Parents flying with children this summer are being advised to think twice before packing popular squishy toys in hand luggage, amid concerns they could create delays and confusion at TSA checkpoints.
For many families, getting through airport security is one of the most stressful parts of a trip, especially for those who do not travel often. With summer airports already busy, any step that helps avoid holdups can make a big difference.
Now, fresh warnings have been issued over certain squishy toys after concerns were raised that some products do not meet important safety requirements.
The Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading (OFT) says it has recently seized more than 550 dangerous squishy toys as part of a wider crackdown on counterfeit and unsafe versions, including items such as squishy dumplings and fidget toys.
Officials say the products can present multiple risks, including chemical hazards, poor or missing labelling, choking dangers, and the absence of suitable age warnings.
In one recent inspection, 81 of the popular toys were removed from a Douglas shop after officers found them to be unsafe.
One of the clearest signs that a squishy toy may not be legitimate is its packaging. Experts warn that if the label only says where the item was made, that should raise concerns. Genuine packaging will usually provide fuller details, including information about the supplier and importer.
Official packaging often includes details of the supplier and importer of the product
“These seemingly fun products may look harmless, but if they haven’t been made to the right standards, they can pose a real risk to children. We would urge parents to check any squishy toys they may have.”
Tim Glover, chairman of the Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading (OFT), issued that warning as attention also turned to problems these toys can cause during airport screening.
Even some legitimate versions have reportedly triggered issues at security, including stress-relief toys such as NeeDohs.
Parents have said the toys, which contain liquid or gel-like fillings, can attract extra attention during scanning and lead to delays at checkpoints.
In the US, travelers are generally allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in carry-on luggage through the checkpoint, the TSA says.
That means any liquid carried through security must be in containers of 100ml or less. Anything larger should go into checked baggage instead.
Because of that, parents are being encouraged to consider how much liquid may be inside their children’s squishy toys, even if determining that is not always straightforward.
“Things like squishy toys contain liquid – this includes NeeDohs which use malt syrup.
“Smaller versions of the toy are under 100mls but larger versions are not. The problem is that as they don’t have measurements printed on them security staff have to estimate their size.
“Our advice is that all but very small squishy toys should be placed in hold baggage.”
Travel experts say the simplest option for families is to pack squishy toys in checked luggage rather than risk losing them or holding up security lines.
Parents are also being urged to check for safety markings, age guidance and clear importer details before buying any squishy toy for children.