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16 tips for traveling with baby formula that will make your next vacation stress-free

The good news: You can bring as much formula as you need on the plane. The bad news: It takes some planning to pack water, bottles, cleaning supplies, and more. Here's how to make it easier on yourself.

Can you bring formula on a plane?

How to travel with formula on a plane, tips for traveling with formula via car.

BabyCenter selects products and services based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. We may earn a commission from links.

If your little one is formula-fed or takes a combination of formula and breast milk, you probably have a pretty established feeding station at home with plenty of baby bottles , cleaning supplies, and powdered or ready-to-feed formula. Understandably, the thought of somehow taking this entire process on the road can feel a little daunting. 

While it does take some planning, it's absolutely possible to travel with baby formula , regardless of where you're heading or the type you use; here's how.

Yes, you're allowed to bring baby formula or breast milk on a plane in a carry-on or checked bag. The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) rules about formula Opens a new window are also more lenient compared to other liquids and gels (which are limited to 3-ounce containers). 

"There aren't restrictions to how much formula you can bring on the plane, so make your life easier by doing what works for you and your baby," says Chandani DeZure , M.D., FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.

Formula, breast milk, purees, and cooling accessories (such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs) are all considered medically necessary liquids, so the TSA doesn't limit how much parents can bring through security. You also don't need to fly with your baby with you in order to take advantage of this rule.

That said, the TSA does have different screening steps for these liquids. Here's what to expect when bringing formula through security: 

Tell the TSA ahead of time. As you're lining up, let the closest TSA officer know you have formula (and ice packs, etc.) and remove these items from your bag. They'll separate your feeding gear to screen separately. 

Know that pre-mixed formula will probably get tested. This is a safety precaution to make sure the liquids don't contain any explosives or concealed items. The same goes for any partially frozen ice packs. 

Finally, keep in mind that the rules might change for the flight home if you’re traveling from outside of the U.S. "For international flights , be sure to research what's allowed ahead of time," says Tanya Altmann Opens a new window , M.D., a pediatrician at Calabasas Pediatrics in California.

1. Choose what type of formula you'll bring 

The best way to transport formula will depend on the type of formula you're taking with you.

Powdered formula, unprepared

You can bring a formula canister in your carry-on bag and open it to prepare bottles on the plane, but many parents prefer to pre-measure and pack powder in a travel-friendly formula dispenser . These dispensers typically have a few sections, so you can put just enough powder for one bottle in each compartment, then mix it on the plane. Just label each section with how much water to use.

Powdered formula, prepared

Some parents find it easier to prep bottles at home and then pack them. While this means you don't have to source water on the go, it does mean you'll need to bring a cooler bag with ice packs: Prepared powdered formula is safe at room temperature for just two hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Opens a new window (CDC).

Although the TSA doesn't limit how much formula you bring, toting around prepared bottles can get heavy and inconvenient. If you're going on a long-haul flight, you might choose to prepare a few ahead of time, then make the rest on the plane.

Liquid concentrate formula

This type of formula requires you to add water and shake, which may be easier than measuring powder during the flight. However, liquid concentrate formula is more expensive and often sold in small cans, which may be harder to manage in the air.

Ready-to-feed formula

This is by far the easiest way to travel with formula, especially if you can find a variety that has an attached nipple (many do). You don't have to measure powder or worry about finding appropriate water. Plus, you can store ready-to-feed bottles at room temperature and potentially leave your cooler bag at home. (Unused portions do need to be refrigerated and used within 48 hours.) 

The downside is that ready-to-feed formulas are almost always more expensive. And like prepared bottles, it can be harder to bring enough without making your bag really heavy. 

2. Consider checking enough formula for your whole trip 

In addition to packing enough formula for the flight, you may want to pack more in your checked bag for when you arrive, especially if your little one takes a special kind. If you're traveling overseas, you may not find your go-to brand at all. Even within the U.S., it's sometimes tricky to locate the exact type you need, so plan ahead.  

"You can bring extra formula containers in your suitcase, direct ship to your final destination ahead of time, or even map out grocery stores to stop at that carry your desired infant formula," says Dr. Altmann. 

While it's fine for most babies to switch formula , some adjust faster than others. Your best bet is to stick with the same type, such as another milk-based, iron-fortified formula. And if switching brands overseas, make sure you understand the label; formula produced outside of the U.S. may use a different preparation ratio than you're accustomed to.

3. Pack extra in your carry-on

Even if you've packed additional canisters in your checked bag, you still need to access enough for the flight, as well as for time spent in the airport before boarding and after landing. "Bring enough formula to last the duration of the flight, but also to account for any potential delays that might occur," says Dr. DeZure. 

So if your flight is three hours long and your baby typically has an 8-ounce bottle every three to four hours, you might plan on having enough formula in your carry-on to prepare at least five or six bottles (one at the airport, one on the plane, one after landing, plus a few extras in case of a delay).

4. Have water on hand 

If you plan to mix bottles during the flight, you'll probably want to bring water with you on the plane. You could either pack water from home (such as tap water or water that's previously been sterilized) or purchase bottled water in the airport. 

Most babies can have formula mixed with bottled or tap water, according to the CDC Opens a new window . However, babies younger than 2 months old, as well as those born prematurely or who have a weakened immune system should have bottles made with water that's previously been boiled and then cooled. In a pinch, you can ask a flight attendant to boil water for you that's then cooled to room temperature, though this can take longer. 

For this reason, bottled water is usually simplest if your baby can have it. "I usually recommend parents buy bottled water after they are through security to pour into a baby bottle that has measuring units on it, then add the appropriate amount of powder, shake, and feed," says Dr. Altmann. 

5. Bring cleaning supplies 

"Pack dish soap and a nipple/bottle brush for easy cleaning," says Dr. DeZure. If you'd prefer not to wash your bottles on the plane (understandable, as airplane bathrooms aren't exactly the cleanest), separate used gear from clean bottles in plastic bags, then wash everything thoroughly at your destination. 

And while there is no substitute for a real soap-and-water cleaning, baby bottle cleaning wipes Opens a new window can help if you drop anything (pacifiers, bottles, etc.) on the floor during the flight.

6. Try to get your baby used to room-temperature bottles

It can significantly simplify travel if your baby isn't picky about cool bottles. "This saves the hassle of heating while en route," says Corinne McDermott, a travel consultant and founder of the website Have Baby Will Travel Opens a new window . "Flight attendants may be able to provide cups of hot water for heating, but they will not heat the bottle for you." 

7. Pack prepared formula in clear containers 

Although not required, the TSA strongly suggests parents pack prepared formula in translucent bottles. That's because scanners have a tougher time with bags and pouches, so you may have to open them.

8. Ask a flight attendant for hot water or bring a portable warmer

If your infant absolutely needs warm milk, alert the flight attendant early in the flight so they can have water ready. (The last thing you want is to try to track it down while your baby is crying out for a bottle!) 

There are also portable bottle heating gadgets on the market, but "I recommend testing them before you actually travel to ensure they work," says McDermott. And if you do warm your baby's bottle on the go, remember to put a few drops on the back of your hand to make sure it's not too hot.

9. Offer a bottle during takeoff

Changes in air pressure can be tough on little ears. "Feeding on takeoff and landing during pressure changes will minimize any discomfort the baby might feel," says Dr. DeZure. 

Take safe storage into account — if you feed your baby during takeoff, the rest of the bottle should be consumed within an hour. 

1. Pack a cooler

Road trips can be easier than flights when it comes to formula feeding, partly because you can bring a large cooler bag. 

Consider preparing enough formula bottles for the drive ahead of time and storing them in a cooler. This way, you won't have to mix and measure on the go. 

"You can also use the cooler for other medication items, snacks, or beverages that the rest of your family may need as well," says Dr. Altmann.

2. Bring enough canisters – and store them safely

Just as you would for a plane ride, you'll want to bring enough formula to last the entire trip (or have a plan for sourcing more after you arrive). 

"It's good to be well-stocked in case your usual brand is not easily available at your destination," says McDermott. And when packing canisters of powdered formula, make sure they're stored in a cool, dry place in the car. 

3. Stop for feeding breaks

While it may seem simpler to bottle-feed your baby in their car seat, pulling over for feeding time is safest. "Spills and spit-up are difficult to deal with while hurtling down the interstate, and safety is still the main concern," says McDermott. "If possible, give your baby a chance to digest a bit, and burp as usual before buckling them back in their car seat." 

