If your child is obsessed with squishies, NeeDohs or other gel filled sensory toys, it might be worth checking their hand luggage before heading to the airport.
The toys have become hugely popular with children, helped along by TikTok, YouTube and the usual playground craze where suddenly everyone seems to have one. But there is a catch. Many squishies contain gel or liquid, which means they can potentially cause problems when going through airport security.
And the last thing any parent wants at the start of a long journey to Australia is to have their child’s favourite toy taken away.
Can airport security confiscate a squishy?
Potentially, yes.
Because many squishies contain gel, airport security may treat them in a similar way to other liquids, gels and pastes carried in hand luggage.
Manchester Airport has already issued advice around squishy toys, recommending that all but very small ones are placed in hold luggage.
For parents, the issue isn’t necessarily the value of the toy. It is what that toy means to the child.
Our Executive Director, Simon Hood, knows that first-hand. Simon said: “As a parent myself, I know exactly how these things work. One minute you’ve never heard of a squishy and the next your child has three of them and absolutely cannot leave the house without one.
“I recently flew back from Cornwall to Manchester with my three-year-old and security confiscated a little pebble he’d picked up. To us it was just a pebble, but to him it was his pebble, and he absolutely lost it when they took it away.
“That was bad enough. If security took away his favourite squishy, oh my God, I dread to think what the reaction would be, particularly when you’re about to get on a long-haul flight to Australia.
“That’s why I’d say to parents it simply isn’t worth the risk.”
Why can squishies cause problems at airport security?
The issue is mainly what is inside them.
A bottle of shampoo normally has its volume clearly printed on the packaging.
A squishy generally doesn’t.
Security staff may therefore have no obvious way of knowing exactly how much liquid or gel is contained inside the toy.
The contents can also look unusual when bags are being screened, potentially leading to a manual search.
Simon added: “Parents are usually very good at checking their own toiletries and liquids before flying.
“What we don’t necessarily think about is what the children have quietly put into their own backpacks.
“Your child sees their NeeDoh as a toy. Airport security may see a container full of gel.
“It’s worth checking their bags before leaving home because you really don’t want to start your holiday or your move with an upset child at security.”
Can I put squishies in my checked luggage?
In many cases, hand-luggage restrictions around liquids and gels do not apply in quite the same way to checked baggage.
That means placing a squishy in your suitcase may be an option, depending on your airline and departure airport.
However, there is another potential problem. Squishies can split.
If one bursts during a long-haul journey, you could end up with gel leaking over clothes, toys and other belongings. If you do decide to pack one in checked luggage, putting it inside a sealed bag would be sensible.
We would also recommend checking your airline’s latest rules before travelling.
What about shipping squishies with my household belongings?
If you are moving to Australia and sending your household belongings separately with John Mason International, that is different from carrying a squishy through airport security.
Household goods entering Australia are treated as unaccompanied personal effects and are subject to Australian customs and biosecurity requirements.
Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity controls in the world, which is why families moving there need to think carefully about what they pack.
There isn’t a specific Australian rule that says ordinary gel-filled squishies are automatically banned from a household-goods shipment.
However, if your children have toys containing gels, liquids, slime, putty or unusual fillings, our advice is simple:
Show them to your move consultant before they are packed.
Simon said: “The important thing is not to assume that because something is a child’s toy, it can automatically travel without any questions being asked.
“If your child has a collection of squishies, slime or similar toys, just show them to us.
“We can advise you before they go into a box.
“That is much easier than finding out there is a problem when your belongings are already halfway around the world.”
Why is Australia so strict?
Australia takes biosecurity extremely seriously. Household-goods shipments can be checked for materials or contamination that could introduce pests or diseases into the country.
That can include everything from soil on bicycles and gardening equipment to wooden items, outdoor furniture and certain food, plant or animal products.
For families moving from the UK, this can sometimes be surprising. Things that feel completely ordinary at home can still need to be declared, cleaned or checked before entering Australia.
That is why speaking to an experienced international removals company before packing can save a lot of stress later.
So, should I take my child’s squishy to Australia?
Our advice would be to avoid putting a favourite squishy in hand luggage unless you have checked the latest airport rules and are confident it will be allowed.
Could it get through without any issue? Possibly.
But is it worth risking your child’s favourite toy being taken away just before a long-haul flight?
Probably not.
Simon said: “A new squishy might only cost a few pounds.
“Trying to calm a tired three-year-old because security has just taken away their favourite one is a very different matter.
“My advice would be to leave the favourite one at home, put an allowed one in your checked luggage if appropriate, or buy another when you arrive.
“Sometimes avoiding the drama is worth far more than the toy itself.”
Moving to Australia with children?
Moving your family to Australia is exciting, but there are hundreds of small things to think about along the way.
At John Mason International, we have been helping families move overseas since 1884, and Australia remains one of our most popular destinations.
From packing and shipping your household belongings to helping you understand Australian customs and biosecurity requirements, our team can guide you through the process.
And if you are standing in your child’s bedroom wondering whether a particular toy can make the journey, just ask us.
We’ve probably been asked stranger questions.
Planning a move to Australia? Speak to the John Mason International team and let us help make your family’s move as straightforward as possible.