Unfortunately it’s still true that some of our youngest and most precious travelers are the least protected. Airlines, the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and travelers have long had the discussion on whether to require children to have a seat to themselves or allow them to travel (for free) on their parents lap.
The FAA (and the airlines) have currently refrained from requiring children under two to have their own seat. The FAA reasons that requiring parents to buy a seat for their smallest children will force them into driving to their destination to avoid the cost of another airline seat; and since there are more children killed in car accidents than aircraft accidents, they feel this would increase the chance for children to be injured or killed while traveling. Not all industry experts agree. The NTSB recommends that “ALL occupants be restrained during take off, landing, and turbulent conditions and that all infants and small children be restrained in a manner appropriate to their size.”
The safest way to fly with your children is to have them in an aft facing car seat (for children under one). Once they reach the age of two, children should be properly restrained in their own seat (booster seats have the potential to cause more harm to your child and are therefore not allowed).
Understandably, parents often dread lugging their car seat to the aircraft and trying to get it buckled into the plane properly. AmSafe Aviation has designed a CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) device to help make protecting your child easier. CARES is the only FAA approved harness type device currently manufactured. At one pound (and stowed in a small 6 inch sack) it’s easy to carry on and it takes place of a car seat (you can always check your car seat if you need it at your destination).
Parents who have used it say it’s lightweight and easy to install and studies have shown that it offers an equivalent level of protection to car seats. Because it’s not as bulky as car seats if can be used in any seat of the aircraft row, but aisle seats should still be avoided due to the risk of other injuries from beverage carts or overhead baggage.
CARES is designed for children ages 1 and older who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds. Many parents feel that their children want to run around and will not stay seated anyway, but it’s very dangerous to allow children to run around the aircraft or not be belted in even if the seat belt sign is off. Clear air turbulence can happen at any time and without warning so it’s important to wear your seat belt at all times during the flight.
If any of you have used the CARES device it would be great to hear some first hand accounts. I’m sure parents appreciate any tips they can get on how to make a stressful flight more pleasant for their child and for their fellow travelers. For more information about the CARES device and where you can purchase one, check out their website at: http://www.kidsflysafe.com/.
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