Light Up Kids Shoes In Airports...any problems?

[imktdqt810]

A co-worker was telling me that at a larger international airport her grandson (9) was heading to Disney with a pair of new Cars light up sneakers. After he put them in the bin the security guard kept putting them through the scanner...stopping them while they were in there, then used the hand-held scanner. Apparently sometimes it beeped and sometimes it didn't. They kept the whole family to the side while her 9 year old grandson stood in socks and felt bad that he was holding up the family. I just wondered if this was a common occurrance? DS has two pairs of light up shoes and I wasn't going to give them a thought (one pair wearing and one pair packing). So...please tell me if I should be packing BOTH in the luggage?

 

[dsneprincess]

When DS12 was little & had light up shoes, it was an issue & we were told (luckily!) To remove them before he beeped through security. This was prior to the remove your shoes rule. That said, DS2 just went to Disney & back through the "old-type" security scanners with his light up Buzz Lightyear sneakers with no issue either way. I had actually forgotten about this! Guess that happens with 10 years between kids! LOL

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, kids don't have to take off their shoes anymore, so if they don't make the metal detector go off, this isn't anything to think about. And if it does set it off, it's easily explained, because they must have metal in them, and they need to check it out.


I would just have the child not wear them on travel day.

 

[Suzy8383]

I flew last one year ago...went through a super big airport and a smaller airport. Security at the huge airport was insane. Line was 45 minutes long, we went through that xray scanner thing. Had to remove absolutely everything. Kids included.

Security at the smaller airports wasn't nearly as bad. I don't recall any children. Last I flew with my kids, they had to remove their shoes, jackets, accessories just like we did - this was 3 years ago. Grady had on one of those kid leashes with the backpack harnesses. It had to be removed and searched. I do not recommend them in the airport.

Either way...I suggest flip flops for kids just like adults. They are easy to remove and reapply both for security and comfort in the airplane. Your child may want to climb up in your lap and cuddle into a nap...ease of shoe removal and reapply may be appreciated in security and in the plane!

I also recommend no belts and putting jackets in your carry on until you are done with security if there are a ton of people in your party...it's easier.

 

[Hannathy]

Kids under 12 don't take shoes off any more. So I would have them wear them.

I'm sure they were seeing the battery and wires in the shoes when they were xrayed. but there shouldn't be enough metal to set off the detector, especially if they don't wear any other metal..

 

[bumbershoot]

I flew last one year ago...went through a super big airport and a smaller airport. Security at the huge airport was insane. Line was 45 minutes long, we went through that xray scanner thing. Had to remove absolutely everything. Kids included.

Yep, a year ago that was true. Now it's not. Kids don't have to take off their shoes routinely now.

but there shouldn't be enough metal to set off the detector, especially if they don't wear any other metal..

Unless something's set wonky. I once had a small "Goody" barrette be the cause of repeated metal detector alarms. Had entirely forgotten I was wearing it. It's the type early-80s kids would pull thin ribbons through to decorate and have ribbons hanging down, if you know what I'm talking about. NOT big. Finally the lady behind me spoke up about the barrette because she could see it, I took it out, put it through the xray machine and made it through the detector at last. I had taken nothing else off, it was the ONLY metal (apart from my pants zipper...oh and my husband was being wanded at that time BECAUSE of his shorts zipper which was the only metal HE was wearing).

So their detectors can be set to be too sensitive, so never say never, but it probably should not be set that high. I've worn barrettes before, I've worn WAY more metal in my long and heavy hair before, and that one time was the only time that happened.

 

[DopeyDame]

Ds has worn lightup shoes several times without a problem. I wouldn't worry about it. Worst case scenario, he sets off the metal detector (if it's set too sensative like a PP mentioned) and they wand his shoes. No biggie.