During a road trip, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends Opens a new window parents pull over for a break every two to three hours during the day or every four to six hours at night. You can feed your little one and change their diaper , "and kids of all ages can get out, move around and stretch, eat or drink, or use the restroom," says Dr. Altmann.

4. Try to maintain your routine

While your child's schedule will inevitably shift during travel, it can help to follow their usual routine as best you can. "Any attempts to maintain your baby's routine while on the road will pay off with fewer disruptions down the road," notes McDermott. 

During the drive, pull over and offer a bottle at your baby's typical feeding times, and encourage naps at their normal times, too. Once you get to your destination, this will make it easier for your little one to get back into their schedule.

5. Pack cleaning supplies 

Just as you would for air travel, bring everything you need to clean baby's feeding gear, including dish soap, a bottle brush, and possibly a portable drying rack. For the car ride, "remember hand sanitizer, wipes, and even a mat to make a clean surface anywhere to mix your formula," says Dr. Altmann. 

And don't forget to pack a few emergency cleaning supplies and a change of clothes in case of spit-up : "It really, really isn't fun to travel long distances in a car that's recently been plastered in dairy-based vomit," says McDermott.

6. Once you arrive, set up a cleaning station 

You'll accumulate quite a few dirty bottles during the car ride, so McDermott says one of the first things she does after a road trip is determine where she'll store and clean baby feeding gear. 

"If the accommodation at your destination has a kitchenette or at least a microwave, packing a portable sterilizer will make cleaning easier," she says. Alternatively, you can wash bottles with warm water and soap.

"A small drying rack doesn't take up much room in your luggage and keeps baby's things clean and out of the way of your other stuff if all you've got is a bathroom sink," she adds. "It can be done!"

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BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2019. Flying with Baby: Parent FAQs. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Flying-with-Baby.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024] 

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2024. How to Safely Prepare Baby Formula With Water. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/how-to-safely-prepare-formula-with-water.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024] 

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2022. Forms of Baby Formula: Powder, Concentrate & Ready-to-Feed. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/Forms-of-Baby-Formula.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024] 

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023. Is It Safe for My Baby to Travel in a Car Seat for Hours at a Time? https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/Is-it-safe-for-my-baby-to-travel-in-a-car-seat-a-few-hours-at-a-time.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2018. How to Sterilize and Warm Baby Bottles Safely.  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/How-to-Sterilize-and-Warm-Baby-Bottles-Safely.aspx Opens a new window   [Accessed February 2024] 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023. Infant Formula Preparation and Storage. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/infant-formula-preparation-and-storage.html Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2024. How to Prepare and Store Powdered Infant Formula. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/downloads/prepare-store-powered-infant-formula-508.pdf Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Federal Aviation Administration. 2022. Flying With Children. https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Federal Aviation Administration. 2023. Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.faa.gov/faq?combine=children&field_faq_category_target_id=1481 Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

KidsHealth From Nemours. 2024. Formula Feeding FAQs: Preparation and Storage. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/formulafeed-storing.html Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Mayo Clinic. 2024. Is Air Travel Safe for an Infant? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/air-travel-with-infant/faq-20058539 Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Transportation Security Administration. 2024. Traveling with Children. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Transportation Security Administration. 2024. Baby Formula. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/baby-formula Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Transportation Security Administration. 2024. Liquids Rule. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Food and Drug Administration. 2023. Infant Formula: Safety Do's and Don'ts. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/infant-formula-safety-dos-and-donts Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Chandani DeZure Opens a new window , M.D., FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.

Tanya Altmann Opens a new window , M.D., a pediatrician at Calabasas Pediatrics in California.

Corinne McDermott, an authorized independent travel consultant, family travel specialist and founder of the website Have Baby Will Travel Opens a new window .

Kathleen Felton is a freelance writer and editor. She was previously the executive editor of editorial strategy and growth at BabyCenter, the world's number one parenting resource. She is originally from Farmington, Connecticut, and now lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two sons.

Flying with breast milk or formula? Don't worry about liquid limits. Here's what to know.

Actress Keke Palmer called out airport security officers in Houston this month on Twitter , saying they threatened to throw out more than 16 ounces of breast milk as she was going through security.

The officers were unambiguously in the wrong if they did ask her to get rid of her breast milk.

A Transportation Security Administration spokesperson told USA TODAY the agency was not aware of the incident but said travelers are encouraged to submit comments and concerns to the agency directly if they encounter issues during their screening. 

TSA regulations make generous allowances for milk and formula:

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies.

Travelers can also notify the TSA if they plan to travel with medically necessary liquids. 

Nikeytha Ramsey, founder and CEO of Junobie, a company that produces sustainable, plastic-free storage containers for breast milk and baby formula, said it’s important for parents to know their rights when they fly with such liquids and to stick up for them if they run into any problems.

“It says it right here on your website that I am allowed to fly. Breast milk does not count against the 3.4-ounce rule. Neither does baby formula,” she said. “So just like what your website says ... I would appreciate if you can honor this right now for us.”

Ramsey added that it’s usually a good idea to notify TSA agents about any breast milk or formula you may be traveling with before your screening starts.

“You never know what TSA agent you are going to get. You can get a really, really pleasant TSA agent and they're not going to really give you any issues,” she said. “I will inform TSA, ‘Hey, I do have breast milk,’ or if you are a parent that has baby formula or baby food, inform them that you do have these things. That's what I always do. And they will take it over to either the bottle X-ray to screen it, or they will do what we call a vapor test.”

Tell us your story: Mobility device lost or damaged by an airline? USA TODAY wants to hear about it.

Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Steve Danes, R-Mont., reintroduced legislation in May that would require the TSA to better educate its officers about its policies, citing reports from constituents of complaints similar to Palmer’s.

“Too often, I hear stories of traveling moms being mistreated and denied access to their breast milk and the breastfeeding equipment that they need to pump and feed their babies,” Duckworth said in a statement . “Many of these incidents are inconsistent with TSA’s screening policies, which is why I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure TSA keeps its employees up to speed on their own policies and updates those policies as necessary. It’s the least we can do to help make sure parents traveling through our airports are given the respect and dignity they deserve.”

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement (BABES) Act would require the TSA to:

• Issue guidance promoting the hygienic handling of any breast milk, baby formula or other infant nutrition products, as well as accessories traveling through checkpoints.
• Consult with nationally recognized maternal health organizations in establishing and communicating the guidance to officers and travelers.
• Update its guidance every five years to respond to the emerging needs of parents and to account for developments in technology.

For now, the TSA recommends traveling with breast milk or formula in clear, translucent bottles rather than in bags, which can be harder to screen.

Travelers should know their rights when flying with breast milk, formula or related devices, and they can check out the TSA’s full guidelines linked again here .

Contributing: Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

Can You Bring Baby Formula On A Plane? (Powder vs Liquid TSA Rules)

Last Updated on August 7, 2022

So you want to know how to travel with formula…

How much formula can you take? And how should it be packed when going through the airport security checkpoint?

Let’s find out quickly before your baby needs fed or a nappy needs changed!

TSA Baby Formula Rules

The Transportation Security Administration runs airport security. They decide what you can and can’t take on a plane.

Here’s a screen-grab from their website about flying with formula:

Note the special instructions for bringing baby formula in carry-on luggage.

Here’s the deal. The instructions are a little different for baby formula powder and premixed liquid formula.

Flying With Powered Baby Formula

You can bring powered baby formula on a plane in your carry-on bag or checked bags.

But when packing powdered formula in hand luggage the powders rule applies.

There is no limit to the amount of powdered baby formula you can pack in your carry-on luggage.

But if your powdered can is over 12 oz then remove it from your carry-on bag and place it in a separate tray when going through security so it can undergo additional screening.

It doesn’t matter if your baby’s formula is opened or unopened.

Flying With Liquid Baby Formula Or Water

You can also bring bring premixed liquid formula or water to mix with your powdered formula. The usual 3.4 oz liquids rules does not apply and you don’t need to pack the liquid in your quart sized bag.

The same goes for bringing breast milk in carry-on baggage.

You can also bring formula cooling accessories like ice packs, freezer packs, or frozen gel packs. 

So you can cool formula bottles with an ice pack when traveling. Once you are on the plane you can ask a flight attendant for hot water to get your baby’s meal back up to a temperature they will enjoy.

Your baby does not need to be present when going through security (but it helps). In theory you just need to explain to the TSA officer at the checkpoint that you are bringing the water or liquid formula as a medically necessary liquid for your baby.

When an infant is old enough to walk through security unaided they are no longer considered to be an infant by the TSA and this exception to the usual liquids rules no longer applies.

