Yeah, the topic's kind of tongue and cheek, but it's a serious question.

I'm a new father (in the process of adopting a little boy ... have temporary custody of him now), and we'll be taking him on a trip.

What do I need to know about getting him thru security? I'm not going to have to remove his shoes am I? I'm pretty darn sure they're not profile.

Any tips are much appreciated.

Thanks,

Super

Congratulations Superguy!!!! Unfortunately in this horrible world, babies do have to be screened, but only if the person holding them alarms. We (philly screeners) like to just pat the baby down. Wanding them is kind of ridiculous, but a pat down is only needed if the person carrying the baby alarms. If the person does alarm, we do the baby first and suggest that the other parent, or someone traveling with the baby, take the baby from the person that alarmed. If the parent is traveling alone, we ask them to put the baby in the infant seat or stroller after the pat down and then proceed to screen the parent. Hope I helped you. Take care.

Someone posted here recently that children are exempt from the shoe carnival, profile shoes or not.

You need not remove shoes from a baby. Congrats, SuperDad.

Thanks.

So let me get this straight.

One of us takes the kid thru the WTMD and as long as we don't alarm, the kidlet just gets a pat down?

Not to be pissy, but I sure hope a baby pat down is much less invasive than the ones I've gotten in secondary. I guess I could always bring him thru in a diaper and then change him airside.

How do the strollers get thru?

Not quite.

One of you takes the child through (in your arms). If no alarm, both are clear. If there is an alarm, both will be screened (adult with handwand, child most likely with a quick pat-down).

If one of you is SSSS and the other isn't, or if one of you will *definitely* alarm (artificial joints, etc), have the "clean" parent carry the child through.

Jackets will likely need to be removed, but shoes shouldn't (unless there is metal, or possibly light-up shoes with electronics).

Stroller will have all bags removed and sent through the X-Ray, then be folded up to go through. Wheels up will usually help. If it is too large to fit, a screener will physically inspect it.

As an aside, some airports may have a special line for parents with small children or elderly passengers needing assistance. You might want to look for that (though not all airports have them). I know at the airport I work at, *most* screeners will try and offer some assistance to parents with small children, especially mothers travelling alone.

HTH!

Sorry if I wasn't clear. If you don't alarm, the baby doesn't need any further screening. And if he does, most screeners are very sensitive to babies, you shouldn't have any problems. As for teh stroller, it should be folded up and sent through the x-ray. Also, anything the baby may be carrying, bottles, rattles, even blankets. If its too big for the machine, the screeners will instruct you where to take it to have it screened by hand. Have a safe flight.

Thanks for the info and welcome to FT! And thanks bambi for your insights too!

So light up shoes could cause a problem ... or is it only if they alarm? I could probably "borrow" that pair of shoes and take them to work. We have WTMDs for uncleared personnel. I've used them to check all my shoes, so I could just check his too.

We usually fly out of BWI, so I haven't noticed a special line for anyone but airline crew, but then again, I haven't had the need to pay attention before.

Another question regarding the secondaries ... my wife and I don't like to take our shoes off because the floors are really awful at BWI. I generally try to wear nonprofile shoes, so if one of us gets sent to the wanding pit for the swabbing, does the kid get anything too?

Thanks,

Super

Light up shoes, more often than not, do alarm. There are batteries in them. My own experience is that they don't on smaller shoes, but its better to be safe and put something else on him. If your wearing light up shoes, there are bigger issues than the batteries here. I really don't think they'll swipe the babies shoes, but you can't be certain. We all know how the shoe policies differ at airports.

If the parent and baby alarm, doesn't the couple get one additional chance to go through again, after removing an offending belt buckle, knuckle duster, flick knife, or whatever? -or- is it straight to secondary screening?

Alrighty. We'll just check those shoes. Wit the way he's growing though, he might well be out of them by Christmas.

Yes they do. But my experience is that most parents carrying babies who alarm, would rather just go for secondary. The hassle of carrying the baby and trying to figure out what alarmed is somewhat flustering sometimes. But, which ever you choose is fine.