Travel Tips & Trends

Airplane child harnesses

Traveling with young children always means hauling a lot more baggage and equipment—including a car seat—through airport security. Many parents don't realize there is an alternative to car seats, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration: the CARES safety harness.

The harness is designed for child air passengers weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. Made by an aviation seatbelt manufacturer, it attaches to the seat back and lap belt, fits all commercial aircraft seats and is small enough to fit in an adult's pocket when not in use.

The child seat can then be placed in checked baggage for use at the destination. Most car rental companies also provide child seat rental options—so, depending on the circumstances, it might be possible to leave this bulky item at home.

While not often seen in flight, the safety harness has been available for private purchase since 2006 and is the only legal alternative to car seats on all U.S. airlines. It is also certified by foreign aviation authorities for use on all airlines based in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Canadian and European certification is expected in the future. For more information, call 800-299-6249 or visit www.kidsflysafe.com.