Do diapers show up on x-ray scanners?

I know there are many topics about diapers and airport security but i couldn't find any about this specific issue.

Does anyone know if diapers show up on airport x-ray security scanners? And if so, are they then recognized as diapers or as some suspicious looking matter that requires further investigation? I like to bring some when I travel but I do not want them to raise any suspicion at the airport because I am not waiting for embarrassing searches of my hand luggage or finding out that my baggage has been searched when I arrive at my destination.

Maybe I have watched too many episodes of 'airport security': "This looks like organic matter - we have to open this suitcase and examine what's inside..."

search for air travel and you will find about a hundred and half of them.

Especially if wet, a diaper will show up on a full-body scan. What they're mostly going to be concerned with is liquids, so it's advisable to make sure you're dry before going through the TSA line. Or, better yet, don't put on the diaper till you're past security. This is from AARP:

For travelers with concerns about the screening process because of panty liners, adult diapers or other health-related matters, a TSA spokesman had these tips:

- The passenger may provide the officer with a TSA notification card or other medical documentation to describe your condition. Questions or concerns about traveling with a disability can be directed to passenger support.

- Passengers can also call TSA Cares 855-787-2227 toll-free, which provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.

- Travelers requiring special accommodations or concerned about the security screening process at the airport may ask a TSA officer or supervisor for a passenger support specialist who can provide on-the-spot assistance.

Actually being IC I went several time through X-ray. It didn‘t bring problems even if wet. Same with my hand luggage with diaper that they inspected for other reasons.


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Thanks a lot for the quick answers. I am not concerned about wearing through security however (there are indeed hundreds of posts about that as Xpluswearer pointed out) but only about the visibility of diapers in my luggage. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough about that.

Makubird said:

Thanks a lot for the quick answers. I am not concerned about wearing through security however (there are indeed hundreds of posts about that as Xpluswearer pointed out) but only about the visibility of diapers in my luggage. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough about that.

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that was the first hundred and half the next hundred and half is on x-ray and diapers seems we get a new thread on this every 2 weeks.

I was quite damp if not wet when I went through the scanners and it wasn't a problem. A quick frisk down and a look in my bag with my inco supplies in. Didn't bother me. After over 5 years of being in nappies 24/7 nothing embarrasses me now.

When X-raying your carry on for sure Diapers show up, I have glimpsed my carry on bag heaps of times with diapers, phone cords, books etc showing plane as day and so far not been queried at all.

I was originally concerned as well as a I thought flat white plastic backed item could look like stacked KGs of illicit substances but apparently not

After all the horror YouTube videos I have seen I would be worried about being patted down in a US airport but never had any problems in Oz, UK, Singapore, Dubai, Italy etc

Same here. Dry, they do not show up. Wet, they do and may likely flag you for a pat down.

I've veen through those scanners in an absolutely soaked diaper before. Being incontinent and having no choice, I've been through them a lot with a mild or moderetly wet diaper on.

Never once has being wet ever caused me any problems. At the most I will get a guick pat down, then be sent on my way. The TSA has seen people in diapers a lot (they are commonly used my people in the US- by the millions).

The horror stories you hear are from people who were nervous about their diapers- wet or not. It's the nervousness they pick up on, and that's what causes the problems you hear about. Just keep calm and act normal. Wear your diaper (wet or dry doesn't matter), and own them. You will go through security quick and easy.

I agree with Slomo. I’m incontinenet; and before I retired, I was a frequent flyer. I’ve been briefly patted down a number of times; and a couple of times security wanted to have a look at the diapers in my carry-on bag. However, usually nothing was said; and I went through with no extra checks. It’s really not that big a deal if you’re incontinent. It’s a medical condition; and almost everyone respects that.

X-Rays are there to scan your bones, not any clothing you may be wearing.

They can't see diapers, but they can see poop, so... Don't mess yourself in the security line unless you want the security personnel to gather around the x-ray monitor and stare with incredulity at the mysterious, gravity-defying turd between your femurs.

I've also heard that the shells of Tykables diapers have an enormous "Tykables" watermark that is only visible by x-ray. Although unconfirmed, the watermark appears to be part of a market research program aimed at determining whether Tykables should stake its future on making diapers for x-ray operators.

I have flown pretty frequently in the last year and have had varied experiences with security. I have not noticed a rhyme or reason when it comes to wet diaper vs dry diaper and the nude-o-scan prompting a hand search. I’ve had very cursory searches with the back of a hand (and swabs for bomb material) and also have had things like my forearm or calves searched - while wearing through security. In no case did I ever have anything on me that was illegal or metal or whatever.

