Not Using Car Seat on Plane…CARES Harness

[js]

Hi.

We will be flying with my dd and 14 month old grandson in October to Disney. We will fly First down and all have our own seat.

Coming home, my dd/dgs leaving before us and flying home on their own. Her dh wont be with us.

We will not have my dgs carseat for the plane rides.

We are flying Delta to MCO and they are flying United back from MCO. Both times, my dgs will have his own seat.

Has anyone used the Cares harness for the plane? Besides the car seat, can you recommend anything other than the Cares harness.

I am going to tell her to purchase the Cares unless there is something better or he shouldnt use.

Thank you.

 

[kdonnel]

We always bought a seat for our small kids but used their car seat so I can't tell you how well the CARES harness works or does not work.

I would caution you to make sure that the planes you are flying do not have airbag seatbelts in first class as the CARES harness and car seats for that matter, can not be used in those seats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airplane_airbags

I am not sure how accurate the Wiki is since Delta has retired all their 777 and it is still listed.

 

[sponica]

We've used the CARES harness, i would just make sure he meets the height/weight requirements for it. I do recommend watching some installation videos though, as it's not quite intuitive.

 

[js]

We always bought a seat for our small kids but used their car seat so I can't tell you how well the CARES harness works or does not work.

I would caution you to make sure that the planes you are flying do not have airbag seatbelts in first class as the CARES harness and car seats for that matter, can not be used in those seats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airplane_airbags

I am not sure how accurate the Wiki is since Delta has retired all their 777 and it is still listed.

Thank you very much. What is an airbag seatbelt? Exactly what it sounds like?

We've used the CARES harness, i would just make sure he meets the height/weight requirements for it. I do recommend watching some installation videos though, as it's not quite intuitive.

Thank you very much. I will look now.

 

[kdonnel]

Thank you very much. What is an airbag seatbelt? Exactly what it sounds like?

Yup.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/fl...plane-seatbelt-airbag-test-video-16391930001/

 

[Disney102015]

We use it and love it! Just make sure it’s the actual FAA approved harness - lots of convincing knock offs are out there. We got it on Amazon. DS has always seemed really comfortable in it.

 

[js]

Yup.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/fl...plane-seatbelt-airbag-test-video-16391930001/

Thank you. This was news to me.

We use it and love it! Just make sure it’s the actual FAA approved harness - lots of convincing knock offs are out there. We got it on Amazon. DS has always seemed really comfortable in it.

Fab. Thank you. Yes I saw knock off ones. I will be sure to get the FAA approved. Thank you. I looked and both Delta and United recognize the harness.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

We've used the CARES harness with my son since he was 18 months old and it has worked really well in containing him on the plane. He is on the smaller side so he does slide down a little during the ride but we just scot him back up. The harness has nothing on the bottom to go between his legs. He doesn't fuss much about wearing it because the way it clips together resembles his carseat so I think in his mind, its like being in his carseat.

 

[js]

We've used the CARES harness with my son since he was 18 months old and it has worked really well in containing him on the plane. He is on the smaller side so he does slide down a little during the ride but we just scot him back up. The harness has nothing on the bottom to go between his legs. He doesn't fuss much about wearing it because the way it clips together resembles his carseat so I think in his mind, its like being in his carseat.

Thank you. My dgs is also on the smaller side but we wont have the car seat and I am going to purchase this, this week or next.

Thank you for the information.

 

[tjmw2727]

You mentioned 1st class, just a heads up that the CARES harness will not work with many premium or first-class seats.

 

[js]

You mentioned 1st class, just a heads up that the CARES harness will not work with many premium or first-class seats.

Thank you so much! I looked and the Cares Harness can go up to 62". The Airbus A321 first class seat on Delta is not that big.

Thank you so much again, I appreciate this information so I can make sure all is correct.

 

[Disney102015]

Figured I’d share that I just flew JetBlue and on one of our flights they said we could only use the child restraint at a window seat. On our first flight of the day (also JetBlue), we used it in a middle seat with no problem, and we also used it in an aisle and middle seat on Delta for the first part of our trip, so hopefully this was a fluke, but might be worth asking before you go to the trouble of setting it up.

(They also made me remove the baby from the Ergo for takeoff, which has never happened to me before, so that was odd.)

 

[js]

Figured I’d share that I just flew JetBlue and on one of our flights they said we could only use the child restraint at a window seat. On our first flight of the day (also JetBlue), we used it in a middle seat with no problem, and we also used it in an aisle and middle seat on Delta for the first part of our trip, so hopefully this was a fluke, but might be worth asking before you go to the trouble of setting it up.

(They also made me remove the baby from the Ergo for takeoff, which has never happened to me before, so that was odd.)

Thank you very much. We only have two seats on our side so I'm hoping they will let me put him by the window and not aisle, we shall see.
Thank you.

 

[EACarlson]

Figured I’d share that I just flew JetBlue and on one of our flights they said we could only use the child restraint at a window seat. On our first flight of the day (also JetBlue), we used it in a middle seat with no problem, and we also used it in an aisle and middle seat on Delta for the first part of our trip, so hopefully this was a fluke, but might be worth asking before you go to the trouble of setting it up.

(They also made me remove the baby from the Ergo for takeoff, which has never happened to me before, so that was odd.)

Sounds to me like they are confusing the rules. Child seats are only allowed to be used in the window seat, I've never heard of that with the CARES Harness though.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We used it for our eldest once he was 2 and we started buying him his own seat. He was and is big for his age but he still slid down a bit when he was in the younger range. With my youngest I often just brought a carseat because he's small for his age and I wasn't as comfortable using the CARES with him.