It’s recommended that you transport any liquid baby formula in a clear translucent bottle to help with the screening process.

Liquids stored in plastic bags or pouches can’t be screened by the bottle liquid scanners so you might be asked to open them.

X-ray machines don’t negatively impact formula or breast milk but if you don’t want the TSA to use them you can ask that they are screened separately the liquid using other methods.

How Much Formula Can You Take On A Plane?

Since medically necessary liquids are exempt from the usual liquids rules there is no limit on how much you can bring.

The same goes for powdered baby formula. There is no limit to how much formula you can take on a plane.

So you won’t have any problems with reasonable quantities in carry on bags.

You airlines carry-on luggage size limits do still apply. So check with your airlines if you are bringing a diaper bag in addition to your carry-on suitcase.

Some low cost airlines don’t permit you to bring two bags into the cabin.

The Verdict

When flying with baby formula or baby food the regular security rules don’t apply.

The TSA is sensible enough to know that parents traveling need to always be able to bottle feed their baby and so baby formula is considered medically necessary.

Quantities greater than 3.4 ounces are permitted for liquid baby formula, and their is no limit on how much powdered baby formula you can bring. You can even bring water for babies too!

Happy flying!

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How To Travel With Baby Formula And Food

Travelpro Travel Expert Editor

Tips & Tricks

Planning a family trip is exciting, but packing for it can be overwhelming, especially if you plan to fly with your little ones. You can travel with milk, formula, or baby food no matter where you are. When you must pass through airport security and have enough supplies on hand for days, handling these items requires some simple preparation.

Before packing your bags, here are a few tips on traveling with baby formula and food so that you – and the whole family – stay happy.

Can you bring baby formula on a plane

The TSA classifies baby formula as medically necessary, so you can pack as much baby formula as you need for the trip without being limited to the 3.4-ounce rule that applies to other liquids. When you go through security screening, inform airport security of the amount of baby formula you’re carrying. Remove the formula from your carry-on so the agent can screen it separately. TSA officers may test the liquid to confirm it is baby formula and not a prohibited liquid.

Can you bring powdered formula on a plane?

You can pack unmixed baby formula in your carry-on. As with premixed powder, inform the TSA agent you have the baby formula during screening. Ideally, keep the formula in its original packaging. Security may test a small portion of the formula for prohibited substances but will not add anything to the formula package.

Breast or Store-Bought Milk

The rules for breast milk are the same as for baby formula. You can bring as much breast milk as you need for the trip in your carry-on, preferably stored in transparent bottles. The same rules apply if you’re wondering how to travel with milk for a 1-year-old. Milk for older children will be subject to the same 3-1-1 rules as other liquids.

Can you bring baby food on a plane

You can bring baby and toddler food on a plane in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, including jars and baby food pouches of fruits, vegetables, and meat/poultry purees. Store the food in well-sealed containers separate from the rest of your personal belongings.

Can you bring homemade baby food on a plane?

Homemade baby food is allowed in carry-on bags but may be subject to additional screening by TSA agents. Label all homemade baby food before packing, and have it stored in an accessible location in your carry-on bag.

How to keep baby formula and food safe on board

Once you have figured out just how much baby formula powder/ breastmilk and food you should pack, you need to plan how to keep the food safe. Some trips can be long and involve many more hours than just your flight time. How can you ensure your baby’s food stays fresh?

Here are a few things you can do to ensure that your baby's food and formula are safe during travel:

• A travel cooler  bag is your best bet for day trips to week-long adventures. Some are made for wet and dry foods and can be used to keep food warm or cold.
• Check baby food and formula containers for expiration and refrigeration requirements
• Use ice packs to keep food and formula cold when needed.
• Avoid giving your baby food from open containers that have been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours.
• Do not heat baby food or formula using the airplane's microwave.

Being prepared by following these few guidelines will give you peace of mind for a safe and healthy trip. Check out more of our family travel blogs for other helpful tips and tricks on kid- and baby-friendly travel.

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Avoid the dreaded security line milk dump with these tips from a travel pro and mother of two.

Flying with babies is stressful, even if they miraculously spend most of the flight sleeping. Luckily, one thing you don’t need to worry about when it comes to air travel is whether you can bring enough baby formula or breast milk to keep your baby happy and well-fed throughout your trip. 

While passengers are usually allowed to bring a maximum of 3.4 ounces [100 mls] of liquid in their cabin luggage, that rule doesn’t apply to milk and food for infants and young children. Breast milk and formula are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk pumping equipment. You do not need to travel with your child to bring breast milk.

• Tips from a travel pro and mother of two

The Formula Mom’s expert tips on traveling with baby formula

How much baby food can i take on a plane, inspections, what to expect with baby formula, don’t be afraid to advocate, rules vary based on your destination.

We spoke to Mallory Whitmore, aka The Formula Mom. Her biggest piece of advice? You can chat with TSA via iMessage ahead of your trip to ask questions. The benefit is that you have a record of their response if you need to reference it with them during travel! To reach them, visit TSA customer service online. Under “Ask TSA” select “Apple Messages”— it opens a text thread! For android users there’s the option to use FB messenger.

Experienced travelers know that snacks, and lots of them, are key to keeping kids relaxed mid-flight. Extra feeds can be a great source of comfort for babies in unfamiliar surroundings, too. That’s why we suggest packing twice as much milk as you think your baby will need, even if you’re taking a very quick plane trip.

Doubling up when flying with breast milk will reduce the stress of any unexpected delays, annoying spills, long lines, or lost luggage upon your arrival. It’s always better to be prepared. 

Formula, breast milk, juice, and baby foods in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces [100mls] are allowed in carry-on baggage and don’t need to fit in a quart-sized bag.

According to Transport Security Administration [TSA] guidelines, you’re permitted to bring larger amounts of breast milk and baby formula in reasonable quantities for your trip. 

Security screening officers have the final say on what’s considered “a reasonable quantity,” but they’re unlikely to bat an eyelid at an entire carry-on bag full of baby food. This can include items like:

• Your baby’s milk of choice
• Sterilized water
• Food in liquid, gel, powder or paste form (like yogurts and purees).

Bobbie mom, Angela, shares her tips for traveling with baby formula: Bring formula water in your thermos and make sure it’s in your diaper bag! The key is to keep everything in your diaper bag so it’s very clear for the TSA that it’s for your baby.

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Quick Summary

• TSA guidelines allow flying with breastmilk and baby formula in reasonable quantities.
• You can double the amount your baby will typically consume during travel, and this will likely still fit into the screening officers’ “reasonable quantity” guideline.

Everyone wants to get through airport security as fast as possible. So how can you avoid any hurdles with your milk stash?

Declare your baby’s milk and foods to security officers at the beginning of the checkpoint for inspection. Then, remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your stuff. 

You don’t need to be traveling with your baby when transporting breast milk. You may be asked to open any milk bottles for further inspection as liquids are typically screened by X-ray. If it’s feasible, you could also be asked to transfer a small quantity of milk to another container or dispose of a small amount. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that there are no known adverse effects from eating food, drinking beverages and using medicine screened by X-ray.

• You will need to remove formula, breast milk and juice from your carry-on bag to be screened separately.
• Food, beverages and medicines screened by X-ray are safe to consume.
• You don’t need to be traveling with your baby to carry formula or breast milk on a plane.

If you’re not comfortable having your baby’s formula, breast milk or baby food X-rayed or opened, you’re well within your rights to decline. 

The TSA formula rules state that additional screening steps can be taken to clear your liquids, such as a pat-down and further screening of your other carry-on luggage. If your breast milk is frozen, a visual inspection is usually sufficient.

Once on board, most cabin crew won’t mind warming up your baby’s milk or food during your flight. In our experience, it’s often too hot when you get it back, so try to plan for extra time to cool it back down to a suitable temperature and give it a quick rub with an anti-bacterial wipe before feeding it to your baby. 

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories used to cool formula, breast milk and juice are allowed in your carry-on but may be subject to additional screening if slushy or partially frozen. You can also bring gel or liquid-filled teethers.

Quick summary when it comes to traveling with baby formula

• You can decline to have your baby’s food X-rayed or opened for inspection, but you may have to undergo additional screening.
• If you have the cabin crew warm your baby’s meal, check the temperature and sanitize the bottle before giving it to your baby.
• Accessories used to cool your baby’s food are allowed in your carry-on but may be subject to additional screening if they’re not fully frozen.

