We have the CARES harness and have used in on 7 or 8 flights now. We started using it when DS was 18 months and continue to use it now that he is 3. I am not really sure how big he will be when he grows out of it. Some people have commented that their children tend to slip down so they use the sticky shelf liner to prevent it.
We really like it. It certainly beats hauling a car seat through the airport. I would recommend a practice run at home using a kitchen chair. It is easy to use, but a little practice never hurt. It goes behind the tray in the row behind you so it doesn't interfere with its operation. If you think you will only use it once or twice it may be more cost effective to rent one off of EBay
We have one set so far, we used it with DS last year when he was 2. He was about 28lbs and 33inches tall then. He did slip down on the leather seats with jet blue so half way through the flight we pulled out the gripper stuff and he was much better. We will use it again this year and Im sure he will fit much better. He's now almost 40inches tall and 34lbs. So much better than the car seat in the plane. Also yes the person behind you still has access to thier tray.
We have one and used it for my daughter from about age 3 when she was I guess 28 inches, 30 lbs. Now that she's 40 lbs my son uses it. He's nearly 3yo and weighs 29 lbs and is 36 inches. He fits in it fine, but he does slide down in the seat which does make it less comfortable than his carseat.
I rented mine off ebay very inexpensively. She was 3 at the time and even fell asleep on the way home. It was very easy to install and take off the plane. It goes under the tray of the person behind you and they can put their tray down. I will be using one again when we go again in November. My dd is about 30lbs.
I forgot ours on the last trip, but the one before that (when DD was barely 3, 35 lbs, 36 inches) it worked GREAT. It was 1000% better than schlepping the carseat, and it still helped my little one to stay safe in the plane.
I have one and have used it on around 15 flights. It's great. SO much better than dealing w/ a car seat in the airport and on the plane. My son is 30# and about 38" so we probably don't have that much longer that we'll be able to use it. It doesn't interfere with the traytable behind you and it adjusts to fit wide first class seats as well as tiny, narrow regional aircraft seats.
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