 

[Starwind]

Figured I’d share that I just flew JetBlue and on one of our flights they said we could only use the child restraint at a window seat. On our first flight of the day (also JetBlue), we used it in a middle seat with no problem, and we also used it in an aisle and middle seat on Delta for the first part of our trip, so hopefully this was a fluke, but might be worth asking before you go to the trouble of setting it up.

(They also made me remove the baby from the Ergo for takeoff, which has never happened to me before, so that was odd.)

A "Vest- and harness-type devices that attach the child to the parent, the parent’s restraint system, or to the aircraft seatbelt" are "prohibited for use during ground movement, takeoff, and landing". So the using a body-worn baby carrier is prohibited during ground movement, takeoff, and landing.


Regarding seat placement:
18. PLACEMENT OF CRS ON THE AIRCRAFT. CRSs must be installed in forward-facing
aircraft seats, in accordance with instructions on the label. This includes placing the CRS in the
appropriate forward or aft-facing direction as indicated on the label for the size of the child. A
window seat is the preferred location; however, other locations may be acceptable, provided the
CRS does not block the egress of any passenger, including the child’s parent or guardian, to the
aisle used to evacuate the aircraft. The regulations contained in §§ 91.107, 121.311, 125.211, and
135.128 allow aircraft operators to determine the most appropriate passenger seat location for
CRSs based on safe operating practices. In making this determination, an aircraft operator should
consider the following.

a. Aisle Seats. CRSs should not be placed in an aisle seat because this placement has the
highest risk of slowing down the passenger flow rate during an evacuation. For example, a parent
or guardian traveling with the child in a CRS may step out into the aisle to release the child from
the CRS or the CRS may impede F/As who may need to climb over the top of aisle seats to get
past passengers in the aisle to reach an emergency exit.

<continues> Source: FAA_Advisory Circular Child Restraint Systems_ https://www.amsafe.com/wp-content/u...rcular_Child-Restraint-Systems_09-17-2010.pdf See also https://www.amsafe.com/wp-content/u...se-of-Child-Restraint-Systems-on-Aircraft.pdf

 

[js]

A "Vest- and harness-type devices that attach the child to the parent, the parent’s restraint system, or to the aircraft seatbelt" are "prohibited for use during ground movement, takeoff, and landing". So the using a body-worn baby carrier is prohibited during ground movement, takeoff, and landing.


Regarding seat placement:
18. PLACEMENT OF CRS ON THE AIRCRAFT. CRSs must be installed in forward-facing
aircraft seats, in accordance with instructions on the label. This includes placing the CRS in the
appropriate forward or aft-facing direction as indicated on the label for the size of the child. A
window seat is the preferred location; however, other locations may be acceptable, provided the
CRS does not block the egress of any passenger, including the child’s parent or guardian, to the
aisle used to evacuate the aircraft. The regulations contained in §§ 91.107, 121.311, 125.211, and
135.128 allow aircraft operators to determine the most appropriate passenger seat location for
CRSs based on safe operating practices. In making this determination, an aircraft operator should
consider the following.

a. Aisle Seats. CRSs should not be placed in an aisle seat because this placement has the
highest risk of slowing down the passenger flow rate during an evacuation. For example, a parent
or guardian traveling with the child in a CRS may step out into the aisle to release the child from
the CRS or the CRS may impede F/As who may need to climb over the top of aisle seats to get
past passengers in the aisle to reach an emergency exit.

<continues> Source: FAA_Advisory Circular Child Restraint Systems_ https://www.amsafe.com/wp-content/u...rcular_Child-Restraint-Systems_09-17-2010.pdf See also https://www.amsafe.com/wp-content/u...se-of-Child-Restraint-Systems-on-Aircraft.pdf

Thank you but I thought they were talking about a restraint, not a baby carrier. However, I'm not debating and I'm the OP asking about the Cares Harness, which we will
be using in a couple of weeks. I don't understand how anything can be worse than a lap baby but guess airline regulations deem it so.

 

[Starwind]

Thank you but I thought they were talking about a restraint, not a baby carrier. However, I'm not debating and I'm the OP asking about the Cares Harness, which we will
be using in a couple of weeks. I don't understand how anything can be worse than a lap baby but guess airline regulations deem it so.

My understanding is the ban on a body-worn baby carrier during certain phases of flight is primarily due to what would happen during a *crash* or other adverse event and the very strong forces involved. One of the documents I found talked about what testing has shown happens to the baby *and parent* when wearing such a device in a crash situation - bottom line is injuries happen that would not have happened if the carrier wasn't worn.

The CARES harness is tested and approved for use on US (and several other countries') aircraft if used as per instructions.

To answer your original question:
For a child under two years old, the approved Child Restraint Systems are:

- a motor vehicle car seat that meets the standard for use on an aircraft (note: not all do);
- an AmSafe CARES child restraint device (harness)

There aren't any other approved harnesses/non-car seat devices other than the CARES device.

See: https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children

Enjoy your trip !

 

[js]

My understanding is the ban on a body-worn baby carrier during certain phases of flight is primarily due to what would happen during a *crash* or other adverse event and the very strong forces involved. One of the documents I found talked about what testing has shown happens to the baby *and parent* when wearing such a device in a crash situation - bottom line is injuries happen that would not have happened if the carrier wasn't worn.

The CARES harness is tested and approved for use on US (and several other countries') aircraft if used as per instructions.

To answer your original question:
For a child under two years old, the approved Child Restraint Systems are:

- a motor vehicle car seat that meets the standard for use on an aircraft (note: not all do);
- an AmSafe CARES child restraint device (harness)

There aren't any other approved harnesses/non-car seat devices other than the CARES device.

See: https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children

Enjoy your trip !

Thank you.
We have the Cares Harness and ready to use it on Wednesday.
Thank you for your detailed response.