Rules can vary from country to country, so be sure to research what’s permitted at your specific travel destination. Airport websites are usually a great place to find everything you need to know about what you can and can’t bring for your baby.

For additional tips on feeding your baby while on the go, the following blog posts are a great source of information:

Formula feeding and breastfeeding— Can you do both? Can you use tap water for baby formula? Does baby formula need to be warm?

The content on this site is for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Discuss any health or feeding concerns with your infant’s pediatrician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay it based on the content on this page.

• Getting started with formula
• Breastfeeding
• Combination feeding
• Feeding Confessionals
• Expert Insights
• The Formula Mom
• Milk Drunk Podcast
• Milk Drunk Store

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How to Travel with Baby Formula (By Plane or In the Car)

Posted by Jane Springston on May 12, 2021

Going on vacation with your baby is both exciting and daunting. At this point you’ve likely reached a comfort level caring for your little one and have even mastered outings during the day. Now you’re ready to take on traveling with your baby, but you know there is a lot to consider. And that includes managing all those feedings and what the heck is the best way to travel with baby formula?!

It can seem challenging when you’ve never done it before, but with the right knowledge and a few expert tips, traveling with your little one and her formula doesn’t have to be hard. 

Planning Ahead for Feeding Your Formula-Fed Baby While You Travel

Whether you are heading to your destination by airplane or car, planning ahead is going to make all the difference in making your vacation with your baby a positive experience. We cover many our top suggestions in our article, “ Tips for Traveling With Your Baby .”

You’ll want to take extra time to plan out what you need for your baby’s formula feedings. You can utilize the following checklist to ensure you have everything you need:

• Formula - If you’re traveling domestically, chances are that there will be a store nearby that sells the type of formula you give to your baby. But be sure to do your research ahead of time to ensure this is the case. We recommend bringing more than enough formula along with you anyway, so that you don’t have to be rushing out on your vacation trying to buy more. 
• Bottles - Once you get to your hotel or destination, you’ll be able to sanitize your baby’s bottles. But until then, you’ll want to have enough to get you through your trip. For example, if you’ll be on a plane, you don’t want to have to worry about cleaning any bottles mid-flight so make sure you bring enough to get you through.
• Portable Bottle Warmer - A travel bottle warmer is a life-saver when traveling with your baby. It’s going to be difficult to access warm water to make your baby’s formula bottle, so a bottle warmer will do the trick. The Baby’s Brew portable bottle warmer is perfect because it easily fits in a diaper bag and will warm your baby’s formula in advance so it’s ready when they are. 
• Formula Dispenser - These take the mess out of bottle making while making portioning out your baby’s bottle super simple. We list our favorites in this article !
• Water - You can’t make a formula bottle without it (unless of course you use ready-to-feed formula). In terms of what water to use for your baby’s bottles, tap water is generally regarded as safe to use, but if you can bring your own sterilized water from home that’s even better. 

Along with what you’ll need to make the bottle, you’ll also want to have what you need to keep your little one clean. Burp cloths and baby wipes are something you’ll want to have on hand. Our checklist works great for both plane and car travel, but these trips will bring different challenges so let’s get into the specifics.

Traveling with Baby Formula By Plane

Because there are so many rules about what you can and can’t take with you on a plane, of course you’re going to be a bit concerned about how you’re going to manage your baby’s formula feedings on the airplane.

Many parents wonder, “ Can you travel with baby formula on a plane?”

Luckily, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is much less strict about bringing liquids onto a plane that are for babies and young children. 

The rules in regard to formula, breast milk and juice, according to their website, is as follows:

“ Formula, breast milk and juice for infants or toddlers are permitted in reasonable quantities through the security checkpoint. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings.”

The part about “reasonable quantities” can be a bit confusing, but they likely won’t question the amount you have especially if your little one is with you. Just be sure to notify the TSA officer right away that you have formula in your bag that exceeds the typical maximum of 3.4 ounces.

You can also skip putting it through the x-ray machine or tell them you don’t want them to open it, but they will need to use a different method of screening.

Going through security is often stressful enough even without a baby and all of their formula, so it’s important to be relaxed about the process and give yourself plenty of extra time to get through this portion of the travel process. Remember that you aren’t the first parents to pass through security with a little one, so the process should go smoothly.  

Top Tips for Easy Plane Traveling with Formula

So you can rest easy knowing you’ll be able to take your baby’s formula on the plane with you (whether that’s already liquid in a bottle or stored in powdered form), but the next step is navigating bringing it along and giving it to your baby in the easiest way possible.

From avoiding messes to timing those feedings just right, here are our top tips for bringing that formula along as you cruise the friendly skies.

• Prepare Bottles Ahead - You will already have plenty to worry about as you’re navigating the airport and boarding the plane, so don’t add bottle-making to the list if you don’t have to. According to Kids Health , formula may be prepared up to 24 hours in advance, as long as it's refrigerated. We suggest taking advantage of this and storing your baby’s bottles in a cooler bag. That way when it’s time to warm one up, you just pull a bottle out of the bag.
• Warm Bottles Ahead - Above we recommended taking along a travel bottle warmer. We suggest using one like the Baby’s Brew where you can begin warming the bottle at the push of a button and that can be warmed well in advance. That way, the minute your baby gets hungry, you’ll have the bottle ready and you can avoid the tears. 
• Feed Your Baby During Take-Off - We suggest trying to time your baby’s feed with take-off. Even if it’s not technically “meal time” you may try offering your little one a bottle. This can help with plugged ears and make for a peaceful transition into your flight. (And of course cross your fingers that it will soon send them off to dreamland for a good portion of the flight.)

Traveling with Baby Formula By Car

For many, traveling with a baby by car can seem a little less overwhelming. Because they’ve likely been in the car many times before and you don’t have to worry about your baby crying and bothering other passengers, it’s usually a little less stressful. However, car trips often mean more time spent traveling. This means you’ll have to be a bit more strategic about your baby’s bottle feedings.

Even if your baby is old enough to hold their own bottle, it’s not recommended that you feed your baby while the car is moving. According to Hygeia Health , “Bottles become projectiles in the event of the crash,” and “Motion sickness is something to consider.” Therefore, you’ll have to plan out when you’ll need to stop to feed your little one - whether that’s at a rest stop or when your family stops to get a bite to eat. 

Top Tips for Easy Car Travel with Formula

Formula-feeding while road tripping gets easier the more times you do it, especially when you have the right strategies in place to keep your baby happy with a full tummy. 

• Prepare Bottles Ahead - This tip we recommended for plane travel works great for car travel as well. Because it’s so important to have clean hands to prepare bottles, it’s just better to have this already done. Pit stops on road trips don’t usually make for the cleanest places anyway. Just be sure you keep the bottles of pre-made formula cold and use them within 24 hours. 
• Keep Everything Up Front - There is nothing worse than finally getting on your way and realizing that something you need is in the back of your car. Even though we don’t recommend giving your baby their bottle while the car is moving, we DO suggest getting the bottle prepped ahead of time. Be sure you have access to your baby’s bottles and bottle warmer so that you can start the warming process ahead of time so that it’s ready to go when it’s time to stop. 
• Be Ready to Store Used Bottles - Because you probably won’t be able to clean your baby’s bottles until you arrive at your final stop of the day, we suggest having a wet bag to store them in. That way you won’t have bottles cluttering up your car and you can sanitize them later on while easily wiping up your wetbag so it’s ready to use again. 

Formula Feeding When You Arrive

You’ve arrived at your hotel or your final stop and you can finally breathe a sigh of relief!

It definitely feels good to get to this point when you’ve been traveling with a baby all day. At this point you’ll want to get your baby’s bottles all sanitized and ready for the next day. If you have formula bottles that you didn’t use and it’s still within 24 hours, be sure to transfer those to the fridge. (Pro tip: ALWAYS stay somewhere that has a fridge when you have a baby.)

The last thing to do is fill your baby up with one more formula bottle before you all crash into bed...because after all that travel, you will surely be ready for sleep!

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How Long Does 1 Can Of Formula Last?

Determining a can of formula’s preparation capacity.

How long a can of baby formula lasts depends on how big the tub is, the age of your baby, and the size of the bottles you are making. On average, a single 12.5 ounce can of formula lasts for three days no matter the age of your baby or the size of the bottles you are making.

Wondering how many tubs of formula you need to buy for your baby?

Not sure how much these tubs will cost since you don’t know the answer to how long does 1 can of formula last ?

Worried you might run out of formula in the middle of the night?

