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Galley Gossip: Best invention for kids on the airplane - CARES
After reading all the responses to my post, Ivana Trump Harasses two little kids on a flight, I can not believe how many people think that kids do not belong on the airplane. Some people even suggested that airlines create a kid section, like a smoking section in a restaurant. While I, too, get annoyed when there's a little stinker sitting behind me screaming his head off and kicking the back of my seat WHILE the parents do nothing, not all children (just like not all adults) are trouble makers in flight . In fact, I'd say most children do just fine at 35,000 feet. I know my little one is a fantastic traveling partner. Can't say the same thing about other people I know.
The kid, my kid, and I just flew from Los Angeles to Honolulu. That kid, the one up there in the photo, the one that causes worried looks during the boarding process, only to be complimented for being such a good boy while deplaning, has traveled about once a month since he was three months old. The kid loves going to the airport with mommy. Mommy hasn't always loved going to the airport with him, not with all the stuff that has to be dragged along on the flight. Until now.
If you have kids you already how difficult it can be traveling, especially when everyone aboard the aircraft is giving you the evil eye, and your kid hasn't even done anything wrong! Taking along the little one can be very stressful, especially when you're lugging all that stuff that's going to entertain the kid. (stickers, crayons, books, the DVD player, all of it!) Trust me, I know it's a lot to carry, along with a kid and a thirty pound car seat, but you need it! Please tell me you didn't forget it?
Good news, people, traveling with children doesn't have to be so bad. Move over Sit-N-Stroll (the worlds best invention ever for kids under two years of age) there's a new product in town - CARES. CARES stands for child aviation restraint system. According to the Kidsflysafe website...
it's designed specially for airplanes and is FAA certified as having an equivalent level of safety to a car seat for all phases of flight. CARES is manufactured by AmSafe, the foremost manufacturer of airplane seatbelts and other safety restraints. Best of all, CARES weighs only 1 lb, fits in a 6" carrying case, fits all airplane seats and takes a mere 1 minute to install.
Now I'll admit, I had used CARES once before, when my son had just turned one (the age you can use CARES), and that flight from Los Angeles to Dallas did not go so well for us. In fact, I swore I'd never travel again - with him. The kid kept scooting all the way down in his seat so that his head was the only thing leaning against the seat back. When he did finally straighten up, the last twenty minutes of flight, he didn't look too comfortable sleeping with his chin against his chest, so it was back to the SIT-N-STROLL for us. Man oh man, I loved that thing, while it lasted.
Now that my son is two, he's bigger and stronger and can walk by himself. That means I can ditch the stroller. And he listens when mommy tells him to sit still, to not kick the seat in front of him, to not bang on the tray table, to not touch the call light, to not run around the aircraft, to not act like...well...those kids sitting behind us! Since he no longer needs to be in "lockdown", like the kids sitting behind us, CARES works magnificently.
I used to dread traveling with my son. It didn't matter where we were going. The whole packing the diaper bag, getting to the airport, carrying the car seat through security, getting situated on the airplane, just so we can do it all over again routine just about killed me. Thankfully things have changed. Let me tell you, it's so much easier to travel with a young child when all you have to do is bring along a few toys and a pair of straps that come in a bag that the kid can carry, that kid actually wants to carry all by himself!
"That's my bag," he says, the lightweight blue bag dangling over his shoulder.
"That's right!" I say, as we zip through the airport, onto the airplane, no problem.
Filed under: Gear, Airlines, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
G Throne Oct 13th 2008 12:33PM
Great blog. My children, then 8 & 5, took their first flight last May. They were so excited about the whole deal it was absolutely fantastic. We flew from Oakland, CA to Phoenix, so it wasn't that long in the air.
The Grand Canyon was nice, but the Southwest 737 with the free nuts & pretzels was more thrilling for the kids.
Debbie Dubrow Oct 13th 2008 2:21PM
I'm always shocked at how venomous the comments about kids on airplanes (and in restaurants) are in this country. It's entirely different in many of the countries we travel to, where the people around us are more likely to think "wow parents with a young kid, wonder how I can help out" than "why are those people here"
My two young kids, like yours, are well behaved on planes ... playing quietly or napping... and I don't particularly appreciate the glares and hostility whenever I get on a plane. The one advantage? On a recent southwest flight (where everyone chooses their own seat) My 2 year old and I got an entire row to ourselves as the other travelers rushed to fill every middle seat on the plan rather than sit next to a toddler.
