The TSA made my son get a pat-down

Jupiter62

and I didn't care one bit. Meanwhile, the couple behind me was upset that I wasn't more upset.

He's a very ticklish baby and just laughed the whole time.

Would you be upset if you're LO got an airport pat down?

michelle7482

Nope. Plain and simple.

blond1230

It would bother me. Did they give you a reason? My baby has been thru one of the busiest intl airports in the world twice (JFK) and it's a scary, loud, filthy place enough I wouldn't want him subjected to it if it was just to make a point. If there was a reason like the metal detector went off or something I would get it.

VitaLuna

I wouldn't be. I refused the body scanner while pregnant and had to do a full pat down. I didn't feel like it was violating at all like some people say. They use the backs of their hands, same sex agent/passenger. While TSA screening may be annoying, they're just doing their job.

HisChamaoleGirl

BlondAmbition1230 said:

It would bother me. Did they give you a reason? My baby has been thru one of the busiest intl airports in the world twice (JFK) and it's a scary, loud, filthy place enough I wouldn't want him subjected to it if it was just to make a point. If there was a reason like the metal detector went off or something I would get it.

What point exactly do you think a tsa agent would be trying to make if they patted down a baby? I'm really curious bc the only thing I can think of is how they're doing their job. In my line of work chikdren are used in malicious ways so searching a child doesn't seem odd to me at the airport.

blond1230

HisChamaoleGirl said:

BlondAmbition1230 said:

It would bother me. Did they give you a reason? My baby has been thru one of the busiest intl airports in the world twice (JFK) and it's a scary, loud, filthy place enough I wouldn't want him subjected to it if it was just to make a point. If there was a reason like the metal detector went off or something I would get it.

What point exactly do you think a tsa agent would be trying to make if they patted down a baby? I'm really curious bc the only thing I can think of is how they're doing their job. In my line of work chikdren are used in malicious ways so searching a child doesn't seem odd to me at the airport.

I've been randomly selected to have my hands wiped and tested and put thru full body scanner. I've happily taken my sleeping baby out of the car seat and stroller so it could go thru security properly when asked but would not like it if my baby was further patted down than necessary for a random screening like I was asked to do. I come from a family that has a long history of law enforcement so I always willingly and respectfully comply but I would be bothered having my 8 month old do so if it was a random selection vs. the machine beeped.

Burrberrymum

I have never been on a plane but I don't think I would have been upset. I mean, if anyone thinks that's a reason to be upset than how would you feel if they never ever patted down anyone's baby as a "random" selection.

olga1311

I would be very upset. This was my main fear when we flew with DD couple of months ago! I feel it's violating ( I was subjected to it once and was throughly disgusted!!!) and I do not want my child subjected to someone touching them all over. I was prepared to let the ticket go and not fly .

krose0713

I would of course want to supervise, but anything they can do to make my baby and I safe while onboard is fine with me.

coraggiosa

LOL We obviously don't have many libertarians on here. 

I'd be annoyed, honestly, but I wouldn't say anything about it. The TSA has not once caught someone planning to hijack or do anything scary on an airplane, so I don't really think they make us that much safer. In tests conducted to see how competent they are, most of the time they fail to detect concealed bombs and loaded guns. 

VitaLuna

CurlingRocks said:

Yes it would bother me.  I don't think anyone should get patted down.  I haven't seen aything that leads me to believe it is an effective deterrent to terrorism.  I don't judge you for not being bothered though.

I agree that I don't think it deters much of anything or makes us "safer", but at the end of the day, whether I agree with it or not, they're doing their job. I hate it when people get mad/annoyed/rude when I need to do my job, so I try not to do the same to anyone else.

happybride 276

I don't think this is something to get upset about. I think it's worth a noninvasive search if it prevents even one incident. I am happy to be inconvenienced for the greater good of everyone on board.

DaisyZH

I wouldn't be upset at all. I'm glad your DS handled it well!

kje120

olga1311 said:

I would be very upset. This was my main fear when we flew with DD couple of months ago! I feel it's violating ( I was subjected to it once and was throughly disgusted!!!) and I do not want my child subjected to someone touching them all over. I was prepared to let the ticket go and not fly .

It's a pat down, not a cavity search.  Unless you had a TSA agent that grabbed your boob or something I don't see why anyone should be "thoroughly disgusted".  They are doing their jobs.

olga1311

kestock120 said:

olga1311 said:

I would be very upset. This was my main fear when we flew with DD couple of months ago! I feel it's violating ( I was subjected to it once and was throughly disgusted!!!) and I do not want my child subjected to someone touching them all over. I was prepared to let the ticket go and not fly .

It's a pat down, not a cavity search.  Unless you had a TSA agent that grabbed your boob or something I don't see why anyone should be "thoroughly disgusted".  They are doing their jobs.






Because I do not want to be touched everywhere by a random person. It's extremely violating. And I read so many stories when a child was subjected to apt down and that included pat down between their legs. There were enough stories in the media of that. I shudder to think my little girl will be touched that way as child.

Edit: quote fail