Allow Carriers on Planes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has long prohibited the use of babywearing carriers during takeoff, landing, and ground movement on airplanes. The agency's 1995 proposal to withdraw approval for booster seats and vest-type child restraint systems during these periods was based on studies comparing various child restraint options.

However, the FAA's 1996 final rule did not explicitly test babywearing carriers, leading to the current blanket ban on their use. Critics argue that this rule is inconsistent with other child restraint regulations and fails to adequately consider the potential benefits of babywearing carriers during turbulence, crashes, and evacuations.

A 2024 bill was proposed to allow carriers on planes, but it was met with no action from the aviation subcommittee. The APCS Working Group, representing parents and child safety advocates, has called for revising the current prohibition, suggesting that modern babywearing carriers may provide better safety than the alternative of having infants held in laps during critical situations.