Air Travel Security

The TSA has a web site that outlines exactly what you can and can't bring on the airplane.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitt...

also this link covers liquids

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

It specifically says that baby formula is allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding 3 ounces.

Every time I've traveled with an infant, you can bring anything you need for the baby. Water, liquid formula, diaper rash ointment, applesauce, crackers, anything. They're very good about it. As long as you have the baby with you!

I just traveled with my then 3 month old and 2 1/2 yr old and the TSA was wonderful! They allowed me to take 3-4 bottles of unopened water and snacks, and soy milk for my older son who is lactose intolerant. They never asked any questions and were very helpful with getting us through the line with what felt like 2 million items!! Just take it slow and be diligent and put EVERYTHING in the bins! I did forget to take out my just in case baby med bag and they just reminded me when I got through and re-ran it, they totally understood in my rush to get everything on the belt and in the bins I forgot! Happy travels!!

D.

If it is for the baby, you can pretty much bring anything through security. Just take all the liquids out and show them to the TSA before you put them on the xray. I just travelled with my son last week, and I brought juice, pediasure and a bunch of medicines through and they didn't even give it a second look. Have fun!!!

You can bring formula made up if you want (or have them put water in it on the plane) You can also bring juice in a sippy cup or bottle (but save yourself the trouble - bring an empty cup and let the flight attendants fill it with their juice - they can even do a juice/water mixture if you want). I travel frequently (at least once/month) with a now three year old, and have never had a problem with food for him - even liquid things like applesauce...Just be sure to tell them at security that it is for your child. You may want to avoid slurpy foods though for the plane, they are pretty messy!

S., Ii currently work for an airline but the best information you are going to get is to pull up the city page you are traveling out of and look up the (TSA) Transprotation Security Admin. They can help you. Generally you can have liquids under 3 oz. or less and this applies to baby liquids. They budge a little more on the seeled food like apple sauce and cerials and stuff just leave it in the carry on bag. But any liquids must fit into a quart sized zip lock bag and it must be closed and pulled out of your carry on to go through screening. Some places will allow an ice pack to be in the baggie and some places won't. Be prepared they are not all the nicest in the world either. I have used Dannon yogurt Danimals, I can just stick a straw in it for my little oneand they are 3.1 oz. I have bought the sheets of ice squares and those woork just fine all day and Ican fit several into a baggie. Now here is the thing...each person traveling gets a baggie and if you are carring medicine products for a little one and your self (3 ozor less) that can be an another baggie due to medicine. When going through the screening I put all of my baggies in a plastic bag and have them ready to put into a tub and then after you are away from screaning and in the gate area I put them back where thay might go, not in the screaning area. That place is crazy. Good luck to you and your family in your travels. I might make one more bit of advice from and airline person... show up 2 hrs ahead of time, this is for any unforseen problems with bags,weather, ect. Also call ahead and find out what your airline has for restrictions in baggage allowance for you and if your little one does not have a seat if they are allowed one or not for free? C. B. PS. Just remember thoose web pages tell you a lot of information, the TSA and the airline for the bags!!!

We just flew twice with our 14-month-old and I was surprised and grateful that the TSA agents were so helpful. I took 2 6-oz bottles of whole milk, plus yogurt and applesauce. (And I forgot about the full sippy cup of water in the pocket of the diaper bag). TSA just collected everything and took aside to be scanned. At one small airport, the agent asked me to open a bottle and she waved a chemical strip over the top of the opened container - checking for fumes? - and then we were on our way. The procedures seemed to be standard for the four airports we've been through recently - two international airports (including SeaTac) and two regional airports. Safe travels!

We just traveled a week ago and I brought small containers of unopened baby food and have brought bottles before. Just remember to take them out of your carry on and put them in the bins as you go through security. As for heating the bottle one flight attendant taught my sister a great trick...They do have hot water that they use for making tea...So have them put hot water in an airsick bag Then put another one inside of it and put the bottle in that one - that way your bottle stays dry but gets nice and hot. Good trick huh? We thought so! Have a great trip!

We just flew yesterday. The rule is technically no liquid container more than 4 oz. and all the liquids you have must fit in one quart size ziploc. You can stretch what you need to bring if you are traveling with more than one ticketed passenger since it's one bag per person. You are supposed to pull it out of your bag to go through security. I forgot yesterday and no one said anything.

