TSA with a Baby or Toddler

   I would have to say, this is probably our most asked question. I probably get a message or email about this at least weekly if not more frequently and when I first started traveling with Jakey when he was a baby, I couldn't find ANY resources online about this topic. 
   
​So this blog post is not an official TSA recommendation.
This post is simply what I have observed about the
screening process with babies and toddlers and how I've learned
​to make the process easier on myself, my son, my family and the TSA agents working hard
to keep us safe.

Also, if you are here to knock TSA, move along... go somewhere else. They are doing their jobs to keep us safe and I am very grateful for that. I do want to mention that I do not have any actual photos of the TSA experience, that is not allowed for safety reasons. 

*** TSA RULES CAN VARY BASED ON AIRPORT + AGENT. RESTRICTIONS CAN CHANGE FREQUENTLY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE RESTRICTIONS HERE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL***

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Denver International Airport TIPS:

• Check the security wait times on the website HERE 
• Always make sure you allow enough time before your flight. My rule of thumb is 2.5 hours for DIA (allows for parking, ticket counter/checking bags, security, taking the train to the concourse, getting the gate check tickets for the stroller and car seat and sometimes grabbing something to eat/drink.
• Bridge Security is usually the fastest and you can walk directly into Concourse A but you will still need the train for B + C. Bridge Security also requires more walking. 

WHAT TO BRING: 
Carry On Bag - (See what to pack HERE - coming soon) 
(make sure these things are easy to access for TSA screening)

• ID + TICKET 
• MILK + JUICE ALLOWED FOR KIDS
• MEDICATION ALLOWED FOR KIDS
• TABLET/LAPTOP

Stroller (To Gate Check) 
Car Seat 

• If your child is an infant and still needs their infant carrier, bring that too. You will be
  able to gate check it. 
• If your child is an older infant or under 2 toddler and is considered a lap child, just
  bring your stroller and check your car seat. 
• If your baby/toddler is a ticketed passenger bring your car seat ON the plane.
  Make sure you check and make sure that it is FAA approved by googling your
  car seat brand and style and check for more information HERE
• If your toddler is a ticketed passenger and you are not wanting to bring a car seat check out the CARES (FAA approved Child Harnesses) HERE

Car Seat Bag

• Southwest Airlines Reusable Car Seat Bag - $17
  Not my favorite, but it works. It is cheap and they have them at the counter if you forget yours at home. (I think we have like 4 now! Haha) They do not have wheels and the strap is pretty uncomfortable, but it works. Fit both our baby carrier (with base attached) and our Evenflo 4 in 1 Carseat. 
• Chicco Carseat Bag - $40 AMAZON - HERE
• JL Wheelie Bag - $27 AMAZON - HERE
  (What we currently use) Would've picked something with better wheels and the backpack option if I knew back then! Worth the extra $10 to upgrade IMO, but this also works!

Easy to slip on and off shoes, no belt and don't carry anything in your pockets. Trust me, you have enough to think about. 

HOW WE DO IT:

• Jake stays in his stroller while we wait in line and while the agent checks our IDs and Tickets
• Agent does not need ID for children under 18 (only the airline requires proof of age)
  but the agent will need all of the tickets. 
• We try to pick the shortest conveyor line. Some airports don't have many choices and some may even direct you to a family line. 
• Do NOT feel pressured by other travelers behind you. This process will only get longer for everyone if you rush and forget something. I do try to look for the solo travelers and let them ahead of me or prepare our stuff at the end of the conveyor while other people pass us. 
• Putting things on the conveyor. 
  • Get yourself ready first - Jackets, shoes, belts, sunglasses, wallets, keys (we actually recommend putting them in a specific pocket in your purse/backpack until the end of your trip so you can easily find them upon your return)... Pockets completely empty.
  • Then work on the bags. 
    • Take out any of the liquids in your bag. Remember you can only have things that are required out of a medical necessity (milk, juice and baby food all are allowed) or things that fit the TSA 3-1-1 rules HERE
    • Put ALL of your liquids in a separate container/bin. TSA will separate whatever bin it is in and pull it to the side to be scanned... so if your shoes are with it... you don't have shoes until they are done with it which can take time. 
    • Take out Laptops and Tablets - put in separate bin (required). 
  • Put all else in separate bins. 
  • Take car seat out of car seat carrier to be scanned/examined. Ours doesn't fit through the scanner at most airports (our baby carrier style one did, but 
    the 4 in 1 doesn't). If it doesn't fit, a TSA agent will take it to be examined
  • Then, once everything else is done, take your child out of the stroller. 
  • Fold down the stroller and send it through. 
  • If your baby carrier clicks onto the stroller, then also put the car seat in.
    (MUST BE UPSIDE DOWN) 
  • (KIDS UNDER 12 DO NOT need to remove their shoes)
• Now after everything is going through the scanner, go get in line to be scanned. The TSA agent will wave you over and you will carry your baby (if old enough to walk through and not run away and you have a family member with you, they will have them walk through ahead of you to the other family member). 
• When carrying your baby through, they may swab your hands. I'm not sure if this is because I am carrying a baby, because I have liquids or if I am just always the random person they select. But it happens to me nearly every time. 
• When you walk through, they will select your liquids bin and it will slide over and be separated from the rest of the bunch. Make sure that you politely identify yourself so that they can inspect it. They won't do it without you there. 
• Your car seat will almost certainly still be screening if it doesn't fit through the conveyor. 
• First, put your kiddo(s) back into the stroller and pull ALL of your bins down to the end so other people can get through. 
• I usually am eager to get my shoes on immediately. 
• Quickly put yourself back together and pack up your stuff (or have a family member assist you so you can start the next step). 
• LIQUID SCREENING - After you identify yourself as the owner of the liquids, the TSA agent will wait for you to come with them to screen it. They will have you remove the lids + put them back on when they are done and will not actually touch the milk. Now I don't want to go too into detail because I want to preserve the security here. It is very important to me. But I do know that this can make mom's anxious. They do not actually touch the milk. So no need to worry about them damaging your hard earned pumped milk or the store bought milk. No need to be anxious. This is all for our safety. 
• By the time you finish the last step, your car seat is usually done. My husband often works on getting it back in the bag before I return or we do it when I get back. 

If you have any other questions.... TSA has gotten REALLY good about answering questions on social media - @askTSA and are working very hard to be kind and helpful to us. 

Remember that while it can feel like a ton of work and a huge pain in the butt... there is a reason we do this. With the tragedies of the last 20 years, our air travel will never be the same. If you think back to 2001, I am sure you can realize why it is important to go through every necessary precaution. Please remember that it is the job of our TSA agents to make sure that we are safe. Be kind, be courteous, be thankful to them. Treat them with respect. 

Do you have any thoughts on this post? Did you have any other questions or anxieties going into your first flight? Comment below!