Changes in security since the last time I flew...

[maxiesmom]

I was going to mention the body scanners. During our trip in June, EVERYONE was going through the body scanners, BUT, when they saw we were travelling with three kids, our entire party was waved through the metal detectors. This happened going & coming.

This isn't a guarantee of the same thing happening to you, but I would think the odds are good.

We had the same exact experience this past March. As one of our party was my 11yr old niece, we all got to go thru the standard metal detectors.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

My husband and I took our then 3 y/o GS to WDW this past Feb. We warned him before we left home that we'd all be going through security, had practiced with him, and thought we had everything covered. I had read on the TSA website that juice was allowed for toddlers and assumed a tiny 3 y/o would be considered a toddler (my GS is very small for his age and could easily pass for a 2 y/o--according to his pediatrician, he is not even on the growth chart). Anyway, we had a very early flight down there, so just let our GS sleep on the way to the airport. He woke up as we got him out of the car at the airport and immediately wanted his sippy cup (which he is very addicted to and never without). As we were waiting to go through security we had a TSA agent come over and inform us that his sippy cup was not allowed and the juice would have to be poured out. I politely told him that I thought sippy cups were allowed for toddlers and obviously nothing bad was in it, since he was drinking out of it. The TSA agent said that since he could obviously walk, that he was not an infant, so the sippy cup was not allowed.

The TSA agent was correct. A three year old is not a toddler. Your grandson is now considered a pre-schooler. It's age, not size.

 

[aubriee]

The TSA agent was correct. A three year old is not a toddler. Your grandson is now considered a pre-schooler. It's age, not size.

Perhaps, but again he is so small he does not even show up on the pediatrician's growth chart. Most people have a hard time believing he is even two. He's very tiny (about the size of a 18 month old). He has a 15 month old brother who is only about 1" shorter than him. The TSA agent had no idea how old he was. Plus it was one of those clear disposable sippy cups he was drinking from. You could see the juice. Anyone could see there was nothing bad in it or he wouldn't have been drinking from it.

 

[deegack]

Perhaps, but again he is so small he does not even show up on the pediatrician's growth chart. Most people have a hard time believing he is even two. He's very tiny (about the size of a 18 month old). He has a 15 month old brother who is only about 1" shorter than him. The TSA agent had no idea how old he was. Plus it was one of those clear disposable sippy cups he was drinking from. You could see the juice. Anyone could see there was nothing bad in it or he wouldn't have been drinking from it.

I have a three year old that is teeny. She wears 18 month size clothes. However it obvious by her mannerisms and speech etc that she is not a toddler. I also hate to be the negative nelly but certain factions of terrorists have no problem using children as weapons. So although I don't think the tsa is all that effective is what they do in this case I understand why the agent would not make an exception for your preschool age grandchild. Besides it was a cup of juice not the end of the world. You dump it out and get him a new one on the other side.

 

[sam_gordon]

I have a three year old that is teeny. She wears 18 month size clothes. However it obvious by her mannerisms and speech etc that she is not a toddler. I also hate to be the negative nelly but certain factions of terrorists have no problem using children as weapons. So although I don't think the tsa is all that effective is what they do in this case I understand why the agent would not make an exception for your preschool age grandchild. Besides it was a cup of juice not the end of the world. You dump it out and get him a new one on the other side.

I agree with this. It sounds like PP was faulting the TSA for following procedure, when the fault, if there is any, IMO, lies with PP. Again, my opinion, but she could have prepared her DS that he'd have to give up his sippy cup for a short time.

I know getting a 3 yo to understand (and obey) is not easy, but it's not the TSA's fault.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree with this. It sounds like PP was faulting the TSA for following procedure, when the fault, if there is any, IMO, lies with PP. Again, my opinion, but she could have prepared her DS [actually grandson] that he'd have to give up his sippy cup for a short time.

I know getting a 3 yo to understand (and obey) is not easy, but it's not the TSA's fault.

Exactly! Plus, there is plenty of juice available for purchase after security. Many kids drink far too much juice anyway; water is a much better choice. Juice = too much sugar and rotten teeth (sorry for going OT a bit).