https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:43:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2670881 Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:56:49 +0000 MrsSCB 2670881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: yeah, the boppy basically took up my entire carry-on suitcase, lol. We ended up checking two suitcases, I had a carry-on with the boppy and a few other things, the diaper bag as my extra, purse-type item, and then my DH had a backpack. </p> <p>Yay for getting a whole row! We're flying back on New Year's Day, not sure if it'll be super crowded or not, but I'm hoping a little less than on the way here. </p> <p>Also, I'm obsessed with TSA precheck, that was a lifesaver on the way here. The regular security line was really long, but the precheck line was super short. I just walked through a metal detector wearing F and that was it. No taking off shoes, didn't have to take him off or anything. It took about five minutes from getting in line to being done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2670874 Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:21:09 +0000 LCTBQE 2670874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: that is awesome! good idea about the boppy but that is so bulky. I was so anticipating dealing with the baby screaming the entire time--what a pleasant surprise, right? we flew back on Christmas night and managed to get an entire row to ourselves, I still wouldn't pay for the extra seat but SUCH a difference to be able to spread out. PS it was like 78 degrees in Houston on xmas eve/day :) :) :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2669933 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 19:56:15 +0000 MrsSCB 2669933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: it went great! He slept for an hour but didn't cry at all the rest of the time, just kind of looked around. But yes, not comfy. I squeezed the boppy into my carry on, that helped a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2669869 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 14:56:57 +0000 LCTBQE 2669869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: that is a great idea!<br /> @MrsSCB: good luck! Hope f will be fine :) ours was 3.5 hours too. It was mostly just fucking uncomfortable but we made a palette on our laps with our coats and he just stretched out and slept. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2669799 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 11:12:01 +0000 MrsSCB 2669799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I hope our flight goes similarly today, I'm so nervous! I really am crossing my fingers he falls asleep. Ours is about 3.5 hours, how long was yours? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2669720 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 08:43:10 +0000 looch 2669720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Its even easier if you have precheck....I was taking out stuff for my son and they told me not to even bother unpacking my carryon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2669504 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 17:07:31 +0000 gingerbebe 2669504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bring an empty Swell bottle and premeasured powder formula. Once at the gate area I ask for hot water at Starbucks and mix it with cold bottled water in the Swell bottle so it's warm. Then if I need formula on the plane I can just shake it up. But I prefer to nurse if I can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2669262 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 11:55:18 +0000 LCTBQE 2669262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: @littlejoy: @yoursilverlining: @SweetiePie: @edelweiss: @ShootingStar: @nana87: @DesertDreams88: Ladies thank you for all this info! Didn't have time to reply that night as we were flying out but I ended up bringing 4 of the 2-oz nursers in a ziplock and one 5-oz bottle of fresh. They didn't stop us or ask to look at anything, it was so easy. I heated up some formula with Starbucks hot water and fed the baby during takeoff and he showed zero distress, and slept straight through landing. In the future I think I will not bother with breast milk and just do the formula--packets are a great idea :) the only thing that went wrong the entire flight was my bottle of fresh leaked all over my diaper bag. So relieved it was not the BFD I thought it would be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667692 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 19:39:59 +0000 littlejoy 2667692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a TSA agent make me open all breast milk and formula bottles for testing. I had to open and hand them over a wall (I was SO afraid it would get spilled). I was so frustrated. I ended up looking further into it later and was told you can refuse opening - since formula and breastmilk are allowed. They would do that test strip on your hands, but do not need to test the milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667565 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:22:47 +0000 yoursilverlining 2667565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We flew a lot with LO when she was still drinking formula and as others have said, the rules vary depending on size/sophistication of airport and also the mood of the TSA. In West Virginia, they didn’t even send my liquid formula (pre-packaged) through the x-ray conveyor belt (!!!), while at Boston Logan they subjected them to the special liquids scanner every single time.</p> <p>I have had agents ask IF they could open the bottles to test them. I told them no because they will go bad and are baby formula and that other airports never had to open the bottles to test them. TSA never pushed back at me when I said this, and just tested the bottles then. (The only time a TSA agent asked if he could open the bottles to test he was like 20 and honestly, I doubt he understood that formula goes bad vs. being like a bottle of water. When I explained the formula would go bad, he said “oh sorry” and then just tested it).</p> <p>Ditto on no reliable standard for baby-wearing through the airport. Mostly they asked to swap my hands when I wore LO, sometimes they didn’t. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667564 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:19:26 +0000 SweetiePie 2667564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my excperience they just swipe the outside of the sealed bottles and swipe your hands to test them.<br /> Same for pouches of babyfood/apple sauce and cartons of milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667557 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:12:50 +0000 edelweiss 2667557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>the formula packets are a good idea.</p> <p>i brought the premixed sealed formula bottles on a few flights. the first time, the TSA guy just pushed down the wrapper so he could scan the bottle. the next time, the guy wanted me to open it and i was like hell no do you know how expensive and perishable this is and he just let it go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667524 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:38:10 +0000 ShootingStar 2667524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do the same as @DesertDreams88: . Sealed, pre-measured formula packets, and then get hot water somewhere and let it cool. maybe bring an empty thermos to put the hot water into and then you can mix some hot with room temp or cold water if he likes it warm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667518 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:34:53 +0000 DesertDreams88 2667518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used premeasured formula packets and bottled water we bought past security.