Kim Oct 13th 2008 5:52PM
I travel a lot! And I can say that most of the time, kids on flights are fine. I would much rather take a toddler than a drunk passenger or a jerk who thinks he/she is entitled to the world. I've played peek-a-boo with kids in front of me, and passed notes and pictures through the seat to the ones behind me. The nasty comments and looks are uncalled for. And no, I don't have children of my own. But I am patient and understanding, and I think we need more of that when we travel.
Brenda SFO Oct 13th 2008 7:33PM
Heather, what a cutie your little boy is! I miss having little boys, mine are all grown up, ages 24 and 20..:(.
My sons have been flying since they were babies, and they've always behaved on flights. We would fly back and forth to Hawaii, as well as the east coast frequently.
One thing I always did before a flight was take them to the toy store to let them pick out an "airplane" toy (a toy which isn't obnoxious to anyone else, and can be played with quietly) They were not allowed to open or play with it until we reached cruising altitude. (mostly because I wanted them to look out the window and behold the wonderment of flight and rotation) I also often picked out a couple of surprise inexpensive quiet toys or activities to stick in their backpacks as well. I never had any troubles flying with them. I think my 6'2" oldest son was more grumpy when he was 19 years old and stuck in coach flying to Australia than when he was a confined toddler. When he was 3 years old, he did like to walk up and down the aisles saying "hello" to everyone who was awake. Most people smiled and said "hello" back. Personally, I love chatting or playing peek-a-boo with kids on planes because I like kids (as long as they're not screaming or shrieking!)
Michelle Oct 13th 2008 9:27PM
I generally get nervous when flying, and strangely enough, seeing children on the plane makes me feel better. If a baby is crying near me, I think about how they must be tired, or the pressure is bothering their ears. This takes me out of my own head and feel for them. If a child is having fun, I think about how exciting it must be for them. I've had the SFO to BOS red-eye with a screeching baby a few rows ahead, and a flight to Mexico with the sweetest little boy playing and giggling behind me. Either way, I always want to remember that these little ones are people too. I'll have to keep the CARES setup in mind for when I'm traveling with my own kids someday!
Brenda SFO Oct 14th 2008 12:06AM
Michelle said...I've had the SFO to BOS red-eye with a screeching baby a few rows ahead....
Yikes, I'm taking that flight in about 48 hours! ...and I need to sleep because I have a business meeting to get to...parents, please drug your children...I'm joking, I'm joking....jeeze...:-)...well maybe not!
Mel Oct 15th 2008 11:14PM
While CARE's is a great invention it does not work on all types of airplanes. The airline I work for does not allow cares on airplane with recessed traytables, with planes installed with monitors on the back of headrests. People wanting to use these should check with their air carrier before trying to use this type of child restraint device.
As to the behavior of children on airplanes, unfortunately children like yours are rare. Most children are very undisciplined and that's why most people hate to see a kid coming on their flight!!
John Oct 22nd 2008 8:33AM
I don't have small children anymore but I have been traveling a lot the last few years. I am guilty of judging a book by it's cover, just last trip I was flying to Merida, Mexico when I was seated in front of a small child. I immediately began looking for a way to change my seat. The kid was kicking the seat (Typical I guess). The plane was full so I was out of luck. To my surprise, as soon as we began to taxi out, the child calmed down and I did not hear from him again for the rest of the trip, and even better the parents did not have to say anything. After parking at the gave I felt compelled to tell the parents that they had a great traveling partner, they were very appreciative. The moral of the story is first, don't judge a book by it's cover and the second is, your stuck in the airplane, nothing you can do...so if you get stuck with one of those bad kids behind you then crank your I-Pod and enjoy the trip......
ray Nov 3rd 2008 11:49PM
the last time i flew, there was a youngster in the seat in front of me. the first time he turned around to start playing peep-a-boo, i very politly told him to turn around and sit down.
don't start something that you have to stop.
it's not being unfriendly, it's just don't start s**t
and it wont be any.
i'm not there to entertain mommies baby.
Julie Nov 25th 2008 3:17PM
"wow parents with a young kid, wonder how I can help out"
Are you serious? You expect people enjoying a dinner at a restaurant to drop what they're doing and help you with YOUR kids? Absolutely ridiculous.
If you want to take your kids to FAMILY restuarants (if they don't have a kid's menu, kids don't belong there), by all means, go ahead, but if you take them to a nice steak house, and they start bawling, screaming, and running through the aisles, yeah, I'm gonna glare.
Airports are another thing altogether. You can't really get around it if you have to take your kid somewhere, but if they do start being obnoxious, for the love of god, don't just tune it out.