This year has been a whirl-wind of travel with my family, both for pleasure and for business. I have been fortunate enough to take my wife and daughter, as well as my sister-in-law & her daughter on a couple trips this year that were really working vacations. Without my "Family Travel Toolbox", I would have been lost! I will begin sharing my tips here from what I've learned in the past couple years so all can benefit!
This installment is for air travel with toddlers. Now, I use the term "toddlers" loosely here. I'm sure many of you have traveled with your toddler and felt perfectly fine plopping them in the seat right beside you, and cinching the stock airline seatbelt all the way down until the buckle is right on top of metal tip.
If you look on Tripwiser, and find my trip called Washington D.C., you'll see something on there called "CARE Straps". You can check them out here:
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/index.php
Unfortunately, they are only good for kids from 22-44 pounds. Yeah, you are probably thinking the same thing I was... that's all of about 2 months of toddler-hood! Not to mention, they are expensive for the amount of uses you get out of them, around $75 plus shipping! Yikes! What's a toddler parent to do? Well, I found these folks:
http://myworld.ebay.com/m_and_d_in_fl
They offer you the option of RENTING the CARES restraints! They have PHENOMENAL customer service, and their return policy is pretty good too. You get everything you need for the CARES system before your trip, and return it upon return from the trip. They even give you some time to unpack after you get back before the package is due back to them!
Take it from me, these things made our trip fast & safe, as we didn't have to haul around bulky car seats. I know someone may comment on the fact that toddlers don't NEED car seats, but at the same time, try telling people in South Mississippi that they aren't in a flood zone & they don't NEED flood insurance! :)
Happy travels!
Kingsolo
Comments