If you’re looking to bring a squishy toy on a flight this summer, there are some travel rules you may not be aware of.
The viral toys are extremely popular with young children, but may not be allowed through security at certain airports.
With the summer break fully underway, many Brits will soon be heading overseas on holiday.
For families packing children’s toys to bring on the flight, it’s important to check with airport security rules as certain toys may not be allowed past the gates.
One such product is the viral squishy dumplings, the latest toy craze to take over the internet.
Housed in plastic “basket style” pots, the trending toys come in a variety of bright colours, including rarer glitter and galaxy dumplings.
However, if you or your child are looking to bring the toys with you abroad this summer, there’s a possibility the squishies may be flagged at security.
This is because some of the squeezy dumplings are filled with gel.
UK airports have restrictions on the limit of liquids, gels and pastes you can bring through security, which can range from 100ml up to two litres.
To check rules surrounding squeezy dumplings, the BBC reached out to the Department for Transport and major UK airports to see what guidelines they had in place.
The DfT is one of the regulatory bodies that consults on airport security restrictions.
When it comes to bringing squishy toys on planes, the DfT said: “No matter how adorable your squishy dumpling is, airport security rules still apply.”
This means that depending on the airport you are flying from, the limits that airport sets out surrounding liquids, gels and pastes will apply to your squishy toy.
It’s advised to check directly with the airport you are flying from to understand these limits.
However, the department did add that for any travellers in doubt as to where to pack their squeezy dumplings “the safest place is in your hold luggage”.
Manchester Airport has advised that “all but very small squishy toys should be placed in hold baggage”.
As smaller squishies contain less than 100ml of liquid they should be fine to bring through.
But larger toys may not have the exact measurement listed on the item, meaning it’s better to bring them in hand luggage so security can estimate the size.
Both Birmingham Airport and London Gatwick Airport said that the squeezy toys are required to go through security screening, whichever bag the item is in.
Like anything going through security, the airports confirmed that if the item fails security checks, it would not be allowed on the plane.
As the toys contain gel, Belfast City Airport has confirmed that the items are subject to the airport’s security rules surrounding liquids, gels and pastes.
Belfast City is one of a small number of airports in the UK that has introduced new security checks and limits on the amount of liquid able to bring through security.
Passengers can now bring up to two litres in hand luggage through this airport, so squishy dumplings are likely to be fine.
Both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports have said that its best to follow guidelines set out by the DfT.