Child Carrying on Stuffed Animal question?

[budbeerlady]

DD is having this thing, for the 1st time she is insisting on taking a doll or stuffed animal on the plane. Will she have to put it up in the overhead or can she hold it on her lap, what are the rules? (Flying Airtran if it matters)

If she has to put it up then I will just have her leave it home to avoid that confrentation on the plane KWIM?

Thanks!

 

[maryisme]

My 4 year old DD has been flying with "mr. huggie" since she's been one years old. She has always held him on her lap or put him in the seat with her. Never had a problem. Good luck!

 

[debster812]

Yep--DS usually has a 'friend' with him as well, and has always kept it on his lap.

However, start prepping her now that her friend will have to take a ride through the tunnel (Xray machine), she will not be able to hold it and carry it while she walks through the metal detector.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

DD13 still takes one with her on her plane trips. She uses it as a pillow as it's normally one of her squishy ones.

 

[pyrxtc]

All my kids have taken one at one point or another. Just make sure that he goes thru the x-ray.

 

[aubriee]

However, start prepping her now that her friend will have to take a ride through the tunnel (Xray machine), she will not be able to hold it and carry it while she walks through the metal detector.

As the above poster said though, PLEASE prepare her for the fact that it will have to go through the xray machine ('to have his picture taken'). I didn't think to warn my GD the first time and she screamed and started trying to climb onto the conveyer belt after her bunny. It was hilarious, but at the same time embarrassing to hear her screaming 'it's eating Mr Bunny, it's eating Mr Bunny'. Once she realized he'd made it through, she quit screaming, but continued to cry until the TSA agent finally convinced her walk through the security doorway. She literally ran through it and immediately grabbed her bunny out of the bin, started hugging him, glared at the nearest TSA agent and said 'You scared him!'. Holding him on the plane was no problem. but I didn't think we were going to get them both through security. She was determined to go through the xray machine with him.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd, now almost 14, started flying when she was almost 4. She has had her Corduroy bear since she was two...can I tell you what that bear looks like today??!!!! Anyway, Cordy has gone on every flight with one exception. We flew PanAm to Sanford about a month after 9/11...sort of scary to begin with. They had institued a no carryon policy..none! We had to check our expensive photo equipment, but it was put in a bin and we were given receipts for it, and we had no issues after that. You were able to bring a purse and that was it. I called PanAm and asked about Cordy being able to fly with DD. No problem I was told. In fact, I was told that by severao reps. We had no problem at the Worcester Mass end. But, when it was time to return home, the bear had to be checked. My dd was 8 at the time, and horrified that she had to fly, for the first time, without her 'lovie'!! No amount of begging would sway that woman at the desk!! So, off the bear went, in the checked luggage. Poor kid.
Any way....to date, Cordy has made many more flights, strapped into the seatbelt right beside Kate. No one has ever commented on it, other than to say that it looks like the bear is having fun!! That bear has more airmiles than most people I know!!!
But, it does have to go through the scanner....so best let the child know this ahead of time. It can be scary for a child to see his/her lovie going into that 'machine'. They don't know what is going to happen to the it and therefor get really scared!!

 

[Befferk]

So, are children allowed the one carry on and one personal item like adults? So would this then count as their personal item, and would still be able to bring a small bag?

Thanks,
Beth

 

[GEM]

So, are children allowed the one carry on and one personal item like adults? So would this then count as their personal item, and would still be able to bring a small bag?

Thanks,
Beth

My little guy (now 4.5) flies three or four times a year. He always has a backpack and a stuffed "friend".

 

[Hannathy]

They can bring a stuffed thing and a carry-on as long as both are normal size. Here's a hint after years of kids in airports and almost losing things. I have convinced my kids to put their favorite animal in their backpack to go through the airport and security because "it is so special that we want to keep it as safe and protected as possible" This way it can't accidentally get left in the bathroom or in a chair at the gate, or dropped somewhere disgusting (you DON'T want to know!) We do this in the room also, tuck it into their suitcase in the morning so it doesn't get scooped up in the sheets and have the laundry as it's final resting place.

I did see one person get bent out of shape because they made them put the stuffed thing in the overhead-but it was absolutely huge like 3 foot and new so obviously not a special long time friend.

 

[bavaria]

I did see one person get bent out of shape because they made them put the stuffed thing in the overhead-but it was absolutely huge like 3 foot and new so obviously not a special long time friend.

When I sit in row 1 on my MCO TED flights, the FA's are often shaking their heads at the number of LARGE stuffed animals coming on board. It is really something to think about before buying one for your child (or yourself) - getting it home may be a challenge!

That bear has more airmiles than most people I know!!!

I think that 'bunny' has more miles than Cordy although he does live out his retirement years happily at home since he emigrated from Germany.... and yes, 'bunny' did once have a scary few minutes left alone at the airport but found his way back very very quickly!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

When I sit in row 1 on my MCO TED flights, the FA's are often shaking their heads at the number of LARGE stuffed animals coming on board. It is really something to think about before buying one for your child (or yourself) - getting it home may be a challenge!

I think that 'bunny' has more miles than Cordy although he does live out his retirement years happily at home since he emigrated from Germany.... and yes, 'bunny' did once have a scary few minutes left alone at the airport but found his way back very very quickly!

OMG we were doing a US/IOA trip a few years ago . DD loves playing the games and may win a small one here or there. Well she tells me to toss one of the balls. I didn't even look just flipped it . It landed right in the center cup and we had a hugh unicorn to bring home.

Now the deal is if we win anything that can't fit in her suitcase we give it away at the end of our trip to a smaller kid checking in. We have had to do that only once and it was just a medium size teddybear.