Running out of formula during the day or night is a real fear, many new and experienced parents have. Stocking up on formula is the best way to prevent that from happening, but sometimes money is an issue.

That is why, knowing the answer to how long does a can of baby formula last helps you plan.

How Long Does a Container of Baby Formula Last?

New parents might be overwhelmed with all of the different types and baby formula brands. Most major brands like Enfamil , Similac and Gerber make a liquid formula in addition to the powder formula.

The liquid formula comes in concentrated or ready to feed forms. It is measured in fluid ounces, so determining how much you need is straight forward.

The powder cans of formula are measured in ounces as well, but it is in dry ounces, so it’s done by weight. Here, when we talk about how long does a can of formula last , we are referring to standard powder baby formula, not liquid or specialized powder baby formulas.

How Many Cans of Formula Per Month?

How many cans of formula a month your baby needs vary based on the size of the can you are purchasing. Standard sizing of formula cans includes 12.5 ounces, 30 ounces and 35 ounces.

If you opt for the smallest cans, which typically weigh 12.5 ounces, they last about 3 days on average for a baby. For a one-month supply, you are looking at 10 to 15 cans a month.

A 30-ounce tub of powdered baby formula lasts between 8 to 11 days for a newborn, 5 to 8 days for infants between 2 to 4 months, and 5 days for toddlers 6 months and older. You will need about four cans a month for newborns, and for babies 2 months and up, you will need six cans.

For the bulk size cans of formula, which typically weigh 35 ounces, newborns need about four cans for an entire month’s supply; for infants 2 to 4 months and older babies, you typically need 4 to 5 cans a month. However, you don’t want to get an oversupply and end up with many cans of expired baby formula .

This table summarizes the duration a typical can of powder formula will last:

Calculating Fluid Ounces for A Formula Can

While powder formula is in a solid form, your baby needs to digest it in liquid form. When talking about powder formula estimation, we estimate based on fluid ounces, since when measuring water or anything liquid, fluid ounces is used instead of dry ounces.

To figure out how many fluid ounces each can of powdered baby formula makes, this calculation below proves to be helpful:

[(dry ounces of powder formula) x 2] / 2= Total fluid ounces in one can

The nice thing about measuring in fluid ounces is that you are making more liquid formula when you mix the powder with water than what you calculate, which means your can might last a little bit longer on average. For example, a 6-ounce baby bottle tends to be closer to 7-ounces.

To help you visualize the estimation, here’s a simple table of common formula brands and the total fluid ounces a container can make based on the calculation formula as mentioned earlier:

Note that the above is just a guideline. Each brand of powder baby formula makes a different amount of formula for your baby. All powder formula containers come with a scoop you use to measure the powdered formula.

Generally, this scoop measures out 0.3 ounces of powder. The usual procedure is that you mix one scoop of powder with 2 ounces of water.

How Many Bottles Does a Can of Formula Make?

Once you know how many fluid ounces a can of powdered baby formula makes, you can figure out just how long that can will last by figuring out how many bottles you can get from each can.

You will notice that the older your baby gets, the more they will eat at once. On average, newborns drink between 1 to 3 ounces every 3 to 4 hours, infants 2 to 4 months old consume 4 to 6 ounces every 4 to 5 hours, and babies 6 months and older drink 6 to 8 ounces every 4 to 6 hours.

Check this video to know how to make baby formula and storing it properly after mixing:

Estimating Number of Bottles Per Can

When looking at how much and how often babies drink formula, you can estimate how many bottles per day. Newborns average 6 to 8 small bottles each day, infants drink 4 to 6 medium-sized ones, and older babies consume 4 to 5 full-sized bottles each day, in addition to solid foods.

How Long Does Powder Formula Last Once Open?

Once you open the powder baby formula container, you might want to know how long does powder baby formula last. Once the container of baby formula has been opened, it will keep for up to one month. Once you start mixing the powder baby formula with water to make bottles, things change.

How Long Does Prepared Formula Last at Room Temperature?

Once the baby formula powder is mixed with water, it will keep for a maximum of 2 hours as long as the baby doesn’t drink any of it, and you don’t heat it up. Always consult the back of the tub for more detailed information, as some brands recommend 1 hour.

How Long is a Formula Bottle Good for in the Refrigerator?

If you mix the baby formula ahead of time and keep it in the fridge, it will last 24 hours as long as it remains untouched. For example, if you mix a large batch of formula and pour it into bottles as needed. The refrigerator temperature should be 40°F or lower for ideal storage conditions.

Can I Safely Store Partially Used Bottles?

Never keep or store partially used bottles for babies to drink later. If a baby drinks from the bottle but doesn’t finish it, you can hang on to it for up to 1 hour if kept at room temperature. The problem with partially consumed bottles is bacteria, which starts growing as soon as the baby takes their first drink.

Bacteria is also a problem with heated bottles. Once a bottle has been heated up, use it within an hour. Anything left after the hour is up should be discarded right away. This applies even if you heat the bottle up , and your baby doesn’t drink from it.

Knowing how long does baby formula last helps you plan ahead to ensure you don’t run out of formula for your baby. When it comes to answering formula lasts how long , the answer depends on the size of the container, the age of your baby, and how many ounces they are drinking.

Typically, parents go through about 4 to 5 of the 35-ounce or bulk size cans of formula. The good news is, when left unopened, these large tubs of powdered formula last for several months.

Hope this article helps you understand how long does 1 can of formula last with our baby formula estimation when parenting your babies!

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns about how long does formula last , please feel free to add to this discussion by leaving a comment below.

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TSA Baby Food & Formulae Rules (Plus Tips for Flying)

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Home » TSA Baby Food & Formulae Rules (Plus Tips for Flying)

It’s finally time for your baby’s first trip on an airplane. Luggage is packed , the itinerary is planned, and the camera is ready to snap a million first-time family travel photos.

But what about food for the flight?

While traveling with a baby , one of the biggest concerns for us parents is making sure that our little ones are well-fed and comfortable. Especially if the flight is going to be a long one.

A full tummy keeps your munchkin happy and playful, which is the best-case scenario while you’re up in the air.

TSA Baby Food & Formulae Rules (Plus Tips for Flying)

The TSA is pretty strict about what you can and what you cannot carry on the plane. Especially liquids.

But baby foods are an exception. If you follow their rules and guidelines properly, there should be no hassle in carrying your baby food and baby formula past the security and onto the flight.

Can You Bring Baby Food on an Airplane?

Anyone traveling with an infant is allowed to pack baby food, milk, and juice for the flight into a carry-on.

While the TSA has strict rules about other liquids and foods allowed on the plane, baby food and formulae are less restricted. You may bring as much baby food as you need.

Tip: Check out what we like to use for packing baby food for the airplane.

TSA Rules for Baby Food

The TSA aims to protect passengers while traveling. Which is why they are so particular about the items in your carry-on bags.

They have a list of food and liquids that are allowed on the plane, as well as how much.

However, not all of the rules apply to baby food and liquids, regulations are quite simple for infants:

• You must be traveling with the baby to carry food (obviously)
• Keep your baby food and other liquid carry-on items separate
• Inform the TSA officer that you are carrying these liquid food items at the checkpoint

Traveling with Formula and Baby Food

It’s always a good idea to know in advance what you’ll be required to do at the airport in terms of security procedures while traveling with formula and baby food.

1. Notify the TSA When Traveling with an Infant

Just as you need to remove your laptops from your carry-on bag during the screening process at the airport, the same is required of baby food as well.

At the security checkpoint, take your formula, juices, breast milk, and other baby foods that may be in liquid form out of your bags. They will be screened separately.

You will have to inform the TSA officer before the screening that you’re traveling with a toddler and are carrying liquid baby foods in excess of the permitted limit.

2. Liquid Rule Exemption for Baby Food on Planes

Typically, the permitted quantity of liquids that you can carry on a plane is 3.4 ounces(100 milliliters).

But when it comes to baby food, this is often not nearly enough for a full flight.

Thankfully, the TSA understands this and allows you to travel with as much as you need.

In addition, if you need to carry additional paraphernalia such as ice and frozen gel packs to keep your baby food fresh, you’re allowed to do so.

But they are subject to the same screening process as the rest of your baby food items.

3. Screening Process for Baby Food and Baby Formulae

The TSA officers need to be absolutely sure that the liquids that you’re carrying are safe for the other passengers on the flight.

Hence, they are screened thoroughly for concealed prohibited items.

You might even be asked to open the bottle and dispose of it a little bit or transfer it to another empty container, which is also screened.

