When did you switch from a carseat to a CARES harness on the plane?

[cyanviolet]

Our little guy is going to be 20 months for our next flight. We found that he wouldn't stay in his car seat on the last plane ride, so I thought I would give the CARES harness a try since he falls in the weight/height range for the harness. He is 34 inches and 28 lbs. I was thinking that I would just use the harness and have Grandpa buy a car seat to store at his house so we wouldn't have to deal with it on the plane. But I'm reading some archived threads where parents are saying that their kids didn't fit well in the harness until age 3 or so. I'm hoping to hear from people about what height/weight they found worked in the CARES instead of age (since that varies so much).

thanks

[leighi123]

If he wont stay in a carseat, CARES would be even harder to keep him in.  Its less comfortable, and way easier to wiggle out of.   

I'd stick with the carseat, and just keep him strapped in unless you have to take him out (to go potty or whatever).  For my son, its not a choice, you stay strapped into your seat unless you are going potty, which is what adults basically do on the plane as well.   Its anoying to the other passengers (and to myself) to have a kid climbing all over!   Plus it defetes the purpose of having the carseat on the plane in the first place if they arent in it!   

To answer your question, my ds fits in the CARES no problem and he is 35" and 25lbs (he is 3.5 though).  But he can unbuckle it in 2 seconds if he wants to.    (he rides in his carseat on the plane, we just 'tested' one that a random person had behind us - their daughter was 2.5 and I dont know her stats but about the same size as my son, maybe a little bigger - she didnt stay in it at all durring the flight!)

[Okapi]

We used one with my DD when she was a little over 2.5. I think she was around 33in and maybe 28 or 29 lbs. I would have much preferred the car seat, but I was with her alone, and DH was adamant that I not have to deal with the seat while getting to our connecting flight. I really didn't see the point for a kid that small, other then just giving them the reminder that they're buckled in. There is no strap or anything that goes between their legs and the plane seats are so large that she would pretty much just slip out the bottom. The problem is the plane seat belt is still the main belt, and DD was so tiny that even tightened all the way, she could easily wiggle out if she'd wanted to (so that's where the reminder came in). If we had hit bad turbulence and the plane had dropped suddenly, it probably would have helped keep her from slipping out the top, though, so I guess that's the point? I just know the seat was pretty uncomfortable for her. And once she got tired, she slumped down & was even further out the bottom.

[JudiAU]

I think CARES is awesome. DS at 2 found it very comfortable and resulted in our most relaxing travel ever. When he napped (long flight) we took it off and slept with his head on my lap.No problem with slipping and it held him securely.  Also, and very important, it let him use the tray table and that opened a lot of play options. We take a duplo play mat with us.