On one occasion I had one of those tsa medical cards with me that said on it “needs diapers” (I decided to dumb it down as much as possible for the tsa workers - and also not lie...eg. I do need diapers, just not exactly medically in the way maybe most would expect). When I showed that to the bag guy he was very kind and indicated I could have a private space If it triggered anything. He went and told the operator on the other side of the body scanner as well. In that case, my diaper was wet but the machine didn’t trigger a search of it. He just checked my foot - which had nothing on it of course. Weird to say the least.

At this point, I wonder if it has more to do with the persons look and demeanor that triggers a search as opposed to actual diaper condition?


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Just buy some o' them x-ray specs for to see for yourself.

The OP was actually referring to those full body scanners you walk through. They do incorporate xray back scatter tech, and most certainly can pick up and see a wet diaper.

And yes, the TSA is specifically trained to look for people who are acting nervous. They pick up on it really easy too, so if wearing a (wet) diaper makes you nervous, then they are likely to pick up on that. All the while you incorrectly think they picked up on your diaper.

cm90210 said:

At this point, I wonder if it has more to do with the persons look and demeanor that triggers a search as opposed to actual diaper condition?

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I'm pretty sure this is the case. I flew for work a bunch of times last year, and pretty much every other time I went through security they were ushering people through a powered down metal detector (the readouts had cardboard taped over them, but I know it was off because I walked through with a pocket full of change). They also weren't bothering to look at the x-ray or body scanner very closely (one co-worker accidentally got a knife through in his carry on, and another got one through the body scanner in his pocket).

I’ve gone through security in a wet diaper once a few years ago. They pulled me aside and did the hand held scanner thing to me after I had walked through the scanner. With the back of his hand he patted my butt and that was it. He didn’t say anything to me and he didn’t seemed phased at all. It’s not that big of a deal to do it.

I usually fly with my PULs in my carry on and wearing my adult training underwear. Once through security I use the terminal bathroom to pull on my plastic underpants. I have had my bag checked by hand several times and they always "pass over" my PULs and look more at my wiring / cable for my computer / phone items. Other times they have not looked through my bag even though my PULs were in there. So I would say in this case - NO, the scanner does not show them OR TSA could care less about your protective undergarments.

Recently I packed two premium adult disposables in my carry on and it went through the scanner (quite bulky!) but they never pulled it to look at it. Even if so, I doubt TSA would even care since seeing diapers in someone's carry on probably occurs 100x per day.

You guys seem to be getting the xray machines all confused. The old and basic metal detectors are not even xray machines. No, they will not see diapers. They only detect magnetic field disturbances cause by metal.

The baggage xray machines are able to show there is something there that's taking up space, but they won't even be able to tell a diaper apart from a cotton shirt.

The new xray back scanner machines you walk through (aka the nude-o-scope) mostly will not be able to detect a dry diaper. Sometimes it can pick up on the bulk if they are thick enough, though usually it won't even flag that. However, they most certainly can and will pick up a wet diaper.

Even that doesn't matter though, as the others have pointed out. At the most you will get an extra pat down before being let on your way. It's only when you're nervous that the extra screening or problems might arise.

Slomo said:

You guys seem to be getting the xray machines all confused. The old and basic metal detectors are not even xray machines. No, they will not see diapers. They only detect magnetic field disturbances cause by metal.

The baggage xray machines are able to show there is something there that's taking up space, but they won't even be able to tell a diaper apart from a cotton shirt.

The new xray back scanner machines you walk through (aka the nude-o-scope) mostly will not be able to detect a dry diaper. Sometimes it can pick up on the bulk if they are thick enough, though usually it won't even flag that. However, they most certainly can and will pick up a wet diaper.

Even that doesn't matter though, as the others have pointed out. At the most you will get an extra pat down before being let on your way. It's only when you're nervous that the extra screening or problems might arise.

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When I was doing tons more traveling in the 90's and 00's, I was friends with the airport staff whom were before 9-11 the security screeners too and I was able to see the monitor err Television screen they used for the X-ray machine and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that yes you can see plain as day the clear outlines of diapers on the monitor in fact Depend green backed ones would actually show up quite vivdly. And with the newer models where they can do almost 3D images yes they can see everything in your bags I got red faced when I saw the clear picture of everything in my bag.
however if the airport received one of those one time issue oddball scanners all you would see is blocks and if there is anything that would set it off it would change the block to red and that would set off a light on the screen to search that bag.
You are right on the Metal detectors of old where they just tested for metal now I believe they are developing a plastic detection one too.
What was terrible when right after 9-11 they secondary searched everyone at the gate and threw everything out of your bag for everyone to see on one of those banquet tables that fold talk about shameful.