Do toddlers/children have to take off shoes at airport security?

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The one thing I hate is when it is really busy and they are pushing everyone thorugh and it is such a chore to get everything together and everybody's shoes, stroller, bags blah blah together without backing up all the people behind you.

This is why I try and avoid security lines with families with strollers!

 

[Jestocost]

I would prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It's always possible that you'll get a TSA screener who will let you carry your child, let them keep their shoes on, let them carry a teddy bear, etc. However, strictly following the rules means that kids may have to remove shoes, put all items through the x-ray and, for those who are able to walk, pass through the metal detector on their own. If you and your kids are prepared for the latter, anything less will be a plus. If you prepare for the former, it can be a big mess if you are required to follow all of the rules to the letter.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Our DS has to walk on his own as well. The one thing I hate is when it is really busy and they are pushing everyone thorugh and it is such a chore to get everything together and everybody's shoes, stroller, bags blah blah together without backing up all the people behind you. I don't want to hold up the line by taking my time or anything but I wish there was a better set-up on the other side to gather your stuff back up and get everyone's shoes etc back on.

I think MCO is great for this. They have those benches set up right passed the xray machines, so we always go sit there, and get it together. BWI is also great with this. Dulles is however awful! No place to sit down really to get shoes back on and such...much more chaotic!

 

[tjmw2727]

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

That is the link to the TSA Traveling with children page. It has the info straight from the TSA what will and won't happen and how to prepare yourself and your children. It clearly states that if your child can walk then you should go through separately. Also that even a childs backpack, books and suffed animals will have to go through the x-ray machine.

It also explains what the security agents won't (or shouldn't) make you do ie dring a sip of the baby's milk etc.

I recommend visiting the tsa website before flying.

TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

Originally Posted by DutchsMommy
Our DS has to walk on his own as well. The one thing I hate is when it is really busy and they are pushing everyone thorugh and it is such a chore to get everything together and everybody's shoes, stroller, bags blah blah together without backing up all the people behind you. I don't want to hold up the line by taking my time or anything but I wish there was a better set-up on the other side to gather your stuff back up and get everyone's shoes etc back on.

There is a science to it, and you can decrease the confusion if you want to:

If travelling with two adults, the first rule is to send one parent through ahead, with several strangers coming after. That way the first adult has gotten him/herself completely cleared through and put back together before anyone else in the family comes through. This will be especially helpful if anyone is selected for extra security checks.

Second: minimize the number of carryons. If your kids all have little backpacks/waistpaks, etc., bring along a big pillow case or plastic bag and stick them all inside it before security, which consolidates the whole batch into one thing to retrieve. If possible, take everyone's shoes off before approaching the security gate and put them INSIDE your carryons -- same thing with small purses. Put your ID and BP in a pocket where you can reach them easily, and get everything else into a carryon BEFORE approaching the security gate. (This goes TRIPLE for males with stuff in their pockets, or large belt buckles. All of that should be removed BEFORE they reach the security point and not restored until after you reach your boarding gate. Stock your carryons with empty ziplocs to hold all that junk neatly. -- If they are using the little bowls they are holding people up.)

Unless you have diabetes or some other *medical* reason for being extra-cautious about bare feet, then don't bother to unpack and restore your shoes until you have completely cleared the security area. (Actually, people with real medical reasons for not taking shoes off don't have to, but invoking the exception means getting a full secondary screening.) Walking barefoot indoors for 25 feet is really unlikely to hurt a healthy person. Walk away to an open wall or pillar and lean there while you put them back on. (If you're squicky about it, stock your carryon with extra socks in a ziploc, or baby wipes to wipe your feet before putting your shoes back on.)

If you have 3-1-1 baggies to send through, put them all in one bin together, with the passenger's last name and initial written on each one (that lets TSA know that they don't all belong to one person). When you pick them up again, toss them all into one carryon. You can parcel them all back out to their proper owners when you get to your gate.

If you have a stroller, DO NOT USE THE BASKET IN THE AIRPORT! It will only slow you down. Drape your diaper bag over the handle, but keep the basket empty. Blankies, toys, etc. need to stay in the diaper bag until you are past security. (Put the teddy bear down for a "nap" if that's what it takes.) If there is nothing in it to start with there won't be anything in it to remove or put back for Security.

 

[dsneygirl]

We've been lucky on our trips with DS so far. In Buffalo which we usually fly out of they have a seperate line for strollers and wheelchairs and other people requiring more time. So you're not hurried because everyone is a bit slower. Also we have flown twice through MCO and found security easy to deal with. No where did they make my infant take off his Robeez

 

[mskay]

Thanks y'all! When I posted this question, I never knew that I would get so many informative responses! Great ideas!

