CARES Safety Restraint by Kids Fly Safe

We prefer not to lug our carseats through the airport. Instead, we use a lightweight CARES safety restraint when we fly. It is FAA approved, easy to set up, weighs only a pound, and has made getting through the airport much easier than it was in the days when we brought a car seat. Best of all, we know that E is seated safely. He likes having a little more space than his car seat would allow, and sleeps well in it. It's perfect for trips where we travel exclusively by plane, train and subway or can rent or borrow a carseat at our destination.

Available from Amazon

Related links:

• Reader Questions: FAA and Airline Policies on CARES Harness
• Picture of the Week: Cares Airplane Harness

Sit'n'Stroll 5-n-1 Combination Carseat/Stroller

The Sit 'n' Stroll is essentially a car seat with a built in handle and wheels so that you can also use it as a stroller. It is approved for use on airplanes, and on some planes, you'll be able to wheel it right down the aisle. While we don't use the Sit'n'Stroll ourselves (we just avoid needing a car seat altogether), I do think it is a great product for trips where you will be in and out of a taxi a lot at your destination. It's a bit less great if you will have a rental car at your destination because you need to re-install the seat each time you put the child in it, but still workable. The stroller feature is good for airports and city streets, but not designed for rougher terrain. The Sit 'n' Stroll fits newborns (and can be installed rear facing) up to 40 pounds.

Available from Amazon

Related links:

• Travel Car Seats