How to Modify a CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) for Toddlers and Children

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Modify a CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) for Toddlers and Children

CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) is a restraint system that is less cumbersome than carrying a car seat through the airport and on to the plane. The restraint consists of a seat belt strap that wraps around the back of the seat with a harness attached. The seat belt on the airplane seat goes through the bottom of the harness straps.

Most airlines do not require a separate seat for a child under 2. A young child often sits on a parent's lap for the duration of the flight. This does not follow the FAA's recommendation.

"The Federal Aviation Administration strongly urges you to secure your child in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Turbulence can happen with little or no warning. And when it does, the safest place for your child is in a Certified Restraint" -The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Parents who choose to follow the recommendation purchase a seat for their child and have some options for a Certified Restraint. For children under 22 lbs., a car seat that has been approved by the FAA is the only option. Once a child is over 22 lbs., CARES can be used.

Most of the reviews from parents who purchased and used CARES were positive EXCEPT for one thing: there is not a strap that goes in between the legs so the child can not slide down when they fall asleep.

Here is how to modify a CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) harness to prevent a child from sliding down in the seat during the flight.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Velcro Wide Strap 2" x 36"

Step 1

Set Up CARES

Place CARES on the airplane seat back following the CARES installation manual.
Step 2

Attach Velcro Strap

Take a Velcro strap and loop it around the seat belt strap that goes around the seat back in between the harness straps.
Step 3

Place the Child in CARES

Sit your child in the seat so that they are sitting on the Velcro strap. Follow the CARES instructions to fasten the harness to the plane seat's lap belt. Pull the Velcro strap in between the child's leg and fasten the Velcro around the plane seat's lap belt in between the harness strap loops.
Step 4

In Case of Emergency

In the event of an emergency, un-Velcro the strap and then follow the CARES instructions.

Tips & Warnings

You can create your own strap using a cloth belt and some Velcro.
CARES can NOT be used as an automobile restraint.
CARES is for children 1 and older, 22 - 44 lbs., and up to 40" tall.
Check your car seat at baggage check.

Resources

Comments

rkremer said

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on 11/5/2009 I have 4 kids and haven't heard of this before. I'll have to check it out because I really hate lugging the huge carseat on the airplane.

blusher said

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on 5/1/2009 I've never heard of CARES before but maybe that's because I haven't had any kids yet. =) Thanks for the information - I will keep this in mind for the future!