Baby Carrier
Soft baby carriers and wraps are allowed in carry-on and checked bags, but your baby must come out of it during screening.
Carry-on
Allowed
Checked
Allowed
Carry-on details
Allowed. A soft-structured carrier or wrap goes through the X-ray with your other carry-on items. TSA requires you to take your baby out of the carrier before walking through the security checkpoint — you can hold your baby or have them walk through separately, but they can't pass through while worn. Metal buckles on structured carriers can trigger the walk-through metal detector; that's normal and just means a quick pat-down, not a separation from your child.
Checked-bag details
Allowed. A baby carrier can also be packed in checked baggage, though most parents keep it with them for use during travel through the airport.
Special instructions
Wear a simpler carrier through the airport if you can — an elaborate wrap with a lot of fabric takes longer to remove and re-tie at the checkpoint than a buckled soft-structured carrier.
FAQ
- Do I need to take my baby out of the carrier at security?
- Yes. TSA requires infants and children to be removed from carriers, wraps, and slings before you walk through the security checkpoint, even though the carrier itself is allowed.
- Will a baby carrier set off the metal detector?
- It can — metal buckles or hardware on structured carriers sometimes trigger the alarm. If that happens, expect a brief pat-down of the parent; your baby stays with you the whole time.
- Is a baby carrier the same as a car seat for TSA purposes?
- No. A baby carrier is a soft, worn item with no airline gate-check policy of its own, while a car seat is bulkier gear that most airlines gate-check for free — see the car seat page for those rules.
Related items
Source: TSA — What Can I Bring? · Last verified: 2026-07-31
Final decision rests with the security officer at the checkpoint.