Flight attendants on multiple U.S. flights have recently stopped parents from using the AmSafe CARES harness—the only harness-type child restraint system that is FAA-approved for airplanes—even as their own union and federal safety officials urge families to use it to keep children safe. The most recent case, reported in October 2025 on an Alaska Airlines flight operated by Horizon Air, involved a family who had purchased a seat for their 16-month-old.
Despite showing the device’s approval label, the crew said it was against policy and ordered the parent to hold the child as a lap infant during the flight — a less safe option that clashes with federal recommendations and airline documentation.
Pattern of confusion across carriers
These incidents have surfaced across multiple carriers in 2025, according to passenger accounts and safety advocates, revealing a pattern: front-line crew confusion about an FAA-approved device that is designed for airplane use and is backed by investigators, regulators, and the flight attendants’ own union.
Key facts about the CARES harness:
– Certified weight range: 22–44 pounds
– Certified height limit: up to 40 inches
– Approved for: all phases of flight (taxi, takeoff, turbulence, and landing) when the child has their own seat
Reports describe parents—many traveling to visit family or returning from international trips—left unsure how to follow best practices when airline crews reject the very safety gear federal authorities support.
“U.S. aviation regulators, the National Transportation Safety Board, and pediatric safety experts urge parents not to fly with young children as lap infants. Instead, they advise using an approved child restraint system.”
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the largest flight attendant union in the country, has spent years publicly calling for a ban on lap infants and for mandatory use of approved restraints.
Why the CARES harness matters
The AmSafe CARES harness is the only harness-type restraint certified by the FAA for commercial aircraft in the United States. Important distinctions and benefits:
– It is not a car seat; it uses the aircraft seat back and the lap belt to create a four-point restraint that keeps a small child upright and secure.
– It is lighter and more compact than many car seats, making it easier to carry and install in tight seating rows.
– It addresses practical fit issues on many aircraft where bulky car seats won’t fit properly.
Federal agencies, unions, and safety experts emphasize that babies and toddlers are safest in their own seat with an approved restraint. The FAA and NTSB have reiterated this message following turbulence and accident investigations. The union cites incidents (for example, the Alaska Airlines door panel blowout in January 2024) and turbulence events that sent unrestrained passengers and items flying, underscoring the risks to lap infants.
Where the conflict arises
Despite shared safety goals, travelers frequently get mixed messages at the gate and on board:
– Flight attendants sometimes claim the CARES harness is barred by airline policy—or call it “dangerous”—even with the FAA approval label visible.
– Crews may allow the harness during cruise but refuse it for taxi, takeoff, or landing.
– Some families are forced into public disputes while trying to secure a squirming toddler, or are told to hold the child despite having purchased a seat and brought an approved restraint.
Airline-specific restrictions can be legitimate (for example, seats with airbags or certain exit-row policies), but those exceptions are supposed to be narrow, clearly explained, and consistent with FAA approval. Passengers report that’s not always the case.
Policy and safety background
- The FAA approves the CARES harness for children 22–44 pounds and up to 40 inches tall when the child has a ticketed seat.
- Federal policy hierarchy: approved restraint in the child’s own seat is safer than a lap infant.
- The AFA-CWA has repeatedly called for ending the lap-infant allowance and for mandatory use of approved restraints for all children.
Training gaps, inconsistent policy language across airlines and regional partners, and uneven enforcement are central to the problem. When policies are applied inconsistently, the outcome can be:
– Parents forced into a lap-infant arrangement they did not want
– Crews put in the uncomfortable position of adjudicating safety policy during boarding
– Safety briefings delayed and tensions rising on board
AFA-CWA leaders call for more training, clearer guidance, and consistent policies so crews can confidently support safe restraint use that is FAA-approved. Safety advocates urge airlines to standardize policy language, update crew manuals, and audit regional partners.
Airline training gaps and practical steps for parents
The recent cases point to three overlapping problems:
1. Airline and crew confusion: crews may believe their airline has barred the CARES harness even when written policy states otherwise.
2. Training gaps: not every flight attendant receives regular refreshers on child restraint system rules or how to identify approval labels.
3. Airline discretion: carriers can limit use in certain seat types, but those limits should be narrow and aligned with federal rules — not blanket bans.
Steps parents can take to reduce conflict and protect safety:
1. Bring the device’s approval documentation. The CARES harness includes a label stating it is “FAA-approved” for aircraft use. Print your airline’s policy page and bring it with you.
2. Confirm policy in advance. If the flight is operated by a regional partner, check that partner’s rules too.
3. Be ready to show the label and install the harness correctly. Crews are more likely to allow it when they see a proper fit on a child within the size range (22–44 lbs, up to 40 in).
4. If a crew member refuses, comply on board and follow up later. File a complaint with the airline and, if needed, with the FAA. Calm, clear feedback helps drive training changes.
Many immigrant and mixed-status families travel long distances for family events and rely on a compact approved harness to make flights manageable. When crews turn away the device, parents can feel forced to choose between their child’s safety and complying with cabin authority — a false choice that better training could prevent.
Official guidance and resources
The FAA provides straightforward guidance on child safety, including the CARES harness approval and label details. Families and airline staff can consult the agency’s plain-language resource:
- For official guidance, see the FAA’s resource at Child Safety on Airplanes (FAA).
The union’s position remains firm: every passenger, including the smallest, should have their own restraint. AFA-CWA points to turbulence injuries and cabin incidents as reasons to stop treating young children as exceptions to basic seat belt rules — a stance that aligns with NTSB recommendations.
Car seats vs. the CARES harness
- Car seats: offer excellent protection but can be bulky, may not fit narrow rows or small regional jets, and can be difficult to install in cramped conditions.
- CARES harness: lightweight, compact, easy to carry, and quick to install without blocking other passengers. When allowed and installed correctly, it meets the same safety goal for children in the approved size range.
What carriers can do
Airlines that standardize policies and keep crews current on FAA-approved options can reduce conflicts and improve safety without added cost:
– Provide routine briefings and simple checklists for crew
– Include clear in-app references for approved devices
– Update online policy pages to use the same wording crews see
– Audit regional partners to ensure consistent application across branded networks
What to expect and final takeaway
For now, families should expect variability:
– Some flights will welcome the CARES harness with no issue
– Others may question or block it, even with the FAA-approved label visible
Parents who want to avoid surprises can:
– Call the airline and document the conversation
– Arrive early and speak with the gate agent before boarding
– Ask for partner-carrier policy in writing when the operating carrier differs from the marketing airline
The broader safety conversation is moving toward the long-standing federal conclusion: young children should be in their own seat, secured in an approved device. Whether that is a properly labeled car seat or the AmSafe CARES harness, the standard is clear. What remains is for airlines to close training gaps and for crews to apply the rules consistently so parents can rely on approved child restraints on every flight.
This Article in a Nutshell
In 2025, multiple U.S. incidents surfaced where flight attendants refused to allow passengers to use the AmSafe CARES harness, even when the device displayed its FAA approval. The CARES harness is certified for children weighing 22–44 pounds and up to 40 inches tall and is approved for use during all flight phases when the child has a purchased seat. Confusion arises from inconsistent airline policies, training gaps for front-line crews, and differing rules among regional partners. Safety organizations including the FAA, NTSB, and the AFA-CWA recommend children occupy their own seats with approved restraints. Parents are advised to bring approval documentation, confirm the operating-carrier policy in advance, and document any refusals. Unions and advocates call for clearer airline guidance, routine crew training, and standardized policy language to prevent conflicts and improve child passenger safety.
