The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has started confiscating one of the most common items in the carry-on luggage of young children: stuffed animals.
That’s right, hundreds of those harmless toys that comfort our children, that they sleep with every night protecting them from nightmares, have ended up in the trash bins of TSA agents at airports.
And they are pretty harmless… But the TSA has started checking all these stuffed animals from top to bottom, even slitting them open in front of children (do you know the trauma it can cause a kid to see their best friend destroyed in front of them?!) to really find out what is inside these stuffed animals –as if they didn’t have state-of-the-art scanners to check it…
TSA vs. Stuffed animals
It all started when a family —whose six-year-old son also suffers from ASD (Autism spectrum disorder)— was travelling with Petey, this child’s favourite stuffed animal. Petey was his favourite toy, his best friend… But the TSA decided that Petey could not travel with the family…
It all comes from a recent incident in a U.S. airport. A family tried to fly with their son’s favourite stuffed animal, a plush dog that helped him calm down during the flight. The problem arose when they discovered that the stuffed animal contained glass beads inside to make it heavier, which raised suspicions at the security checkpoint.
These so-called “weighted” stuffed animals, designed as sensory toys, may contain materials like metal balls, lead, or osmium to help relax kids when they hug them. But these elements are considered dangerous if their content cannot be easily verified.
But careful… the reality is that they are allowed, but it is the agent who decides whether it is confiscated or not, depending on what the scanner detects. So, Petey stayed on the ground and the kid…
Testimonials from frustrated parents
Of course, they haven’t been the only ones to go through this, and TikTok has quickly filled with parents sharing similar situations, parents who know that for their children with autism or anxiety, carrying their stuffed animals during flights (especially long ones) is something essential.
One mother shared on social media how her six-year-old son was devastated after seeing his stuffed animal confiscated. Other users reported cases where the stuffed animals were even opened with blades to check their interior.
More than a thousand comments describe similar situations. Some managed to pass the checkpoint after explaining the toy’s content, but many weren’t so lucky. The experience has led hundreds of parents to reconsider what to bring in their carry-on luggage
What does the TSA officially say?
When asked directly, a TSA spokesperson acknowledged that there is no clear policy on this. The recommendation offered was that, in case of doubt, these toys should be placed in checked baggage. This way, they won’t trigger scanner alerts and won’t be opened or confiscated.
Despite this suggestion, many parents feel that this is not a viable solution. These stuffed animals usually have a very high emotional value and are part of the emotional support strategies for many children during long flights.
How can parents prepare before flying?
The wisest thing is to consult directly with TSA before the trip. There is a service called AskTSA, to which you can send a text message with the word “Travel” to the number 275-872. However, the answer that many parents are receiving regarding weighted stuffed animals is the same: “it depends on the agent and the type of material”.
So, our recommendation, although surely not what you want to read, is to bring a backup toy in case the TSA agent decides that the stuffed animal cannot travel, or to buy a special toy for your children just for travel days, so there is no emotional attachment and if the agent decides to cut it open or throw it away, they won’t suffer as much as if they lose their best friend.
Beyond the luggage
Beyond a simple toy, what is at stake are the emotional support resources that many children need to cope with the stress of a flight. While it is important to keep flights safe, it is also important to maintain empathy with families travelling with small children or with special needs.
It’s fine that the TSA wants to protect passengers; it’s their job, but creating traumatic situations for minors might not be the best approach.
