Question for FAs re: CARES Child Safety Restraint

[ZapBrannigan]

Hello all,

Wondering if any of the FAs here are familiar with the CARES device. (http://kidsflysafe.com/)

I'm considering buying one of these to use for a family vacation this summer but before I do, was hoping to find an RJ flight attendant who has seen one before and who can tell me if it looks like it works ok and, if so, does it fit well on the CRJ considering the tray-tables are usually recessed into the seat?

thanks in advance!

[ZapBrannigan]

Oh! Also wondering about the Sit-N-Stroll. It is 16" wide at the base. My guess is that the CRJ seats are too narrow for it.

Has anyone seen a family try to use a Sit-N-Stroll on a CRJ? How did it work out? Thanks!

[MQAAord]

I have heard of the CARES device, and it looks intriguing.

I can guarantee you though that most FAs have probably not seen them, and you may encounter difficulty in the crew allowing you to use them.

The installation video they show uses the device on an AA MD-80. It works fine with those seats because the tray table does not recess into the seat. The website says that on airplanes where the tray table does recess into the seat back that the device should be installed over the tray table, thereby making the tray table of the seat behind the child unusable. You may encounter some issues there

Personally, I would use a full-out car seat for a small child who still fits in a car seat. My 4 1/2 year old still uses his Britax Marathon (though he is approaching it's height limit). When I take him up in dad's plane, I use his Britax. If I were to take him on an airliner, I would probably just use the regular airplane seatbelt and leave it at that. My 3 year old is still very tiny, and I'd use his Britax.

I've seen many sit n' strolls used on planes over the years, they seem to work just fine on any plane I've seen one used on. Handy looking things, and it eliminates hauling & gate-checking a stroller.

[ZapBrannigan]

We own a sit and stroll. Problem is it is 17" wide at the base. The Delta website says that the CRJ seat is 16" wide. I also think that the window-seat armrest is attached to the wall and, therefore, can not be lifted. So I wonder if the sit and stroll will work in an RJ. We're going from XNA-ATL-PHF so 4 CRJ flights.

[MQAAord]

Hmm, don't know what to tell you about the CRJ.

My experience with RJs was limited to the EMBs I worked at Eagle. I hope someone pipes up who has used one on a CRJ!

[pilotnate23]

I recently used them on a plane (DC-9s/Airbus) that had recessed tray tables and they worked great. These things are a life-saver as I have two small kids that would otherwise would have been in car seats...definitely worth the investment!

- Nate

[MichaelCPS]

Originally Posted by pilotnate23

I recently used them on a plane (DC-9s/Airbus) that had recessed tray tables and they worked great. These things are a life-saver as I have two small kids that would otherwise would have been in car seats...definitely worth the investment!

- Nate

Did you have to put the strap over the tray?

Michael

[lnewby]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

We own a sit and stroll. Problem is it is 17" wide at the base. The Delta website says that the CRJ seat is 16" wide. I also think that the window-seat armrest is attached to the wall and, therefore, can not be lifted. So I wonder if the sit and stroll will work in an RJ. We're going from XNA-ATL-PHF so 4 CRJ flights.

I think some people who sit in the seats are more than 16" at their "base" as well.

Seriously, Mel and I have just used the car seat. I wouldn't think that they are much wider than the sit and stroll.

[MQAAord]

Most carseats made after 1983 are approved for use in aircraft, as always PLEASE CHECK THE STICKER on your carseat before trying to take it on a plane.

[ZapBrannigan]

I am going to try and use the carseat but I RENTED the Cares device on Ebay just in case the carseat doesn't fit. Should be covered one way or the other.

[imachickadee75]

How'd it go with the CARES system? I LOVE mine -most of the time. I non-rev as an airline spouse with my DS quite a bit and don't know what I'd do without it. I've found over the last two years, most FA's have not seen them in use but have vague knowledge. I did have one give me a hard time about it, but an older FA that was sitting near me had her pull out her manual and look it up. It was a great learning experience for all involved.

On the RJ's there is the problem of the recessed tray tables and I usually just put mine behind it not around it. Yup, I know it reduces the efficacy of the system but I'm using it mostly for restraint of my little guy throughout the flight. But, I also often wind up in the very back with no one behind me so I guess it's not always a problem.

DS is very slender and I wish it had a crotch strap because he always seems to slip down under the lap belt. I suggested to the inventor via the website that maybe one could run from the band around the seat, behind and under the child to the lap belt and she said they weren't able to do that safely. She just stated that I should be able to get the lapbelt tight enough to keep him back in the seat. Easier said than done unfortunately. I noticed on our last trip that this prob has gotten better, maybe he's grown a little.

I usually take the little pillows that wrap around car seat straps so that DS can fall asleep comfortably. Also, I've found the label on the strap that goes around the seat can rub DS's neck after awhile. So we either flip up his collar or put a blanket behind him.

Overall, I'd recommend this product. My carseat is HUGE -almost as big as a Britax and difficult to get onto the plane by myself with DS and a carryon. Now DS1 has a new brother for me to carry so I definately don't see me taking the seat on board. But, its so much less stressful knowing that DS is still strapped in with the CARES system. Less wiggling, standing, and overall irritability. Just like in the car, he's in with no arguements. But DON"T FORGET THE DVD PLAYER!!!!!!

However, as an aside, I have put the carseat on a folding luggage cart with the carryon strapped into the seat and gatechecked it. When I travel to visit my parents I have a choice between three different arrival airports so its always a good idea not to check the carseats as I might wind up going in somewhere else. I have to have the seats to drive to pick up my other bags/head to the house.

Hope that helps,
Jackie

[Av8rWannaB]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

Hello all,

Wondering if any of the FAs here are familiar with the CARES device. (http://kidsflysafe.com/)

I'm considering buying one of these to use for a family vacation this summer but before I do, was hoping to find an RJ flight attendant who has seen one before and who can tell me if it looks like it works ok and, if so, does it fit well on the CRJ considering the tray-tables are usually recessed into the seat?

thanks in advance!

I used one of these on my son when he was 2. He hated it coz he wanted to jump around during landing and takeoff. As a parent, they are GREAT. They are not easy to put onto the seat but once you get the hang of it you are good. Just make sure that you board EARLY and setup before the herd comes in.

[MichaelCPS]

My wife and I used it last week with our 2 year old. It was GREAT. It was great not having to lug on a huge car seat and struggle to install it. We are flying down to Tampa next week, so it will be a little longer flight than the first time we used it (hour flight to Chicago).

Michael

[ZapBrannigan]

I'm one month out from our big family trip. Still planning on bringing and using the sit n' stroll.

http://www.lillygold.com/sns.html

I haven't found any comments on the internet that would indicate that it WON'T fit in an RJ seat...

I figure if that happened often, people would post something about it. Just in case though I did rent a CARES system on Ebay that we'll bring as a backup.