Baby sling with airport security

[taitai]

I travel a great deal and what I have learned is that there is a good deal of variability amongst TSA. Some airports, I have to take my laptop out. Others it has to be both out and on. Sometimes I have to take off my shoes, other times it isn't a big deal. At this juncture, I just plan for the most time consuming alternative and am happy when it doesn't come about.

Good luck!

 

[Nicolepa]

They patted her diaper area down...but didn't peak inside. That's where I would have drawn the line! I have heard they are not supposed to pat kids down, but I haven't researched to see if that is true or not. We have three kids, ages 4, 7 and an infant.

They searched my son when he was maybe 2. This was before it was required to take your shoes off, but his had lights. Well I had no idea that light up shoes need to be taken off so he had to be searched. Be glad you got to at least stand with your kids, I was not allowed to be in the area where they were searching. My little guy was so upset and Mommy was furious!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Great thread! We will have 2 toddlers and a 4 month old in 2 weeks and were wondering what the practice was with the Bjorn.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Totally OT, but Spart02, I see you travelled with a 4 month old, how was it? Our little guy is 4 months old and we are headed to DIsney with him in 2 weeks. Out of all 3 kids he is the youngest for his 1st trip.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I am fairly certain that at least a year ago airport security changed their rules and you no longer have to remove a baby from a sling if there is no metal in it. Before the change we flew and I was alone (he was 7 mos) and did have to remove my shoes and the baby from the sling. Talk about a pain getting the carrier back on, baby in the carrier and shoes on with no help!!!! Since the change I have never been asked to remove him from my carrier and have flown 3 round trips with him.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Our entire party that we travelled with in December was tagged for increased security checks because our airline switched us to another airline on the day of travel. I guess last minute bookings are tagged. Anyway, our entire party had to be patted down and searched extra well. What I found obnoxious was that our 4 month old baby was patted down. I mean, come on! We took her through the security detector, but a pat down?! Everyone in our party and everyone else watching was quite humored by seeing a security agent patting down a baby. I had to hold her out away from my body and they really patted her down just as they would an adult. It's sad to me that this was necessary.

This is because one of the most popular places to smuggle contraband is on a baby. (Disgusting what people will do, isn't it?) If your party is already "suspicious" they cannot assume the baby isn't being used as a drug mule.

 

[taitai]

I was curious about all of this and went to the TSA website. Now that my kids are walking and don't use strollers this has kind of fallen off my radar. According to the TSA, you MUST take your child out of the carrier. Once again, there appears to be a lot of variability in enforcing the rules, hence some people have been able to keep the kids in. However, I would not count on it.

One interesting note, the TSA suggests that you request private screening if you are traveling with more than one child. Sounds like a good idea and much less hassle.

Here is the link
http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

Taitai

 

[KariC]

just got back.....used a babyhawk and kept it on with baby in it. I was surprised at MCO (Orlando),

probably depends on the TSA.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I was curious about all of this and went to the TSA website. Now that my kids are walking and don't use strollers this has kind of fallen off my radar. According to the TSA, you MUST take your child out of the carrier. Once again, there appears to be a lot of variability in enforcing the rules, hence some people have been able to keep the kids in. However, I would not count on it.

One interesting note, the TSA suggests that you request private screening if you are traveling with more than one child. Sounds like a good idea and much less hassle.

Here is the link
http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

Taitai

When they're talking about the baby carrier on the TSA website, they're referring to something more substantial than a sling - more like the "seat" part of the car seat that you remove from the base. That has to be x-rayed separately. About two months ago, a TSA officer found a nine inch long knife hidden in his baby's carrier/car seat. Pretty sad.

 

[encinc]

IME, it varies by screener, even within an airport on a given day.

On the way home from Fort Myers in December, I had the screener before the "walk through" tell me I needed to take DS2 out of the Ergo. No problem. The interesting part was that when we got to the other side, the screener there said, "You know, he could have stayed on your back. It probably would have been easier for both of you." So, I've learned to be prepared for whatever is asked of me. It's a challenge because DS1 gets anxious at security and likes to know exactly what is going to happen, but he's having to learn that I don't always know exactly how things are going to go.