If you’re specific about the fact that the bottle must not be opened before consumption, you can inform the TSA officer and they will find an alternate method of screening.

You may then have to undergo a more vigorous check yourself before they clear you to carry your baby formula on the plane.

4. TSA PreCheck with Kids

When you’re traveling with baby formula, it’s always better to get TSA PreCheck . You can also get a free TSA precheck .

This will help you get a Trusted Traveler Number, which means that you qualify for expedited screening.

TSA PreCheck queues are much shorter relatively and you have to spend very little time awaiting your turn.

In addition, you don’t need to take off your shoes, and your laptops can stay put in your carry-on bags .

But the biggest advantage for people flying with baby food pouches and breast milk is that they do not need to take these contents out of their bags.

Sure, the bags are screened from the outside for detecting explosives, but that’s about it.

Your formula can stay arranged in the bag and doesn’t need to be taken out until it’s time to feed your baby.

Having said that, you may still be asked to remove the baby food pouches and bottles from your bag under certain circumstances.

Read more about the TSA PreCheck Process here.

5. Carrying Water to Make Baby Food on the Airplane

Since you’re traveling with baby food, you’re definitely going to need water to make fresh formula when your little peanut gets hungry.

It’s advisable to buy bottled water after the check-in point from an authorized vendor, instead of bringing it from home.

While the TSA does not restrict carrying food items for your little ones, they may want you to discard the water, as it’s easily available beyond the check-in point.

You can carry an empty thermos along with you which can easily be filled at the many water fountains at the airport.

Another alternative would be to ask your flight attendant for a sealed water bottle before mixing up your formula.

Avoid using tap water from the bathroom faucets of the airplane as it’s not considered safe for your child’s sensitive tummy.

6. Pre-Preparation when Flying with Baby Formulae

It’s essential to be prepared for your baby’s hunger needs on the airplane. Preparing a bottle in a small space, with a baby on your lap or playing next to you isn’t ideal.

You may have no choice, for an emergency feed, but try to have as many of your feeds already planned for and portioned into bottles.

That way, you will only have to pour water into them later, eliminating the need to deal with loose powder.  

This will also save you the hassle of additional screening by the TSA as your baby food will not be in liquid form at the time of check-in.

Tip: You might be also interested in reading our article about tips for surviving the trip with your little one here .

How to pack formula for air travel?

Getting past the TSA is one thing, but you also need to make your life easier by packing the formula for maximum convenience.

1. Carry a Formula Dispenser with Sections

If your formula dispenser is sectioned, you won’t have to worry about measuring the powder quantity every time you make the formula on the plane.

Each section of the dispenser can simply be emptied into a bottle to make enough for a single feed.

Check out the price for this formula dispenser on Amazon here .

2. Take a Cooler Bag when Traveling with Baby Food

In addition to carrying ice and gel packs, it’s important to carry your baby food in a cooler bag as it helps keep your breast milk and other pouches fresh for a longer duration.

Check the price for this baby food cooler bag on Amazon now .

3. Carry Extra Formula

As we mentioned, the restrictions on baby food are much lighter than usual TSA regulations.

So pack a little extra and be prepared in the case of delays.

Summary – Flying with Baby Food

Traveling with kids requires a little more preparation and planning, but it’s often easier than it seems at first.

With a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can make some of the best memories of your life traveling with your little ones.

The TSA is meant for the safety of the people and they are extremely cooperative when you’re traveling with children.

There’s no limit on the amount of food you can carry for your little ones.

Tip: Check our article on what accessories to take for a long haul flight here .

Not sure where to go for your first vacation? Here is our list of the best places to travel with a 1 year old .

Andrzej Ejmont

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NUTRITION CARE

Flying with a feeding tube: a user's guide, flying with a feeding tube a user guide.

Travel can be a great way to relax, reconnect with friends and family, and explore exciting new places — even if you're traveling with a feeding tube. 

Whether it's a camping trip, business trip or a cross-country vacation, traveling with a feeding tube doesn't have to hold you back. But it does require a little strategy and creativity.

Like any traveler, you may have to navigate eating at odd hours, informing airport security of your needs, dealing with lost luggage and overcoming a lack of privacy. But for those with  a feeding tube, these challenges can take on  a whole new meaning .

If you're planning a getaway, here are some valuable insights and actionable advice to help you get the most out of your trip.

9 Ways to Start Planning Early

The sooner you begin to prepare, the smoother your trip can be. These nine pre-travel tips can assist you in planning.

1. Talk to your doctor. Inform your physician about where you intend to travel and the supplies and medications you'll need. If you'll be flying, ask for a letter to share with airport security explaining why you require a feeding tube and the liquids, medications, and equipment you'll be carrying on board. The Oley Foundation provides sample travel letters.

2. Book direct whenever possible. Taking a direct flight to your destination can help you avoid airport delays and long connections that can potentially make feeding difficult.

3. Make a list. Keeping a running list of your essentials can help you remember important supplies like:

• Feeding tubes
• Containers or bags
• A pump if you use one (plus extra batteries and/or a charger)
• Medications

4. Find appropriate accommodations. When a person with a feeding tube travels, you may want to opt for hotels that can provide an in-room refrigerator or allow you to use their kitchen refrigerator to store open formula.

5. Consider shipping supplies instead of packing them. Ask your home care company if they can ship supplies to your destination in advance. This can make your luggage lighter, and you won't have to spend precious vacation time trying to track down necessities.

6. Contact the TSA Cares hotline. Reach out to the TSA 72 hours before your flight and let them know that you're traveling with a feeding tube, formula and equipment. While you're at it, consider giving your airline a call so they can help with any special accommodations you might need.

7. Create an emergency plan. Compiling a document with all of your health information, contacts and the name of a local hospital — and sharing it with your travel companions — can help you enjoy peace of mind. Be sure to include the Abbott Live Nutrition Support hotline number for easy access to expert tube feeding support away from home.

8. Pack a carry-on bag with essentials. While it can help to ship supplies to your destination, it's wise to pack at least two days' worth of tube feeding supplies in the event your luggage gets lost. You may also want to stash extra supplies in your checked luggage, just in case something breaks or leaks, or you're delayed.

9. Allow for lots of extra time. Building excess time into your schedule can help reduce worry and stress, especially if you'll be flying. For instance, airport security may need additional time to examine your equipment, supplies and feeding device.

Here is a great video from the Empowering Eleanor YouTube channel on what Mom, Christy, packed on a recent flight on a family vacation. Her daughter Eleanor has Chung Jansen Syndrome and requires a feeding tube.

Knowing What to Expect

Traveling to a new place can mean lots of changes to your daily routine, so try to be flexible — and patient! Having a plan for troubleshooting can help you tackle common tube feeding travel issues, such as:

• Jet lag making it difficult to stick to your usual feeding schedule. Slowly adjust your body's circadian rhythm to your destination time zone by waking up and feeding an hour earlier (or later) every day, starting about a week before your trip.
• It's your first visit with family or friends with your feeding tube. It may be easiest to start with an open approach, by explaining what a feeding tube is, how it works and how you're most comfortable feeding. If you'd like to eat with the group, go ahead and say so! However, if you'd prefer to use your feeding tube in the privacy of your room that's OK, too.
• There's nowhere to prepare blenderized formula. No kitchen? Consider a commercial formula that contains real food ingredients, like PediaSure® Harvest™ . Made with five organic fruits and vegetables, this formula provides complete nutrition plus the convenience of a standard formula. So it is perfect for travel .
• Feeding in public places makes you self-conscious . Many museums, amusement parks and airports have a breastfeeding or quiet room that you can use. Going to a restaurant? Call ahead and ask if there's a private dining room or alcove that you can sneak off to (just don't use the bathroom, which can be filled with germs). Carrying a restaurant card, which you can order through the Oley Foundation , can also help avoid the hassle of trying to explain to the waitstaff why you aren't ordering a meal.
• Feeling rushed. Tube feeding nutrition can take time and preparation. Let your fellow travelers know in advance that you'll need a little extra time to pack supplies or to clean equipment.
• Dehydration is a concern. If you're spending hours in the air or traveling somewhere hot, stay hydrated by infusing small amounts of water frequently throughout the day.

Travel can be a challenge for people who have a feeding tube. But with time and experience, it's likely to become second nature. If this is your first time, ask your healthcare provider to put you in touch with others who have traveled with a feeding tube. Their tips and tricks may inspire you, and you might even make a new friend in the process!

