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Cart a Kid

by Erik Olsen on Sep 18th 2006 at 10:09AM

Let us salute for a moment human ingenuity. Who would have thought you could take two of the most intractable problems of travel, luggage and kids, and put them together into one nice, handy package? Take a brief look at the handy-dandy Ride-On Carry-On, a kind of bizarre rolling luggage cum kid's chair that lets you get through airline terminals without having to fret about little Billy's whereabouts. Why? Because Billy is nicely strapped right onto your luggage. Of course, you will have to remember NOT to check Billy as you would your other luggage. I understand the luggage holds can get quite cold in flight. But you have to admit it's a rather interesting idea.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Ride-On Carry-On was invented by a flight attendant who probably hand-checked many a stroller in her time and probably dealt with many a tired, screaming child. No doubt there is some satisfaction to be had from strapping the child to a suitcase. Anyway, aside from my own invention of the Baby Cone of Silence, this is one of the more intriguing kid travel products to come along in a while.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Willy Sep 18th 2006 10:44AM

Do you have to run Junior through the x-ray machine?

Mary Jo Sep 18th 2006 2:09PM

I've seen this on the plane. You know how when some people roll their bag down the aisle, and they just sort of bump seats and people as they go. Well add a baby to that scenario, who does some moving of their own, and it's a potential for some real problems.

I've never seen this used by anyone with numerous difficulties.

So this flight attendant rates it a big thumbs down.

Greatpieceofequipment Sep 23rd 2006 8:48PM

I am a mother of two children. One who is school aged and a toddler. When running from one plane to another this would be very useful. I fly 3 or 4 times a year with just me and my two children and the last time I went I had a kiddy leash for my daughter, that didn't help because she was crying wanting me to hold her because she was tired. So I had a backpack on my back, my son had his backpack, I was pulling my luggage and holding my daughter. Obviously, you would take your child off of the seat before you entered the plane or after you get off of the plane. Nobody has time to get their luggage and put their child in the seat and roll them off of the plane. If you decide to own one of these please be courteous and understand that you are not the only one in this world and the universe does not revolve around you.

Juan Sep 23rd 2006 8:55PM

Might work, depending on the kid. But what if you got
more kids ? With some'families', they'll be fighting
over who gets to ride on the luggage. Of course, to
keep 'em quiet, always bring your duct tape !!

naomi patterson Sep 23rd 2006 9:34PM

i love the cone of silence concept. i might buy one to take on planes to drop over the head of cell phone users.

Suzany Sep 23rd 2006 9:53PM

I love the cryogel cone of silence, but, wonder if it could be used on noisy, obnoxious hand-held video games? I think it also might come in very handy for families on long drives.

Emily Sep 23rd 2006 9:59PM

While the idea of strapping my kid to my luggage strikes me as a little bit inhumane...this might actually work. Of course, once you get in the plane, it's probably best to unstrap Junior from the bag, just to avoid crashing Junior into the seats and other passengers...
As for the baby cone of silence...I've ridden on several planes where someone else's brat insisted on shrieking like a banshee. Banshee's mom apparently had been told never to tell a baby to be quiet, so Banshee screamed continuously for like two hours and everyone within earshot was ready to get up and slap Banshee upside the head. If it weren't so obviously a joke I'd totally buy one--or three dozen--and drop them over the heads of all the under-fives on the next flight I take.

Judith Sep 23rd 2006 10:16PM

The headline caught my eye and for a moment I was appalled at the idea of anyone putting their child into their luggage.....then I read the story. The concept of having a place for your child to sit especially in an airport is a good one I think. The cone of silence would be a wonderful invention. LOL Last time I was on an airplane I was seated next to a mother with her baby who cried the whole flight. Also when the mother had to rummage in the overhead compartment I heard an oops just before a jar of baby food conked me on the head. Can anyone say ouch?

