CARES cares

Thankfully baby product designers are finally starting to get it. Schlepping an awkward, bulky, heavy car seat through the airport, trying to install it in a tiny plane seat, all while dealing with the normal hassles of airport security, luggage etc, not to mention traveling with kids (!!!!), is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. I did it, ONCE.

So what’s a traveling Mom who’s vowed, “never again!”, but really does care about her child’s safety to do? Buy a CARES child safety device.

Made for youngsters over the age of 1 and weighing 22-44 lbs, CARES attaches to the seat next to you, making it ideal for little ones who will no longer sit tight on your lap. Ok, it does mean that you have to actually buy the seat next to you, but most airlines offer 1/2 price fares for kids under 2. And if your child tends to crawl all over everything like my ten-month-old, you’re probably better off purchasing an extra seat anyways.

CARES is manufactured by AmSafe Aviation, the company that makes many of the restraint systems for pilots and passengers already on planes. So you have to believe they know their stuff. And I guess they do, because CARES is the only aviation child safety device to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an alternative to a car seat. (At least according to them.) So, it’s totally guilt free.

Furthermore, unlike car seats, CARES is designed to work with the airline seats, making it easy to install. You simply slip it over the back of the seat, and through the existing belt and your child has a “seat belt” specifically made for his or her tiny frame.

“Great! Tell me more!” you say? It also collapses to a mere 6” of space, and weighs only 1 lb!!!! Yup, every once in a while those product designers really get it right. Thank you! Thank you!