The airlines use bottled water so if you can live with water that is not heated (I didn't heat bottles) you could use that. The plane usually has apple, orange, and cranapple juice so you could bring an empty bottle or sippy cup.

You can bring any food you want. Finger and hand-held snacks seems to offer the best 'entertainment' value. The key to travel with a one-year old is good snacks.

Call your airline to ask specificly about carrying items for baby.

Hi S.,

I have to agree with Maya, but you have to realize that the people checking your things are thinking about the safety of all people. I stongly suggest that you call the airlines and double check on what you CAN bring. I would think that the airlines (800 #) would be of great help.

good luck!

I've seen some recent reports that say the water on board the airplane is not good for drinking. So I'd buy your own water at the airport or ask the attendants for bottled water.

I think the only restrictions are on liquids and that if you show them before putting them on the x-ray belt there will be no problem.

However, the most accurate and up to date information can be found on your choice of airline's web site.

I'm not sure that I would want to use the airline's water. It may make the formula taste enough different that your baby may refuse it. I'm also not as confident about a baby drinking water from an unknown source. I drink it but I do sometimes notice an off flavor.

S.,
I agree with the advise that TSA will be open to almost anything for baby. I took a large baggie full of formula, no label, through security a few different times for my little one. She has flown six times in her short 1 year of life. You can bring baby food as well that is over 3 ozs. Just take it out of the bag and put it in a seperate bin. TSA has always been very understanding when you are traveling with a baby.
One other tip I learned after the fact is you can check up to 3 baby bags at no charge. Be sure you are not getting charged extra for the car seat, pack n'play, etc.
Happy Travels,
M.

I took the little single serve applesauce and had no problem. I'd recommend putting it in a ziploc bag just in case it breaks open with the air pressure or if it gets squashed. If you look at the TSA or SeaTac website it spells out pretty clearly that you can take a reasonable ammount of food for kids. Just make sure that you have any liquids available for the security people to check if they want. I didn't have any problems with it, but it's better to tell them you have it than it is for it to show up on the x-ray thingy. Also, big airports like LAX are more likely to be difficult than littler airports. My experience is also that the flight attendants are busy on midlength flights and are less available to help with stuff. Also, depending how long your flight is, your kiddo may sleep much of the way.

Applesauce may be a bit messy, but then again when your on a plane...it's whatever makes baby happy! we recently flew with our one year old and I just packed a baggie of all her favorite snacks, like goldfish, cereal, etc. I didn't take a bottle through but I am sure it would be fine.

Granted the last time I flew was over a year ago.

Put any liquid things in a quart bag to take out when you go through security. I also brought only one sippy cup - I'd bring more - how many times it dropped on the gross floor - I just told myself - building immunity building immunity. I brought my own bottles of water once inside.

You didn't say how old but freeze dried fruit was a great snack. Veggie Booty as well. I packed a thermos like bag but bigger filled with different muchies - and a lot of muchies.

Good luck!

As long as it is clearly baby related, you should be fine. Bring small quantities (small jars of food), and put them in the clear plastic zip lock to go through security.
But, baby requirements appear to be exempt from the security.

Have a good trip!

Just declare it at the security check- you are allowed to bring formula and food (reasonable amount, I suppose). We took applesauce, etc. this summer to Hawaii and had no trouble. Good luck! Oh yeah, and diaper bags are a "free" carry on, you can still carry another bag and your purse :)

Take dry formula mix and an empty bottle. Once you pass thru security, you can go to Starbucks and have them give you some hot water to mix your first bottle for take off. Make sure you take enough formula to last your return trip as well. The flight attendants can mix more formula on the plane, warm/hot water is their's for the use. Applesauce is messy, first sign of turbulence and you'll both be wearing it. Cheerios or Goldfish in a ziplock bag. I would strongly suggest flying red eye, your toddler will be able to sleep and give you some much needed rest. A pacifier is a must to help relieve the ear pressure. They will wake up screaming if they don't do something to equalize the pressure. So a bottle or a pacifier if they're sleeping.

Hi - I am sure you have gotten plenty of advice already -- but here goes mine. Breastmilk is under the medication guidelines of TSA security is what I have been told at least. Also FYI, I paid for our car seat when I flew and on my return flight the curbside guy said that I didn't need to pay, that car seats were checked as a courtesy (at least that was on United). Hope that helps! T.

