Flying with stuffed animals

[cslittle999]

I travel a fair amount for business but our trip in October will be our first time flying as a family (we usually drive to WDW). My DD11 has a Build-a-Bear polar bear with a noise maker in its paw (it says "I love you" when you squeeze it). DD has had this bear since she was 4 and she brings it on all of our vacations. Since it will be DD's first time flying I know she will want the bear with her. I know the bear will have to go through the x-ray machine but, beyond maybe having to make the bear talk, will there be any other problems? I don't think there will be but I want to be sure. DD would be devastated if anything happened to her bear and I would rather try to talk her into putting the bear into our checked bag or leaving it at home than risk losing it.

 

[rosiep]

I don't think you'll have any trouble as long as it goes through xray. I always travel with a stuffed animal (I'm 45.. ) But FAA doesn't even question me.

 

[nemomama]

If she would be devastated if anything happened to her bear, then I would suggest she leave him home. Maybe she can bring another stuffed animal that if it was lost she wouldn't be as upset? But, to answer your original question, there's no problem travelling with stuffed animals as far as going through the X-ray machine or anything. Good luck!

 

[tjmw2727]

You will be fine, my dd's travel with a favorite bear, webkins or their AG dolls almost every trip. The fact that it has the talking chip shouldn't make any difference at all. There is a great video on the tsa website that shows what happens when going through security, it think its on the traveling with kids section. I would talk to her about what will happen and maybe show her the video.

As you know she can't carry the bear through security so she has to decide if she wants to keep it out and put it in a bin by itself or if "he would feel safer" in a backpack. My dd's prefer to have their stuffies or dolls in their backpacks, your dd may feel otherwise

Here is a link to the TSA website on traveling with children;
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

TJ

 

[PADISFAM]

make sure you tell your DD that the 'lovey' will need to go through the xray machine. We told our DS 3 of what was going to occur & the TSA worker commented on how well he did. She said a lot of children go 'nuts' when their toy 'disappears' into the 'black hole'.

 

[cslittle999]

Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely explain to the kids (and DW too since it has been years since she was in a plane) all about airport security before we leave for the airport. I think that packing the bear in her backpack makes a lot of sense. DD's bear will definitely be on the trip. That bear has been every where it's just that they were driving vacations.

It's funny really. I'm a very calm flyer. Being on a plane has become routine but I'm rushing around trying to preplan all of these small details because the kids and DW will be along.

 

[bas71873]

My soon to be DD5 and "Woo Woo" (stuffed Husky dog) have been flying since the age of 18 months and Woo Woo (as well as blankie) has made every trip. She just knows now that Woo Woo has to get his picture taken and then all is well. She likes to have her own bucket to put Woo Woo, blankie and her shoes in to push through the security line. Mind you, she NEVER takes her eyes off of him, but we have never had any problems. You should be fine.

 

[tspann]

We just returned from Florida. My 3 year old took her favorite doll, Tigger, with her on the plane. There was no problem what so ever when we flew out of St Louis on the 11th but on our return flight TSA in Orlando didn't want to allow her to take her doll with her as it is filled with water. After two agents and a supervisor (who happened to have a pre-schooler at home also) they finally allowed her (Tigger) to come home with us.

We hadn't thought anything about it - to us it's just her baby Tigger but I guess when you think about it she does hold more than 3 oz of fluid and you can't see the actual liquid.

I guess my point is unless your toy is filled with liquid you should be fine.

 

[cslittle999]

I knew stuffed animals were okay. It's the electronics in it that worried me. That last thing I want is some overzealous TSA agent making me open the bear up to show them the noise maker. I hadn't thought about baby toys. Luckily I'm past that now (DD is 11 and DS is 9).

 

[rwrocksme]

I don't think you'll have any trouble, but I would prepare your daughter for the security check. At 11, I doubt she'd be scared of her bear getting x-rayed, but there is always the possibility one of you would get randomly checked.

When I was younger, I had an American Girl doll, and I took her on a plane. There were 2 women at the security check, one was watching the screen, and the other wasn't paying much attention. Well, my doll was in my backpack, and as soon as it went through the x-ray, the woman watching the screen yelled, "Oh my God, there are bodies in here!"

She was joking of course, but the other woman FREAKED OUT!!! This, obviously, was long before 9/11, when you could joke about that stuff. But it scared me..I thought they were going to take my doll away. And from that point on--my stuffed rabbit tagged along instead.

 

[tjmw2727]

I knew stuffed animals were okay. It's the electronics in it that worried me. That last thing I want is some overzealous TSA agent making me open the bear up to show them the noise maker. I hadn't thought about baby toys. Luckily I'm past that now (DD is 11 and DS is 9).

Actually electronics are also fine it's liquids that are the current "issue". Anything electronic is fine, some TSA agents will ask you to turn on a laptop or DVD player but most won't. I would not worry about the small chip in the bear at all.

TJ

 

[all4fun]

You shouldn't have any problems with it. On our way down to Florida a few weeks ago a little girl on our flight had a stuffed toy with electronics in it that played music, sang numbers, etc (it was an educational type toy). My only thought was, "Oh I hope she doesn't play that thing the whole way down to Orlando". It was a red-eye direct flight from west to east coast. It wasn't a problem, I just remember having that thought very briefly. LOL

 

[cslittle999]

You shouldn't have any problems with it. On our way down to Florida a few weeks ago a little girl on our flight had a stuffed toy with electronics in it that played music, sang numbers, etc (it was an educational type toy). My only thought was, "Oh I hope she doesn't play that thing the whole way down to Orlando". It was a red-eye direct flight from west to east coast. It wasn't a problem, I just remember having that thought very briefly. LOL

Thank you. This is exactly what I wanted to hear. I can imagine your dread at being kept awake all night. Noise canceling headphones are your friend.