Pat-downs at airports are becoming more widely used to inspect travelers-- and that means all air passengers-- including babies are subject to a pat-down.
A West Fargo family discovered this first-hand after it happened to their 17-month old this weekend.
It was Juliette Fiechtner's nightmare, "I started crying because its uncomfortable to watch someone do that to your child."
On Saturday night, she and her family were going through airport security in Minneapolis heading home to Fargo.
When her 17-month-old son, Grayson walked through the metal detector, alarms went off.
TSA agents were getting ready to pat her toddler down. Juliette took out her cell phone and video taped what was going on, until agents stopped her. Baby Grayson was wearing overalls, and the metal on the clasps may have been what set off the alarm.
Juliette says the agents patted down her son, "he went like this down each side of him. He went down the front here. It made me really uncomfortable because we raise our children to not be touched by strangers."
But according to the TSA website..everyone, even babies, needs to be screened. The agency says, though, they do so with proper care, "we specially train our security officers and they understand your concern for your children. They will approach your children gently and treat them with respect."
But Juliette says that's not how TSA agents treated her son, "I understand being screened, but not giving me alternative choices like a wand which would have gone off right on his suspenders."
MORE * Video
http://www.valleynewslive.com/Global/story.asp?S=14287282