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This article will review the signs of mild to moderate dehydration in children and explore how to keep kids hydrated when they aren't feeling well.

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Flying with Breastmilk, Formula, and Baby Food: An Easy How-To Guide

• Post author By Melissa
• Post date May 21, 2024
• No Comments on Flying with Breastmilk, Formula, and Baby Food: An Easy How-To Guide

Any family traveling with a baby will inevitably face the challenge of transporting breastmilk or formula during a trip. Even if you exclusively breastfeed, a stash of milk, whether expressed breastmilk or formula, is one of the most essential travel items for babies .

Traveling, particularly by plane, can be very dehydrating. And you don’t want to be empty handed or helpless if you experience an unexpected dip in your supply or your baby needs to nurse more than usual.

This is why it’s important to always travel with breastmilk or emergency formula during the baby stage. While the idea of flying with breastmilk may seem daunting, it really isn’t complicated.

However, there are a few things to know about flying with breastmilk, liquid formula, or baby food that will make the process easier.

This guide covers the United States TSA guidelines regarding transporting pumped milk and includes personal tips and advice for flying with breastmilk, flying with formula, or taking baby food through airport security. 

Table of Contents

Our experience flying with breastmilk

Our daughter was exclusively breastfed until she was about nine months old. We began traveling with her shortly after she was born. So, on more than one occasion, we had to fly with breast milk.

We even flew internationally a couple of times during those first months and brought expressed milk along for the journey.  In fact, when our daughter was 6 months old, we flew to Costa Rica for her first international trip. 

I was still breastfeeding almost exclusively but didn’t want to have an infant attached to my body the entire trip. So, we decided to travel with breastmilk that was previously pumped.

This was our first experience flying with breastmilk. We didn’t quite know what to expect, but luckily, our family and the breastmilk made it there safely. 

In that first year of our daughter’s life, we flew numerous times. We have successfully brought breast milk through airport security and have also flown with liquid formula, juice, and baby food without any issues.

What you need to know about flying with breastmilk or liquid formula

Although most things are more challenging when flying with a baby, airlines and airport security agents are more lenient when it comes to the tiniest of travelers.

Here are a few things to know about flying with breastmilk or other baby liquids.

TSA liquid limits don’t apply to breastmilk 

Although the TSA has a very small limit on the amount of liquids you can bring on a plane. The 3.2-ounce rule does not apply to breastmilk, liquid formula, or baby food.

You can actually bring large quantities of these liquids through airport security. Or as the TSA ambiguously puts it “ reasonable quantities ” of breastmilk are allowed in your carry-on bag.

With that said, we have personally brought about a dozen bags of breastmilk, some frozen and some fresh breast milk, through airport security without any problems.

Frozen gel packs are also allowed

Aside from bags of breastmilk or containers of liquid formula, you can also bring gel freezer packs through TSA to keep your liquids cool or frozen. Keep in mind, even in an insulated bag or cooler, ice packs do not stay frozen for more than a few hours.

If you plan to fly with frozen milk, be aware once it thaws completely you must use it within 24 hours. So, I would not recommend bringing too many bags of frozen breast milk on a long flight.

Consider giving your baby milk from your frozen stash in the days leading up to your trip. Pump when you would typically feed your little one to have a supply of fresh milk ready for your trip.

Breast pumps are typically allowed in addition to your carry-on and personal item

It is important to note that you can also bring a breast pump through TSA or airport security if you plan to pump while on your trip or vacation.

Breast pumps are considered a medical device. So, most airlines will not count them as part of the carry-on and personal item allowance. Be sure to check with your airline before your flight.

However, most will allow mothers to bring a breast pump in addition to their carry-on and personal item. Many breast pumps are somewhat bulky, which can make them challenging to travel with. However, there are some great travel breast pumps that are compact and easy to clean when on a trip.

You do not need to be traveling with your baby to fly with breastmilk

If you are a mother traveling solo and are still nursing, you will likely have to pump while on your trip to avoid discomfort and keep your milk supply up.

No mom wants to dispose of pumped breastmilk. (There is a reason they call it liquid gold!) But luckily, you don’t have to, at least if flying domestically within the United States.

The Transportation Security Administration allows you to fly with a reasonable quality of breastmilk, whether your baby is with you or not. However, that rule does not apply to flying with liquid formula .

Although, I don’t know why you would need to fly with formula if your baby is not with you. 

Taking breastmilk or liquid formula through airport security

If you plan to travel with breastmilk or liquid formula that needs to be kept cool, keep it in its own small bag rather than placing it in your carry-on luggage.

You are allowed to bring a separate bag for breast milk storage or formula in addition to your carry-on bag and personal item.

Keeping the liquids separate makes it easier for screening purposes. This is the bag I use and I demonstrated above how I pack it when flying with breastmilk. It is an insulated bag that serves as the perfect breast milk cooler, so the milk stays frozen or cold longer.

Let the TSA agent know your traveling with breastmilk or formula

When you arrive at the security checkpoint, tell the TSA agent you are flying with breastmilk or formula. Then, put the bag on the conveyor belt for inspection.  It will need to be sent through the X-ray machine.

Don’t worry, the X-ray machine does not harm the breastmilk .

If you do not want it to go through the X-ray machine, you will need to inform the agent. You can opt-out of X-raying the milk. In that case, however, your milk or formula will likely be opened and have to go through additional screening.

Security agents will test some of your milk

TSA will inspect, and even open your breastmilk to run tests on it. The process doesn’t take long and doesn’t taint the milk.

If traveling with powdered formula instead of liquid, you can also bring bottled water through security. You just need to specify that the water is for the baby. 

Allow extra time

Always when traveling with a baby or toddler, you should allow yourself extra time at the airport.

The additional screening of your milk will take some extra time, although not much, but you may also have extra gear, like a travel stroller that needs to be broken down, or a framed child carrier for a toddler , that will have to be removed and sent through the X-Ray machine.

However, if you plan to wear your baby in a baby carrier while traveling , most of them do not have to be removed to go through security screenings. In fact, babywearing at the airport is one of the best ways to save time and make flying with a baby easier.

Shipping breastmilk

Shipping breastmilk is an alternative to flying with breastmilk, and luckily there are companies that specialize in this. There are several options to easily and effectively ship breast milk.

Here are some convenient ways to ship breastmilk if you prefer to do so rather than fly with breastmilk.

• Milk Stork is a company dedicated exclusively to shipping breast milk. They send containers that you can fill and ship overnight.
• FedEx also has a milk shipping program, where they can overnight breastmilk in refrigerated containers. Similar to Milk Stork, you can pre-ordered milk bags to fill up. Then, just drop them off at a FedEx location for overnight delivery. 

What you need to know about flying with baby food

Traveling with baby food falls under the same category as traveling with breastmilk or formula, with a few exceptions.

You are allowed to bring enough for the duration of your trip. If you are gone for a week, that is quite a bit of baby food pouches or jars.

I recommend the baby food pouches when traveling with a baby and especially when traveling with a toddler . They are much easier to use on-the-go, and many older babies and toddlers can even feed themselves.  

Like breastmilk and formula, you will have to separate baby food from the rest of your carry-on luggage and declare it with the TSA officer.

They will likely inspect it and possibly open one of the containers. If that happens, plan to use that one first since once opened baby food should be used within a day.

Giving Your Baby a Bottle of Breastmilk or Formula on the Plane

If you prefer to give your baby a bottle instead of breastfeeding on a plane , you can request a cup of hot water from the flight attendant upon boarding. Put a bag of cold (not frozen) breast milk in the cup for a few minutes to warm it up, if your baby will not drink it cold.

The water can also be used to mix dry formula if needed.

Nursing or bottle-feeding during takeoff and landing will help avoid any ear discomfort for your little one caused by the pressure change when ascending or descending. 

Flying internationally with breastmilk, formula or baby food

While we have never personally had a problem flying internationally with breastmilk or baby food, it is important to note that other countries may not be as lenient.

Each country may have its own rules and restrictions that apply. Be sure to check with your airline or the international airport from which you will be flying prior to your trip. 

Although we have never had an issue, we have read stories of moms having to dump out breastmilk before their flight. 

Final thoughts on flying with breastmilk, formula or baby food

Whether you breastfeed, exclusively pump, formula feed or choose a combination of those methods, flying with breastmilk, formula, or even baby food and juice doesn’t have to be difficult. When you travel with breastmilk, baby food, or formula, plan to pack enough for an extra day or so.

