. I'm going with the CARES harness because her carseat is big and bulky and I won't need it once we're on Disney property + i'll get more use out of the harness than I would the Costco carseat.

 

[supersuperwendy]

bumping..

Does anyone have any recent review of CARES? I'm strongly considering using it for our trip in December, but would love to hear more reviews first.

 

[Bren's Mom]

bumping..

Does anyone have any recent review of CARES? I'm strongly considering using it for our trip in December, but would love to hear more reviews first.

How old is your child? How much does he/she weigh? Is he/she generally good about sitting for a while, or a little monkey?

 

[Michigan_tinkerbell]

She'll be 31 months when we go. I hadn't thought of the kicking the seat factor with using her regular booster, that is one more reason to try the CARES. I'm just not sure with no between the legs strap if it'll hold her still. We only have a 2.5 hour flight, though, so at least it isn't cross country or anything.

Rear facing is not an option for a couple of reasons. First, she hates it in the car partly because she can't see the screen for the VHS player, and we're bringing a portable DVD player for the girls on the plane so we'd have the same issue on the plane. And second, I'm not interested in buying a rear facing seat for what will most likely be one-time use, particularly since it is so hard to sell or give away a used seat these days with the safety recommendations against it. It isn't even a question of cost, it is just so wasteful that it isn't something I'd do.

We used the CARES for a VERY Busy 18 month old when we went from DTW to MCO in 09 we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVED it. We are using it again forher and for our 23 month old DS also. It is way worth it. i would really suggest it. We are flying on Spirit also and I am not worried about it at all.

 

[disneywatcher]

I'm going to be the odd person here...

Our first trip to Orlando, my youngest rode on my lap (she was a year and a half old if I remember right).

Second trip, I rented a CARES from a lady on Ebay...we got on the plane, installed it easily enough and had YDD in it...she HATED that thing and was screaming and fighting to get out of it...so I took her out of it and she stayed in her own seat with the lap belt on the whole flight. On our return flight, the CARES system went in our checked baggage and I mailed it back to the lady. I won't be renting one again. Mind you my youngest LOVES her carseat and willingly climbs in and buckles her self in to her seat. She hated the CARES harness though.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Love the cars... we used it for the first time when my son was 25 month. He's short and quick moving so I wasn't sure... but I refused to carry the big carseat. (We had just flown the month before with 2 carseats and it was a nightmare!) Anyway, rented it and it was FANTASTIC! He didn't try to get out of it at all. IT kept him very secure and he had a fantastic flight. We will be using it again in March!

 

[Tink1073]

We've flown at least 8 times with my son in a carseat. For our trip next week, I considered renting a cares harness for my youngest since we won't have a car. I decided to go with the carseat again. He is comfortable in it and always sleeps in the car. I think hid chances of sleeping on the plane are better if he's in a carseat.

I also bought the Cosco Scenera seat for this trip. It is so light, only cost $39 at walmart, and has great safety ratings.

Good luck!

 

[Suzanne74]

I am taking my 2 year old and we are definitely bringing a carseat. She is still rear facing in the car and will use the Costco Scenera rear facing on the plane. She is 36" tall and 29lbs but I want her secure on the plane because we hit horrible turbulence one trip. Enough that a mom with a lap baby was in tears struggling to keep her baby in her grasp. I have seen the CARES and no way would my daughter appreciate it nor do I think it is safe enough for a 2 year old. It is almost a tease of kinda free, kinda not. Or at least that is how my daughter would see it. She is a squirmy one but she is content in her carseat. She can read books, snack and interact with us. No squirming, no kicking to worry about.