The ones she brings as pillows now fit into her backback or hang out one of the outer pockets.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

On my first trip to DL some 35 or so years ago I bought a LARGE Pooh Bear, without regard for getting it home on the plane. I ended up walking through the airport carrying this shopping bag with Pooh's butt sticking out of it, I did get some smirks along the way ended up with him stuffed down between my legs the whole trip home. LOL

 

[Traveliz]

As the above poster said though, PLEASE prepare her for the fact that it will have to go through the xray machine ('to have his picture taken'). I didn't think to warn my GD the first time and she screamed and started trying to climb onto the conveyer belt after her bunny. It was hilarious, but at the same time embarrassing to hear her screaming 'it's eating Mr Bunny, it's eating Mr Bunny'. Once she realized he'd made it through, she quit screaming, but continued to cry until the TSA agent finally convinced her walk through the security doorway. She literally ran through it and immediately grabbed her bunny out of the bin, started hugging him, glared at the nearest TSA agent and said 'You scared him!'. Holding him on the plane was no problem. but I didn't think we were going to get them both through security. She was determined to go through the xray machine with him.

That is a classic story that I am sure many airline employees and customers shared with their families that night.

Liz

 

[goofy4tink]

They can bring a stuffed thing and a carry-on as long as both are normal size. Here's a hint after years of kids in airports and almost losing things. I have convinced my kids to put their favorite animal in their backpack to go through the airport and security because "it is so special that we want to keep it as safe and protected as possible" This way it can't accidentally get left in the bathroom or in a chair at the gate, or dropped somewhere disgusting (you DON'T want to know!) We do this in the room also, tuck it into their suitcase in the morning so it doesn't get scooped up in the sheets and have the laundry as it's final resting place.

I did see one person get bent out of shape because they made them put the stuffed thing in the overhead-but it was absolutely huge like 3 foot and new so obviously not a special long time friend.

That's exactly what dd does...she carries a zippered tote or backpack as her carryon. And Cordy goes into it, with his little head sticking out. He leaves the confines of the tote for the flight but goes back in once on the ground....I can't imagine what dd would do if Cordoruy Bear got left someplace!!!

I think that 'bunny' has more miles than Cordy although he does live out his retirement years happily at home since he emigrated from Germany.... and yes, 'bunny' did once have a scary few minutes left alone at the airport but found his way back very very quickly!

Ohh, poor 'bunny'...thank heavens he was found quickly!!!! Nothing worse then an upset 'lovie' as well as the owner being distraught.....poor things!!!

 

[renda460]

All my kids have taken one at one point or another. Just make sure that he goes thru the x-ray.

I would strongly advise making her put the doll into a backpack or bag to go through the x-ray machine. Last trip my daughter bought a souvenir doll to bring home. She put it into the x-ray machine bucket along with a lot of other stuff. When the bucket came out the other side the doll was gone. It must have fallen out of the bucket inside the machine and it was literally gone. The workers tried to look under and inside the machine but the doll was nowhere. I still have no idea how it could just disappear like that. So in the middle of a hectic orlando airport security check, my daughter was crying hysterically. I felt terrible for her but there was nothing we could do. She didn't want to leave on our plane until we found it, but it was nowhere to be found.

I ended up going home and found the exact same doll on ebay and bought it for her.

On a side note, my husband one time had a pair of sunglasses come out of the x-ray machine all mangled. He put them into the bucket and then they came out the other side on the belt (outside of the bucket), all twisted and mangled. I thought all that happens in that machine is pictures are taken.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would strongly advise making her put the doll into a backpack or bag to go through the x-ray machine. Last trip my daughter bought a souvenir doll to bring home. She put it into the x-ray machine bucket along with a lot of other stuff. When the bucket came out the other side the doll was gone. It must have fallen out of the bucket inside the machine and it was literally gone. The workers tried to look under and inside the machine but the doll was nowhere. I still have no idea how it could just disappear like that. So in the middle of a hectic orlando airport security check, my daughter was crying hysterically. I felt terrible for her but there was nothing we could do. She didn't want to leave on our plane until we found it, but it was nowhere to be found.

I ended up going home and found the exact same doll on ebay and bought it for her.

On a side note, my husband one time had a pair of sunglasses come out of the x-ray machine all mangled. He put them into the bucket and then they came out the other side on the belt (outside of the bucket), all twisted and mangled. I thought all that happens in that machine is pictures are taken.

I'm so sorry this happened to your poor dd!! How very sad for her. I never put anything in the bin if there is any chance it could 'fall out'. I have also trained my family thus...I go first, with my carryon bag, then dd goes with her stuff in the bin, but I am usually already at the end of the conveyor belt by then so I can see our stuff coming through. Then, my dh follows behind, with only the electronics... we really try to keep our eyes on our stuff. We've heard way too many stories of people 'losing' things inside that xray machine. It's too bad because I really think that most TSA people are very trustworthy, but there are probably some bad apples in the bin.

 

[bavaria]

We've heard way too many stories of people 'losing' things inside that xray machine.

I suspect that a number of 'losses' are due to absent mindedness (not in the doll story of course)

Pretty much every week I am at the conveyor asking 'is this someone's laptop? is this someone's cel phone? is this someone's iPod?' etc.... and TSA or CATSA agents start calling people back to claim their items... I know that people get stressed at security, but people, watch your items, and remember to retrieve your items.

Thanks.

 

[suzimar57]

up until last year (when the maid tried to steal him at the CR....) we would bring our (plushie) pig Scruffy with us - he'd "ride" thru the x-ray machine without an oink....

oddly, several years ago, when we brought Scruffy with us to Amsterdam, when we were going thru security to come back home, they made Scruffy go thru the x-ray 3 times - honestly, he's a little pig, what did he have to hide??!! (this was post 911 though)