Anyone use a CARES harness when flying with a toddler?

tanzer13

Do they work well?  We are thinking of using one when we fly to Florida and checking DSs carseat instead of lugging it around with us in the airport.  I think I remember seeing on here at one point that you could rent them too, does anyone remember from where?  Thanks!

beta7

We have one and it works great -- DD loved buckling herself into it!  People rent them on ebay, but you may as well buy it if you'll ue it more than a few times.

Ciarrai

I have one and will soon have two.  (We just ordered our second for DD#2.)  We love love love ours.  We travel to my parents' a lot and they have car seats and everything for the girls.  The first time we bought DD#1 a seat, she was about 16 months and I was worried about her fitting well with a regular seatbelt plus staying in her seat not to mention the safety issues.  I was about 4 months PG with DD#2 and I didn't know if I'd have a lap for her to sit on but I definitely didn't want to be trying to carrying DD, our carry ons and a carseat on the plane by myself.  It's the easiest thing in the world and fits in your carry on easily.  Friends of mine have borrowed ours and rave about it.  One of my friends traveled with her son a ton but he would always unbuckle the regular suitcase.  Because she was traveling with two DC on her own, it was really hard to bring a carseat on so I loaned her our CARES harness and it worked great.  He thought he was in a regular carseat (basically) and didn't even attempt to unbuckle it.  She said it was the best thing ever.  My mom says I should rent mine out, but I feel bad asking friends to donate.  They usually give me a little GC or take me out to lunch or bring the girls a little something back if they think of it.  They're expensive, but we travel so much it's worth it...especially b/c I travel a lot alone with the girls and I definitely will not be hauling two carseats on myself.

tanzer13

Thanks for the help ladies.  DS is just 22 lbs so I am hoping it will fit him ok.  Also we are in the back seat of the plane, do you think it will be a problem hooking it up around the back of the seat??