A popular toy may be great for keeping kids occupied during a long flight, but some versions might not make it through airport security. TSA is reminding parents that gel-filled toys are subject to the same limits as other liquids and gels.
On Aug. 11, the Transportation Security Administration shared a warning on its official social media accounts aimed specifically at parents traveling with children’s toys. “It’s not Needoh for us to see any kid cry,” the agency joked before advising travelers to place toys containing more than 3.4 ounces of gel or dough in checked luggage.
The warning specifically references NeeDoh, a line of squeezable sensory toys made by Schylling. WFLA reports that the toys have become popular with children but can be a problem with TSA’s longstanding rules governing liquids and gels.
That does not mean every NeeDoh has to stay home. TSA’s newly updated guidelines for gel-filled toys say toys containing no more than 3.4 ounces of gel or liquid can travel in a carry-on when they meet the agency’s 3-1-1 requirements.
Some NeeDoh Toys Are Too Large For Carry-On Bags
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TSA says gel-filled toys containing 3.4 ounces or less may be carried through security, but they must fit inside the traveler’s quart-sized bag with other liquids, gels and aerosols. Larger gel-filled toys should instead be packed in checked luggage.
That distinction matters for many NeeDoh products. Paul Weingard, president of manufacturer Schylling, told Parade that most NeeDoh toys contain more than 3.4 ounces of gel or liquid and therefore exceed the limit for carry-on bags.
There are some exceptions. Weingard told Parade that the smaller NeeDoh Teenies fall below the 3.4-ounce limit, while the company’s Snowball Crunch is filled with cornstarch rather than liquid.
Schylling’s own product listings confirm just how small the Teenies are: a single Teenie NeeDoh weighs 0.06 pounds, while a three-pack weighs 0.15 pounds.
Other Toys Can Fall Under Some Unexpected TSA Rules
Gel-filled toys are not the only children’s items that can run into restrictions. TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” guidance dictates that squirt guns, Nerf guns, toy swords, and other toys resembling weapons should not be packed in carry-on luggage.
Even a Magic 8 Ball has its own TSA entry. It states that the liquid-filled toy is not permitted in carry-on bags but can be packed in checked luggage.
When it comes to the rules, it all ultimately comes back to what is inside the item and how TSA classifies it rather than whether it happens to just be a toy. The agency explains that items containing liquids or gels must comply with its 3-1-1 carry-on restrictions, and TSA officers maintain final say over whether an item can pass through a security checkpoint or not.
So, for families hoping a wildly popular, viral squishy toy will help pass the time in the air, checking what is inside it before packing may save some brutal disappointment at the airport. For larger NeeDoh toys in particular, TSA’s latest advice is straightforward: let them fly via checked bag instead.