R Sep 23rd 2006 10:16PM

Forget the screaming, which is bad enough. How about the kid behind me for the first hour of a 3 hour flight, ramming his foot into the back of my seat with his idiot mother gently cooing "If you keep kicking her seat, she's not gonna like you." Finally I turned around and angrily hissed "STOP him from kicking the goddam SEAT!" I scared the brat so much he didn't touch the seat again. I say get one of these and strap your clothes to it - any children whose parents can't be bothered to teach them manners go INSIDE the luggage and get checked.

jeff Sep 23rd 2006 10:20PM

this is as stupid as putting your kids on a leash.

am I the only one who's disturbed that we treat children like luggage or pets?

Jennifer Hancock Sep 23rd 2006 10:43PM

I bought one of these a year ago in anticipation of adopting a child and bringing her back on the plane by myself. It never ever crossed my mind to drag her around on it ON the airplane. I used it strictly to get from gate to gate. It even has a little table to attach to it for play time or snacks between flights. Much better than sitting anywhere else in the dirty airport. I always dissasemble it before entering the airplane. It is much better than trying to push a stroller and pull another bag at the same time. It does not impede the flow of traffic in a busy terminal. To be honest all of my kids LOVE IT!!!

Jennifer

Whose kids have travelled all of Europe, China, United States, and the Carribean.

Suzany Sep 23rd 2006 11:01PM

Obviously "Jeff" has no real world parenting experience with a toddler disappearing in a crowd (or even clothing racks in a store), no police experience, and certainly has never had the heart breaking experience of being the parent of a missing child! I used one of the so called "leashes" on every one of my children, starting over 30 years ago. I had the choice experience of having someone of Jeff's underdeveloped mentality start ranting at me in one of the malls. Happily, a security guard AND a police officer both came to my rescue & chewed Jeff's predecessor up one side and down the other as they very eloquently explained that such "leashing" of child is the best possible protection for the child short of leaving them at home, and expressed their sincere desire that more parents start demonstrating their love for their children by so protecting them! This concept is fantastic, as long as the child is removed before boarding the plane, and not strapped on until after they are out of the plane.

S Sep 23rd 2006 11:01PM

Anything that keeps a kid happy and occupied in an airport (or on a flight, not that this should be used *on* the airplane) is a godsend to parents AND fellow passengers. Riding on the luggage is a novelty for many kids, despite how it looks to adults, and it keeps kids from getting lost in the airport. I admit that I used to think such inventions were stupid (including but not limited to this one and the kiddy leash), but after having a kid of my own, it's changed my perspective a bit.

Lisa McKellar Sep 23rd 2006 11:10PM

Forget this "invention." In a pinch I've moved many a toddler through airports just letting them sit on the suitcase. My theory: If they are big/savvy enough to hold their hands on the extended handle as I wheel the bag, they're good to go. Caveat: This extra weight (in either application) puts a stress on the suitcase wheels.

cj Sep 23rd 2006 11:24PM

If this suitcase/chair looked like it were uncomfortable, it would be one thing. But it seems perfectly acceptable to me. You can move quickly through an airport to make connections. It seems far more humane that people I have seen half dragging their toddlers through the terminals as they rush to catch a flight.

The big problem seems to be if you had more than one small child.

Catie Sep 23rd 2006 11:27PM

HA! This sooo cool.

I wish it was around when I was a kid. I would have loved this. I use to hate going to the airport to travel with my parents and having to stand the whole time and they couldn't hole me backe of the luggage that they were carrying or rolling. Once, I held onto the handles of the rolling suticase and fell asleep. I fell right off that thing. I had a bruise on my butt for three weeks.

I think this is great. Your kid won't fall out and you don't have to worry about them running around the airport and saying, "Moooommmmmmmy! My feet huuuuurt!!"

imthe law Sep 23rd 2006 11:40PM

I love the baby cone of silence, but dose it happen work on obnoxious, teenage friends?

imthe law Sep 23rd 2006 11:52PM

oops! I meant DOES it happen TO work on ....

Laura Sep 24th 2006 12:15AM

Weactually have this product and used it on two trips to China. It worked great!!! We found it to be very secure and we were able to zip through airports in hong kong and nagano in a jiffy. My husband and I were VERY pleased. Our son was two then and weighed about 35 pounds. We give it a big thumbs up! I don't think it would work well for a bigger child though. We did not try to use it inside the plane, while boarding ,deplaning, etc. But for standing in line and running from gate to gate, its a gem!