CARES child aviation harness – Page 3

CARES for Special Needs Kids

If your child has a disability that requires hauling a brace to provide upper body support in an aeroplane seat, you know what a hassle it is to make arrangements months in advance with the airline.

Are you Flying with a child who has Special Needs?

If your child has a disability that requires hauling a brace to provide upper body support in an aeroplane seat, you know what a hassle it is to make arrangements months in advance with the airline. And you have to do it again before each subsequent trip! Check with your child’s physician or physical therapist to determine if the CARES child aviation restraint provides sufficient upper body support for your child. If it does – no more having to make arrangement weeks or months in advance with airlines because CARES is already certified for kids 10-20 kilos for all phases of flight. So, just book your flight, carry your CARES on board in your pocket or purse, install it on any seat in one minute. And know that your child is secure for taxiing, take off, turbulence and landing.

Is your Special Needs Child larger than 20 kilos and taller than 1 metre?

If so and if CARES provides sufficient upper body support (check with your physical therapist or physician) you can still use CARES. In the USA, the FAA has approved the use of CARES with special needs children as long as the child sits in a seat where no one behind him/her would have to brace against it in the event of turbulence. Effectively, this means the row in front of the bulkhead – the last row of any section of the plane. Australian CASA guidelines generally reflect those of the FAA. So if CARES is suitable for your child – remember to book the last row and install the CARES on any seat in that row.

For more information:

We have found CARES has brought great relief and has been successful in making travel easier for many Australian families with a special needs child. Remember though, CARES does not have a crotch strap which has meant it may not be suitable for some children. For more information or to discuss if CARES may be suitable for you, please contact us. We welcome your comments.

Please note, some information for this post was sourced from www.KidsFlySafe.com. And for more great kids travel items and purchase of CARES in Australia / New Zealand please visit our online store at www.LittleGulliver.com.au.

CBS report – Safety for Lap Held Children

CBS Morning Show on airline safety for lap held kids on airplanes.

When you’re watching this – remember it is a US report. Lap held children in the USA are completely unrestrained. Infants on Australian aircraft are by law required to be held in a lap belt which is attached to the parents seat belt. The report they refer to is by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The CARES harness is suitable for children from 10 – 20 kilos and up to a metre tall.

What the blogs are saying about CARES

We keep an eye on some of the local blogs, here’s what people are saying about CARES

We keep an eye on some of the local blogs, here’s what people are saying about CARES;

Bub Hub

Wont let me take a car seat onto the plane!

http://www.tas.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=288269&page=3

Flying Qantas from US with a carseat or CARES?

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?p=4558135

Essential Baby

Child restraint / car seat on flight

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t693528.html

ido.com.au

Toddlers on flights, Did anybody use a CARES harness?

http://community.i-do.com.au/index.php?showtopic=135569

Video – Installing a CARES

how to install a CARES

Here’s a video showing some information and how to install a CARES. It’s a US video, so keep the metric conversions of 10-20 kilos and up to a metre in mind. There may be no Academy Award imminent, but it covers the topic well. If you’ve never seen a CARES in action, its worth a look.

CARES is available in Australia/New Zealand at www.LittleGulliver.com.au

Before you travel, I also recommend practising installing a CARES on a dining chair at home. While doing so you can adjust the shoulder straps to fit comfortably across your child. When you’ve done this and are comfortable with how to install the harness, extend the red strap a little (as you will be placing this around the plane seat). This leaves fewer adjustments to do on the day.

I love how calm and relaxed the kids are in the video…I’m still hoping for a trip like this!

CARES vs. Car Seats

Should you take a car seat on a plane?

kate said: May 9th, 2010 2:09 pm

we are travelling 12 hours on a plane overseas with our toddler who doesnt sleep and gets hyper. She has her own seat this time but we cannot decide whether to look into bringing her car seat or not . We are thinking of buying the wheels accessory to push her in the airport . But we cannot decide to go this route or buy a safety harness instead. Would love some feedback . I suppose we need to be sure both airlines accept car seats . thank you .

Donna @ Travel Toddler said: May 9th, 2010 5:25 pm

Hello Kate,

CARES vs. car seats on planes: CARES is superior to a carseat when travelling with toddlers on planes* and I see it as the best alternative.

I dont like the idea of taking the seat out of the car, making sure its fitted back in correctly and then the potential of damage to the seat in transit. I like that CARES fits directly onto the aircraft seat and allows it to flex as intended, while supporting the childs upper torso. And, its light and fits in my carry-on luggage! This is why I created my business (Little Gulliver) and brought the CARES to Australia*.

Some people use a car seat believing their children will sleep better in them, as they do in a car. Others say they wont use car seats on planes again as the child has been uncomfortable. Many times the airline seat cant recline with the car seat in it, the tray table can’t lower over the childs legs, I’ve heard of angry fellow passengers as the child can kick the back of the seat in front! I guess the main problem is that once you have the car seat on board there isnt really an option to remove it if things go awry.

I’ve never had any problem with my children sleeping in a CARES, remembering that plane travel is never that pleasant for everyone anyway. We alway’s take the standard snacks, activities and soft toys from home and hope for the best. I think a good place to start is to see if your particular car seat is approved by your airlines, as you mentioned. Many makes and models are not, while Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways don’t allow car seats at all. Also, consider a travel stroller as an option if you do want wheels at the airport. There are some great travel strollers around (we use a Quicksmart) and Ive heard of people buying cheap umbrella strollers to use (strollers on planes though starts a whole new conversation)!

Thank you for your questions and feedback, I hope my comments help.

Happy Mothers Day to all!

Donna

What is a CARES Harness?

Find out more about the CARES Harness

CARES Child Aviation Restraint System

Have you heard of CARES? Its a harness type restraint manufactured by AMSAFE, one of the world leading aircraft seatbelt manufacturers. It takes the worry many of us have about flying with children on planes. We use ours regularly on Qantas and Jetstar. However, it is approved by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) for use on Australian planes and other countries all over the world.

If you’ve ever considered that our kids need car seats in cars, but only lap belts on planes, then you may have been as confused as I was. This is how I found the CARES! Invented by a US grandmother, the CARES protects the child upper torso by a secure harness which is attached to the aircraft seat. The aircraft seat belt goes through the bottom loop.

It is not designed to keep children in the chairs (although this can be an added benefit), it is specifically designed for safety in turbulence or an emergency situation. (It is also not for use in cars).

The other alternative to a CARES is a carseat. However, there are many difficulties in having your carseat approved for use on the aircraft and there are no bolts (as in cars) to secure it. Other parents suggest their kids aren’t as comfortable during long haul trips in their carseat, while others report difficulty using the tray table and other irate passengers who can’t recline their seat in front of them.

If you’re flying and your child is in the recommended weight limit of 10 – 20 Kilos and up to a metre tall then the CARES may be for you.

More information is available at www.kidsflysafe.com. The product is available locally in Australia and New Zealand at www.LittleGulliver.com.au.