<br /> For warming bottles, we used hot water from Starbucks.<br /> I wore him in the Ergo most of the way.<br /> We did a bottle on the way to the airport so my boobs would be full and ready to nurse most of the time at the airport and on the plane.<br /> Use a separate, small diaper changing clutch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667508 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:22:13 +0000 nana87 2667508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we flew with formula, I think we just took powder in a dispenser that lets you premeasure like this:http://www.target.com/p/munchkin-formula-dispenser/-/A-13991505 so that it was easy/fast to make a bottle when needed with bottled water that we bought after going through security. Might be too late if you're flying tonight to find one, esp if you don't use powder regularly anyway, but just an option in the future! I can't remember if we ever tried flying with the sealed bottles, but I def know we used those dispensers along with breast milk and ice packs </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667504 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:18:33 +0000 MrsADS 2667504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I think the rules are not enforced consistently... so you may have zero issues or they may want to be nitpicky about it. Also on our Thanksgiving trip I wore my 15 month old LO in the Ergo and they did not make me take him out to go through the metal detector. But they wanted me to either open the formula bottles or hand search my luggage. Go figure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667502 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:17:34 +0000 LCTBQE 2667502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: DUH of course they are! so frazzled I didn't even realize this, and seriously never would have figured it out without you spoon-feeding it to me-- thank you. ok bringing 1 frozen milk and as many nursers as I can fit into the carry on ziplock. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667489 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:00:33 +0000 kiddosc 2667489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tanjowen: I always wear my babies through the airport and have never had to take them out at security. So annoying how much it varies. </p> <p>@LCTBQE: With travelling through a larger airport, I would assume they have the scanner machine where you wouldn't have to open your bottles. Also, aren't those nurser bottles only 2oz? You could throw a few in your quart ziploc since they are less than the 3oz limit and not worry about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667485 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:50:43 +0000 LCTBQE 2667485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: @Tanjowen: busy packing but this is great, thank you both! I think I will pack one 5-oz frozen milk (didn't even think of this!) and just bring a couple of those nurser things and then I'll have options, good idea about the Starbucks hot water. totally agree that the smaller airports are much more sticklers about this stuff. we are flying out of Newark this time and I think they are pretty move-it-along efficient there like they are at JFK. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667420 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:44:21 +0000 Tanjowen 2667420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It really depends on the airport in my experience. The smaller airports hassle me more, whereas I mostly fly out of Atlanta, and I get through with ease. I took sealed formula and now take sealed pouches, and they set them in this tester thing and swab my hands. No opening anything.</p> <p>Any chance you can freeze bags of breastmilk and take them along so they'd thaw? Not sure how long you have in transit. And agree with pp, get a cup of hot water from a coffee company and warm up the bottle before you board the plane - they can give you hot water on board, but you will have to wait until you reach cruising altitude and it helps to give baby bottle or nurse while you take off to help pressurization with their ears.</p> <p>At that age, I always took my LO in a sling and he slept snuggled up on me the entire flight. They make you take baby out at security, so be prepared if you go this route. I refused once when I had him in a Moby (no metal!) and got patted down and fussed at, but I was feeling irritated that day and stood my ground. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667414 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:35:20 +0000 MrsADS 2667414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lctbqe we just flew over Thanksgiving with my 15 month old. He nurses still but also drinks formula. I brought some sealed travel containers (the on the go bottles). The TSA agent told us the options were either they open them and test them, OR leave them sealed but they have to hand-check all our carry on luggage and give us a pat down. I'm not sure if this is the official policy or what but just be prepared and give yourself a lot of extra time. (We were only going on one 2-hour flight, so I just poured the milk into his sippy cup).</p> <p>We are flying Friday for Christmas and it is a very long travel day so I am not going to open the milk at security - so I'm prepared that they will hand search our carry ons. </p> <p>For heating milk, I would see if you can just get a cup of hot water at Starbucks or something if you're in an airport... on the plane, I'm not sure. Maybe they can do that as well, depending on the airline. </p> <p>It is easy with a 3.5 month old! Bring extra clothes x2 for your baby and also an extra outfit for you. I always pack a gallon size ziploc baggie and a plastic grocery bag for disposing of poops and/or storing dirty clothes. My son's diaper leaked on our flight this summer and my jeans got covered in pee. So now we put him in an overnight diaper before we get on the plane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-amp-breastmilk-on-an-airplane-questions#post-2667382 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:08:53 +0000 LCTBQE 2667382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's our first time flying tonight with our 3.5-month old, and somehow I could not find the answer to this by googling--if you try to bring those "nurser" bottles of ready-to-use formula through airport security, do they open them all up, or do they just recognize that it's a sealed bottle formula and leave you alone? I guess I could bring fresh breast milk already in bottles instead, I just don't want it to go bad while it sits out for hours while we are in transit.<br /> Also, if your baby is particular about milk being warm, how did you deal with that during air travel? Ideally I'll try to just nurse, but want to have my bases covered just in case we need to do a quickie bottle fix. </p> <p>Any other tips you have for little-baby air travel would be much appreciated :) Thanks! </p>