Hi,
We have traveled quite a bit with our two (4 & 2 now), and have found that all airports, and even security people are different. What you can do is plan for the best case senario, and bring what you need. Place all items in separate zip locks. BE SURE to remove them from your carry on and set them in a bin together. The guards get vary upset and strict when they have to pull you aside. That said, I have gotten through with 4 juice boxes, 4 milk (liquid) bottles, and some food items. They may ask you if it is for the baby, and disallow water or items you can get on the flight. If they try to take your juice for that reason, push for bringing it. Restock for your trip home either from checked luggage or in local stores. Don't forget to put your bottom cream in a zip lock & the bin, too!

You can bring whatever food you want, but liquids have to be purchased once you've passed the security checkpoint. So you can't pre-make the formula. I suggest purchasing a box of the pre-measured formula tubes for traveling. It's way easier for traveling. You can find them in any store.

I flew out of SeaTac last year by myself with my 4 months old daughter and had the worst experience. It was early in the morning and the screener I had was clearly grumpy before it was even my turn.
She made me dump the pedialyte I had filled in 2 babybottles to keep my daughter hydrated on the flight in case my breastmilk supply took a hit from traveling (fortunately I didn;t end up needing it). She even yelled at me for not bringing it in a sealed original bottle. I was allowed to keep the pumped breastmilk though.
My advice, bring everything in sealed original containers, buy formula singles/premade bottles for the trip, in case there is no suitable water on board.
Pack as light as you can - and don't forget to take your baby's booties off when you go through the checkpoint.
Good luck!

I recently flew with my family from Long Beach to Sea-Tac. When I went through security, TSA confinscated yogurt and a small tub of cream cheese. I brought bagles, fruit, cream cheese, and yogurt to feed my kids for dinner (it was a 7 pm flight with no meal service). My poor kids were pretty hungry, but did well (my 1-year-old was nursing still). I was very upset that they were so harsh about bringing food for the kids on a meal-less flight. I do realize they have a job to do, but it makes it hard to plan. I would go on the TSA website and look at the liquid guidlines (they considered both the yogurt and cream cheese "liquids"). Bring lots of DRY munchies and fresh fruit for snacks. Formula powder should be fine and you can get water on the plane.

Good luck with the flight.

Hi, My husband and I have traveled twice with our now three year old daughter. The first time she was one year old, and the restrictions were much more severe. However, we just flew to Salt Lake City and back for Thanksgiving, and they let us through the security checkpoint with a juice-box, a sippy cup of water, and a sippy cup of rice-milk. We kept them in a separate paper bag, and they asked us what they were going through the security line. They then took them to "scan" and returned them back to us intact after we had put our shoes back on. It was very painless. I also recommend the window seat and a blanket for nursing during takeoff and landoff...it helps with their ear pressure. Good luck!

I've flown with my daughter several times (she's now 14 months) and TSA was so nice everywhere we went. They pretty much didn't even look at what we had, they just asked "baby food? OK".
Exceptions are made to the 3 oz guidelines for formula/expressed milk. And no, you are not required to "taste" it.

FYI, nursing/bottles during takeoff and landing do wonders to help baby with air pressure changes.

Hi,
I have a 16 mo. old and have been on about 20 different flights with her. I would agree that you can bring just about anything for the baby, but SeaTac has given me a hard time for water on more than one ocassion (you can buy that once inside). So, I wouldn't advise bringing water or anything that looks like water. If you like to dilute juice with water, like myself, make sure there is some color to it. As for putting the bottles in warm water on the flight - I've tried this and it's pretty difficult given the water that is served on board isn't piping hot (just a heads up - not necessarily a problem if your little one is just as happy with a luke warm bottle). You could bring a small empty thermos, and then once through security, have the barista at starbucks fill it with hot water from their espresso machine and bring that on the plane. Have fun.

You can bring pretty much anything you need for baby, as long as you declare it at security, take it out and show it to them. I just carry all my "baby stuff" (including food, formula, and snacks) in a large ziplock and take it out when going through security. What i found to be the easiest, to make bottles I bought the powdered formula that is sold in individual 4 oz packets, though the only drawback is I've only seen them in 2 types of formula, Similac Advance, and the Emfamil eqivalent, so if you use something else, this might not work for you... Good luck!!

pre-made little person juices that can have a bottle nipple screwed on or jiuce boxes if she can use the straw are great. Also take finger food snacks such as, cheerios/crackers/gummy bears, stuff such as that that can go in little snack baggies or rubbermaid snack containers. Be sure to have babywipes in a baggy for clean-ups.