Food on Flights with Baby

I would call the airlines but I think baby formula and medicines are the exception to the rule. Also, you can put the formula in several smaller bottles.

N.
wife, mom, grandma and wellness coach.

Hi C.,

I recently flew with my baby. As the other moms have said, you can bring milk along, as long as it's for the baby. We accidently took a disposable water bottle, and before throwing it out, they asked if it was for the baby. In my experience, they were a lot more lenient, so long as it was for the baby.

D.

Absolutely, you can take bottles, juices, food, whatever you need. I travel with my daughter all of the time. What I would suggest is putting the items in a clear plastic bag as security will ask you to take it out so that they can see it and run it through the X-ray machine. Best of luck to you on your travels.

You can only have liquids on the plane if it is for the baby. A bottle of milk will be just fine. They will do a quick swab of the container when you go through security. Yes it is a pain but that is the only way they will allow it.

I have frequently traveled with my now 2 and 4 year olds and always bring a sippy cup for each kid full of milk. never a problem. they sometimes do a test on it, but they never hassle me. This is reqular milk of course - not formula or bmilk, so don't worry!

This is a link to the TSA website re: traveling with kids and babies.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

I fly quite a bit with my twins and I've had a few problems here and there. They adjust the rules every once in a while so now I always check the website before I fly. They have gotten much more lenient with expressed breast milk than they used to be.

As for food - you cannot bring the following but most everything else is fine

Cranberry sauce
Creamy dips and spreads
(cheeses, peanut butter, etc.)
Gift baskets with food items
(salsa, jams and salad dressings)
Gravy
Jams
Jellies
Maple syrup
Oils and vinegars
Salad dressing
Salsa
Sauces
Soups
Wine, liquor and beer.

.

I'm not sure about the requirements, but you can always nurse on the plane. It also helps to "pop" their ears during takeoff and descent.

PS Right on for rescuing greyhounds!

Call your airlines for guidelines. I traveled with a 9 month old, 2 year old and 7 year old, by myself. I did not loose a child or my diaper bag, my purse or my sanity. It is possible.

milk and baby formula is fine (i even got through with an 8 ounce bottle of sunblock in my purse). as for food, as long as you aren't flying to or from a destination with agricultural restrictions you're fine. we recently went to hawaii, and i had packed apples and red pepper strips for the flight home. they were confiscated, you can't leave the island with produce (with 2 exceptions). we got to keep our granola bars, fruit snacks, peanut butter sandwiches, and trail mix.
also, you can take water and other fluids on a plane, as long as you bought it after you went through security.

I have taken a flight at least once/month since 9/11...and now have a 3.5 year old and a 11 week old. You certainly can bring a bottle onto the plane (they may do a liquid test on it - they don't touch the liquid in the bottle, it is a color comparison). They may give you a hastle about bringing ice packs to keep milk cold, but if you tell them that it is breastmilk, they are typically pretty flexible. I bring a couple of zip loc bags just in case - fill them with ice once I am through security. If you are using formula (which I assume you are not) purchase bottled water once you get through. In terms of other foods (like yogurt) it is pretty hit and miss - unless it is less then 3.5 ounces, in which case you are fine (i.e. horizon yogurt in a tube is less, no problem)

Yes you can bring breast milk/formula on the plane. It just needs to be obvious that that is what it is. Don't try and bring excessive amounts; they frown on that. Just flew with my 5 month old and I nurse as well.
Have fun!!

C.,

I had no problems with bringing supplies for my son while traveling with him. I checked the TSA to make sure of recent guidelines and also checked with my airline. Usually you get great perks like, pre-boarding and special flight attention (who doesn't want to say hi to the baby?).

I traveled alone, so I was really nervous about juggling baby by myself on the flight. My best advice in this situation, don't be afraid to ask for help. The flight attendants were more than happy to relieve me for a bathroom break and are happy to provide small trash bags for those little stinky surprises!

Good Luck To You,

K. Maas

You can bring anything for your baby as far as milk and formula are concerned and baby food as well. You can also got to the TSA website for more info. I travelled with my seven month old From Wa, to FL and back and had a lot of formula and breast milk exceeding 6 ounces in each bottle.

I fly regularly with my 19-mo-old and can take sippy cups of milk, sealed applesauce containers, cups of juice, hummus, string cheese, crackers etc through security. Just declare it as you go through: "Excuse me, I have some food/milk here for my baby" and it'll be fine. Sometimes they just waive it though, other times (including at SeaTac) they'll take it away briefly -within view- and scan it for chemicals that can be used for making bombs. In one small airport in Iowa last year the security officer asked me to take the lid off a 7 oz bottle of breastmilk and she dipped a piece of litmus paper into the bottle and waited to see if it would change color before letting me seal it up again.

Have a good trip! ~ D.

Airlines/TSA are pretty strict when it comes to large amounts of liquid going thru inspection. Most Moms who travel with infants take an empty bottle and then buy a bottle or two of water once they get thru TSA at a shop before they get on the plane. They take formula powder to mix with that water on the plane. Expressed breat milk may be a problem. Call TSA or look them up on the net for the restrictions that are in place. You could breastfeed her on the plane by covering yourselves with a blanket if the formula is not an option. I wish you well.

When I flew with my baby, I never had any problems with bringing liquids for her, like her sippy cup. But I mostly just breastfed. Like someone else mentioned, it's great for popping their ears during take-off and landing. So if you have enough milk, there's no reason to take a bottle unless she gets one regularly and you are uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. Me, I don't care. If I have a blanket, I'll nurse just about anywhere! But I know some moms are a little more private about it. That's fine.

So yes, you should probably call the airline. They will be able to tell you for sure. The airline's website might have something, too.

It is always best to check the airport websites to see how much you can take (The SEA-TAC/your destination). The really small juice boxes are nice because most of them are 4 oz or less. At one time you could bring all the milk you need, but I am not sure what the restictions are now since I have a 3-yr-old. They cannot deny you taking a lot of small boxes or bottles. I think enough mothers allow us to bring milk for a out little ones.

yes. i have treaveled with my 1 year old before and you can bring formula on the plane. just take it out and show them. they will test it to make sure it is really formula. they dont put anthing in it just use some kind of vapor check. all safe

You can travel with formula for a baby on a plane. If you want specific guidelines on that, here is the TSA's website with all the guidelines for traveling with children. It includes information on bringing formula or other liquids for your baby.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.sht...

Yes, you can bring milk and other food for your baby on the plane. You must declare it BEFORE you go through the security checkpoint, as you are getting your belongings ready to be scanned. Good luck!

Hi C.,

it's great that you are still nursing, it makes the flight easier. If it is a short flight I wouldn't worry about bringing formula. Just bring a snack, some crackers or something easy to pack in a ziplock. Let her nurse during the flight and have a sip of water if she needs anything else. Don't worry too much about the trip or she will be too :) Have fun.