Airport Security Tips

(This page is constantly being updated as parents mail in their tips and tricks to share. Please check back often or better yet, follow our updates via Google Friend Connect!)

Because airport security checkpoints in the United States are run by the government agency TSA, the situation is pretty much the same at every airport in the USA.   We will add country specific tips as we get them.

Here are a few important things to remember about getting through security with an infant:

• Rules for you also apply to even the tiniest of babies: Remove your infant's coats, jackets, hoodies, button up sweaters, and the like. Don't forget about their little baby shoes as well! 
• Another word about child clothing, make sure you don't dress your child in clothing with metal on it (coveralls with metal buttons or other items with decorative metal parts).  Your baby may not respond to well to having the metal detector go off as they walk through it alone and they will react even less well to having to go through additional screening.  
• Your stroller must be collapsed completely down and go through the x-ray machine on the conveyor belt. Yes. Seriously.  
• Your stroller will only fit through the x-ray machine if the wheels are pointed up to the top of the machine.  The security agents may or may not tell you this so try to remember yourself before your stroller gets stuck.
• Any car seats or infant carriers must also go through the x-ray machine on the conveyor belt. In other words, your sleeping newborn must come out of the carrier. Know this and be ready!
• If your child cannot walk, you can carry him or her through the metal detector in your arms. If they can walk, ask the agent if you can carry them anyway. If not, they will likely have you go through first and then you can coax the toddler to follow you.
• If you have prepacked formula or breast milk for the flight (which we highly recommend!), be prepared to have security open every single bottle and test it for "explosives." They won't actually come in contact with the milk, but you will have to open every bottle so they can test the air above it. Just smile, cooperate, and accept this part of the process.
• Although baby food and bottled baby milk/formula does not count towards your liquids and gels allotment, other baby related items do. Make sure you have a separate one-gallon zip lock bag for your baby's liquids and gels (diaper cream, lotion, etc) and that you remove this bag from the diaper bag to go through the x-ray machine alone.
• Don't let having your kids in tow make you forget everything you know about travel!! Your shoes still have to come off, you still need to take your laptop out of its case, your cell phone needs to come out of your pocket, keys and coins need to be placed in a smaller bin, etc etc etc.
• Mentally plot out your plan of attack: As you are waiting, go over in your head which items make the most sense to place on the conveyor belt and in which order. Then do it and do it smoothly. (An example of one mom's "Plan of Attack")
• Do NOT expect or anticipate any assistance from TSA agents or your fellow travelers. Make sure you create your plan of attack under the assumption of being completely and totally unassisted in the ENTIRE process (Including hefting that stroller up onto the conveyor belt ladies...)

Have more to add? Please feel free to add comments below! We will be sure to add your suggestions to the list.

Have questions? Post them below and we'll make sure to address them in updates to this post!