Taking small children through security screening

Here are some tips to help you and your children breeze through airport security screening and onto the plane.

Do

• Pack toys in your child’s carry-on baggage.
• Remove infants from their strollers/carriers. Hold them in your arms and proceed through the metal detector.
• Place strollers, infant carriers and other child-related equipment including diaper bags, on the conveyor belt for security screening.
• Let your child walk through the metal detector if he or she is able to do so alone.
• Walk through the metal detector if you are pregnant – it won’t harm your unborn child. If you are concerned, you may request a physical search.
• If you are travelling with a baby under two years of age (0-24 months), bring baby food, formula, medications, milk, water and juice, in reasonable amounts that will be required during your flight(s) and any connections. These are exempted from the liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions only if you are travelling with a baby under two years of age (0-24 months), however they must be presented to a screening officer for separate inspection. As gel or ice packs are subject to the liquid restrictions, it is recommended that you freeze a bottle of milk or formula or carry a small bag of frozen vegetables (peas, for example) to keep the baby products cool.
• Passengers flying with or without their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than 100 ml provided it is presented to the screening officer for inspection prior to screening.
• Gel and ice packs are exempt from the restrictions on liquids when used to refrigerate breast milk, medically necessary items and medication (as long as it states on the label of the medication that it needs to be refrigerated or the passenger has a doctor’s or pharmacist’s note).

Don’t

• Bring toys in your child’s carry-on that look like real weapons (e.g. water guns, squirt guns, toy grenades, etc.).
• Pack gel or ice packs in your carry-on as they are subject to the liquid restrictions. It is recommended that passengers freeze a bottle of milk or formula or carry a small bag of frozen vegetables (peas, for instance) to keep their baby products cool. Gel and ice packs are only exempt from the restrictions on liquids when they are used to refrigerate breast milk, medically necessary items and medication, as long as it states on the label of the medication that it needs to be refrigerated or the passenger has a doctor’s or pharmacist’s note.
• Hand your child to a screening officer to hold while you go through security. 

For additional information, please visit the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Travelling with Children webpage.