 

[Liltx]

I usually ask to go through the handicap lane if available. Less people and more room. Of course that is when I travel alone with my 2 girls. Last summer was the hardest since they were 1 and just turned 3. I had one stroller, 2 carseats, diaper bag, purse, and 2 kids. They did help me put everything through but keeping track of my two kids and the stuff was hard. Yes, they made both of them walk through alone. I sent them first and an agent stopped them while I went through. Good thing I don't have clingy kids or I would have been in trouble. Thankfully I don't travel alone with them too much.

Monica

 

[Ambassador]

Kids who can walk are treated like everyone else; backpacks, shoes, coats, watches, belts, anything metal must be scanned. Usually Mrs. Ambassador goes through first, with The Ambassador bringing up the rear. Grandma Ambassador's underwire bra caused closer examination both ways on a recent trip.

 

[cv499]

Toddlers can be carried through the metal detector. It is not a rule that they walk. It is preferred, but not required. If the metal detector goes off then both of you will have to be screened. If they try to make them go separately then they are just being difficult, or lazy because they don't want to have to search 2 people in case of an alarm.

 

[katielady]

Hi-
Just saw you left from MD.
We are planning on doing the same for our trip in June.

Just wondering if you stayed overnight there. We are looking for a hotel near the Baltimore Airport that has a park and fly program.
Thanks.

 

[Skuba2]

Another quick tip---remove all belts, watches, hair clips, etc and put them in your purse. My daughter got beeped going through and we think it was her hair clips. She was personally escorted to the plexiglass box where one of use had to join her. They kept one hand on her shoulder at all times and wouldn't let us walk with her until we got to the booth. She was older and thought it was so much fun. It just made re-dressing at the other end of the security area interesting. Trying to hop on one foot while putting shoes on while following the tsa guy must have been fun. Let alone leaving the other 2 kids with dad trying to get the stuff together.

A couple other notes: A poor soul ahead of us in January of this year had to throw out a really nice silver lighter. His wife was so pissed at him. She was calling him stupid, etc for thinking he could bring a lighter on a plane. Another odd story: We were sitting in a restaurant in Vegas by the gate so it was passed security. This woman asked a waitress if it was ok to smoke in the restaurant. The waitress said no. I looked at my husband and had to ask him the question that makes you go HMMMM. How the heck was she going to light the cigarette--rubbing two sticks together--seeing that lighters and matches weren't allowed past security. She was gone before I could call it to the waitresses attention.

DG

 

[AllesonWonderland]

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

That is the link to the TSA Traveling with children page. It has the info straight from the TSA what will and won't happen and how to prepare yourself and your children. It clearly states that if your child can walk then you should go through separately. Also that even a childs backpack, books and suffed animals will have to go through the x-ray machine.

It also explains what the security agents won't (or shouldn't) make you do ie dring a sip of the baby's milk etc.

I recommend visiting the tsa website before flying.

TJ

Thanks for the link, this will be our first time travelling with kiddos.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Another quick tip---remove all belts, watches, hair clips, etc and put them in your purse. My daughter got beeped going through and we think it was her hair clips. She was personally escorted to the plexiglass box where one of use had to join her. They kept one hand on her shoulder at all times and wouldn't let us walk with her until we got to the booth. She was older and thought it was so much fun. It just made re-dressing at the other end of the security area interesting. Trying to hop on one foot while putting shoes on while following the tsa guy must have been fun. Let alone leaving the other 2 kids with dad trying to get the stuff together.

A couple other notes: A poor soul ahead of us in January of this year had to throw out a really nice silver lighter. His wife was so pissed at him. She was calling him stupid, etc for thinking he could bring a lighter on a plane. Another odd story: We were sitting in a restaurant in Vegas by the gate so it was passed security. This woman asked a waitress if it was ok to smoke in the restaurant. The waitress said no. I looked at my husband and had to ask him the question that makes you go HMMMM. How the heck was she going to light the cigarette--rubbing two sticks together--seeing that lighters and matches weren't allowed past security. She was gone before I could call it to the waitresses attention.

DG

Matches are acceptable to go through security - only lighters are not.

 

[GEM]

Not true. You can carry them. I have several times. They offered to let me carry my 5 year old because he was having a tough time with security this time, but he ended up walking through.

I flew with my little one (age 3) in Sept. and again last week. I wasn't allowed to carry him through security. Each time they made him walk through alone before I went thorugh.

 

[jodifla]

I flew with my little one (age 3) in Sept. and again last week. I wasn't allowed to carry him through security. Each time they made him walk through alone before I went thorugh.

As someone made the point earlier, it's up to the TSA people, and they tend to be all over the map.

But it's not a rule like taking your shoes off. The TSA folks have a lot of discretion.