https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:33:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1296544 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:48:26 +0000 Foodnerd81 1296544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret: thanks. I believe it can be an extra carry on but I'm planning to check the pump anyway. However the pump puts my suitcase a couple pounds overweight so I may have to take it out. Babies need so much stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1296490 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 13:12:37 +0000 dagret 1296490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: meant to add, you might want to check your airlines policy of the breast pump as a medical device and whether it counts as a carry on, and print out a copy of the policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1296295 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 09:29:57 +0000 Beehive 1296295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had no problem bringing an ice pack on domestic US flights, but they gave me a very hard time at Heathrow and almost didn't let me carry on the ice pack (if you're flying within the US you should be fine). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1296239 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 07:21:58 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1296239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: yes they allow they but once they melt you are stuck. A bag of ice fits better around the bottles and can be refilled. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1295904 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 16:34:35 +0000 dagret 1295904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: they let the hard packs through no problem both en route to my destination (regional airport) and returning (SFO)<br /> - my milk stayed frozen enough on a 5 hr flight. Kellymom says as long as there are ice crystals, you can refreeze. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1295736 Sat, 21 Dec 2013 13:50:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 1295736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: @dagret: @T.H.O.U.: Follow up to the above questions and answers:<br /> - Will TSA allow hard ice packs through- the kind that come with the pump, I guess?<br /> - Will using those ice packs keep frozen milk frozen enough to put back in the freezer? What are the guidelines for how thawed it can get, as long as it has ice crystals?</p> <p>We have a 5 hour flight coming up, adding the time before and after, I'm thinking I'd need to allow 10 hours for the frozen milk to be out of the freezer. I'm traveling with the baby, but I have a very small stash in our freezer here and it would be nice to use that while we are away and actually have MIL around to babysit, rather than have to pump right away when I get there. But I'm worried it would thaw and have to be used up right away or go to waste. Thoughts? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1271594 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 12:12:21 +0000 Charm54 1271594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret: Agreed - my hotel had a $20 fee per night for a fridge but it was waived because it was being used to cool breastmilk. I was pleasantly surprised how accommodating everyone was! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1271588 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 12:11:25 +0000 Charm54 1271588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just did this yesterday - I was away from LO for the weekend so pumped and had around 80 oz to bring back. What I did was pack it all in a medium soft side cooler with 3 ice packs. I carried it on and had no problems at all. They did ask whermy baby was, and had to get their supervisor to make sure I could bring BM across, but I knew I could and the supervisor said it was no problem. If your LO is traveling with you it should be even less of an issue.</p> <p>Even on the way to my destination, when I didn't have any breastmilk, I had no problems travelling with my pump and ice packs since I told them it would be for transporting BM on the way back.</p> <p>I was worried it would be a hassle but it was all very easy and now I have a great stash to replace everything she ate while I was away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1271582 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 12:08:03 +0000 dagret 1271582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alivoo01: Everything that @T.H.O.U. said, except i used a soft cooler with a foam ice pack to bring my breastmilk back in bags, and used newspaper to fill the empty space in the cooler. My milk stayed frozen for 12 hours (2 bags were liquidy but still had ice crystals in them, so OK to refreeze).</p> <p>Oh, and if your hotel room doesn't have a fridge, ask the front desk if you can get one. They will usually waive the extra fee if you tell them it's for medical reasons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1271565 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:59:03 +0000 Alivoo01 1271565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Thank you so much for sharing your experience in such details!!! Do you mind sharing a link of the hard side cooler you used? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1271423 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 10:55:37 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1271423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am just going to copy and paste a story I had typed up earlier. </p> <p>After several trips including flights, I feel I had a pretty good routine down and I wanted to share with others that may be required to travel. </p> <p>What to pack - </p> <p>For my pump (Medela Freestyle) I used my medela pump bag because I didn't have to worry about a mess with any leaks. In the bag I would pack the pump, pump parts in a zip lock bag, an extra set of parts if I really had room and was worried, Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags, and the small medela cooler with four bottles to pump into. </p> <p>To store the ice, I carried a small hard sided cooler. I tried to use a smaller soft sided cooler once and since it needed to hold ice that melted through the flight, it leaked everywhere. It also helped to have the milk stored seperately for going through security. </p> <p>Even though these added as extra pieces of carry ons, I never had an issue since they are considered medical equipment. </p> <p>Storing the milk while at your destination - </p> <p>If possible, request a room with a mini-fridge or ask for one to be brought to your room. Store the pumped milk here either in the freezer portion, or just the regular fridge portion with it set to the coldest setting. If this isn't possible, most hotels do have ice machines and an ice bucket can keep it cold as long as the ice is refreshed. When I was away from the hotel during the day (in meeting, etc), I would just carry a small bag of ice or an ice pack. It was enough to keep the milk cool until returning to the room. </p> <p>For shorter trips, pumping and keeping in the bottles was fine, but if you are accumulating a large amount of milk, its wise to bring breastmilk storage bags and use them. They will take up less room and pack easier. </p> <p>Packing up the pumped milk for travel- </p> <p>Once my trip had concluded, I would pack up the milk to fly home with me. This is where my hard-sided cooler came in. </p> <p>Again, most hotels offer ice, so using a basic plastic bag or a gallon zip lock bag, fill up a good amount of ice. I would place the pumped milk in the bag with the ice. I tried to surround the milk with ice on all sides. Sealing the bag as best as possible, I would place into the cooler and fill any empty space with extra ice. Its hard to keep air cold, so filling in any extra space with ice or even plastic bags helps a lot. </p> <p>Security - </p> <p>I always chose to carry my milk with me rather then in my checked luggage. I have heard too many stories of lost or delayed luggage and I couldn't afford to loose or have to toss this milk if that happend. </p> <p>I never had any issues with security but like always, each seemed to have a slightly different process. Breastmilk is considered a medical liquid according to the TSA (<a href="http://www.tsa.gov/traveling-formula-breast-milk-and-juice" rel="nofollow">http://www.tsa.gov/traveling-formula-breast-milk-and-juice</a>). Even if your baby isn't with you, you can carry it through. You are also allowed to carry the ice or ice packs to keep them cool and do not have to adhere to the 3 ounce rules that apply to other liquids. </p> <p>When you scan your bags, be up front and tell the security agents you have liquids with you. You don't even have to say "breastmilk" if you don't want to, you can refer to it just as a "medical liquid" if you want. Sometimes they wouldn't even ask to open the cooler, other times, they wanted to pull the milk out of the ice. No matter what, they cannot ask you to drink the milk. </p> <p>Once you are through security you can ask the food vendors for ice if you want to pack fresh ice before getting on the plane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-keep-breastmilk-cold-while-traveling#post-1271398 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 10:44:17 +0000 Alivoo01 1271398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll be traveling during Christmas. If I pump and do not feed DS all of the pumped milk, I'd like to bring it back with me. The flight is 3 hours long, and I'm guessing we'll be at the airport 1.5 hours before and an hour 1.5 to deboard and drive home, so a total of approx 6 hours of travel time?</p> <p>What's the best way to keep the milk cold? Will they allow a frozen ice pack through security (the ice pack that came with my Medela pump set)? </p>