Traveling can be unpredictable, flights can get cancelled, you may have an unanticipated long layover , and your trip may end up being longer than expected. So be prepared, and pack accordingly.

For this reason, we do not recommend traveling with breast milk in your checked luggage.

Do you have a question or comment about how to travel with breastmilk, formula, or baby food? We’d love to help. Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.

Like it? Pin these tips on flying with breastmilk to save for later!

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Flying With Formula Fed Baby and Tips for travelling with bottle-fed baby

By: Author Wandermust Mummy

Are you flying with formula fed baby? Worried about how to pack formula for air travel? Well fear not, in this guide we cover everything you need to know know for how to fly with formula fed baby. Yes, it is undoubtedly easier flying with a breastfed over travelling with a bottle-fed baby. All you need is your boob and maybe a cover and you are good to go. But don’t let formula feeding but you off travel. Yes there are a lot of  rules for flying with baby formula that  and it can seem confusing at first but in this our essential guide to flying with formula fed baby we answer all your questions to help take the stress out of your travels!

Important Note : This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Table of Contents

The rules and regulations of flying with formula 

First the good news – the 100ml carry-on limit for liquids doesn’t apply to formula milk or sterilised water. This means that you can bring on enough liquid for baby to last the entire flight.

Unfortunately that doesn’t mean that you can take unlimited supplies in your hand luggage but you are permitted to carry  enough to keep you going for the flight and a bit extra just in case of delays.

For more guide on traveling with babies be sure to check out our other posts:

• Traveling with frozen breast milk

Traveling with formula fed baby through airport security

flying with formula fed baby

Now if you are traveling with formula fed baby through airport security I would advise allowing yourself a bit of extra time. Now obviously some airports are easier to travel through than others but when you are travelling with formula you will often have to have each liquid go through its own liquid scanner.

This can take time so leave yourself a bit of extra time to take away some stress! There is nothing worse than the feeling of running through an airport except perhaps having to run through an airport with a baby! 

How to fly with formula fed baby – Airport Security Baby Formula Tips and Tricks 

how to fly with formula fed baby

One of the biggest questions people have about how to fly with formula fed baby concerns airport security.

To help speed up the process of going through airport security when travelling with baby formula here are my top airport security baby formula tips including how to pack formula for air travel:

• As with all liquids, remember to pack your milk in see through bags
• Remove all liquids from the nappy bag.

If you are flying with remeasured formula and water I would recommend not using a vacuum flask as it may cause issues when you pass through security.

As always, regulations can change. I recommend using the  U.K. Government website  to check guidelines before traveling in the UK and the TSA website in the US should have up to date information!

At time of writing, the TSA advises that formula should be removed from bags before the screening process. Liquids of more than 3.4 ounces or 100 ml of liquid are allowed when travelling with infants but need to be screened separately.

You may also carry freezer packs and other cooling accessories however these may also need to be screened as they can count as liquids! 

One of the main concerns I had when travelling with baby formula is what would happen if security asked me to open liquids to taste going through security such as the sterilised water.

If this concerns you, you could consider buying a newborn ready feed kit. The formula milk in these are 70ml so you don’t need to open them as you pass through security. Warning however this is the most expensive option.

Otherwise, you can order formula to be collected at some airports once you have passed through security Be sure to check with your airport if this is an option and also the timeframes for doing so.

Many airports need a minimum of 5 days warning to do this. In the UK airport this service is offered by branches on Boots which are in the airside terminals.

Traveling with baby formula – what type of formula should you take

Are you wondering about traveling with baby formula? Worried about which one to take? In truth you have several options.

You could take remeasured formula and water. If you do this method be sure not to use a vacuum flask to store it in as this may cause you issues at security. Lots of people have concerns about travelling with sterilised water through security but is is allowed.

Personally we use ready made formula. Undoubtedly taking ready made formula on plane is the more expensive option but it does offer ease. All you need to think about is putting the milk in a sterilized bottle.

We actually use chilli peeps teats when traveling instead of bottles. These teats can fit onto all bottled ready feeds. You can simply screw on the teat to the bottle of ready made formula and you are good to go.

This saves a massive amount of space in your nappy bag and we all know space is a premium when travelling with a formula fed baby.

Another option is to buy the formula airside. Check which airport you are flying from to see if this is an option. Some of the airports allow you to preorder so check if this option is open to you.

How to travel with baby formula – how much should I take?

One of the biggest questions we receive about how to travel with baby formula involves the quantities you should pack in your hand luggage.

If you are worried about how much to pack remember to pack enough to allow for delays and remember that the dry air on the plane may make them thirstier than usual.

How to pack formula milk for travel / how to pack formula for air travel

One of the main drawbacks to travelling with bottle-fed baby is that there is just so much more stuff to pack! Here is our guide to how to pack formal milk for travel in checklist form to make sure you don’t forget anything important:

• Baby Bottles and Teats  I would pack more than you think you are going to need! Usually the crew will help by providing hot water but it can be difficult to clean bottles and teats on an airplane so having extras is never a bad thing.An alternative we used was the Chilli Peeps System with Ready feed bottles. This meant we didn’t have to clean bottles on the plane. 
• Formula  It can seem tempting to not pack formula with you when you travel however I recommend taking your own with you especially when you are travelling with very small children. Changes of formula can upset a little ones tummy so it is easy to have your own with you!Obviously this is not always possible when going on extended trips but it can be worth looking up if your regular formula is sold in your destination country and if it has a different name.Sometimes we would pre order formula that was the same from home to be waiting for us at the hotel or AirBnB with the accommodations permission of course.If you opt for using formula on the plane instead of ready feeds our number one tip is to use premeasured formula so you don’t have to worry about doing this on the plane.We really love the Sectioned Formula containers as this means the formula is in one place and easy to find in a nappy bag but means you don’t have to worry about measuring! 
• Muslin Cloth  There is nothing worse than a baby burping up on you mid flight.
• Sterlising Equipment  Another tip we have for how to fly with baby formula is to make sure you have extra zip lock bags to separate the clean from dirty bottles. You don’t want to contaminate the clean ones by putting all the bottles together.We also always carry sterilising wipes with us to clean the plane area we are sitting in.Do you have any other tips for how to travel with formula on plane? Please leave a comment you have any other handy hacks for formula and flying!

When Should I formula feed my baby while flying?

I would advise sticking to your normal feeding routine when traveling but if you can time it so you can get your baby to feed during take off and landing this will help with ear popping and will reduce discomfort for baby.

Some recommend waiting until the plane has actually taken off so the baby gets the benefit of feeding one the cabin pressure has actually changed.

If your baby refuses to feed at this timothy and use a pacifier instead as the sucking motion does help them pop their ears!

How to travel with formula fed baby – sterilising concerns 

When traveling with my little I always try and carry enough bottles to last the entire journey so I don’t have to worry about sterilizing while traveling. If you are limited on space we like to use bottles with attachable teats such as the Chili Peeps Teats which fit most bottles and save on space! 

Once you are at your destination we recommend looking for accommodation that has a microwave in the room to help with sterilising.

Otherwise we would also fly with Milton Tablets and a sterilising bag to help us sterilise even when we have minimal facilities to do so! 

Other tips for travelling with formula fed baby

• Look for accommodation with a kitchen or at least a microwave and fridge to make sterilising and bottle prep easier. 
• Looking for some places that are easy to travel with a baby then why not check out some of the family friendly places we have been with our baby from the Best European City Breaks with babies to taking a beach break in the Maldives with a baby! 
• And if you are traveling and weaning or with a toddler then be sure to check out our best snacks for toddlers on planes. 

Saturday 21st of October 2017

Great post! These tips will become in handy for us as we're going to Manchester this week. Thanks so much for sharing.

Monday 17th of July 2017

Great tips - I am going away in a few weeks with a baby so this has been really helpful #familytips

TraveLynn Family - Jenny

Tuesday 11th of July 2017

With so many rules about what you can and cannot take on a flight these days, it can be quite a mindfield! I love how this post uncomplicates all the myths and provides clear, trustworthy advice for any formula feeding Mum. #familytraveltips

Wandermust Mummy

Aww thank you

I never even considered how difficult this would be as I never flew with a baby. I am glad that the liquid limitation does not apply. This is a really helpful post to those that need this information.

TSA Regulations on Bringing Water for Baby Formula on a Plane

Mar 10, 2023

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TSA Regulation But did you know there are rules about how much liquid you can bring on a plane? And how much of it can be in powdered baby formula? We created this guide to clarify TSA regulations about bringing water for baby formula on planes. This helps ensure smooth travels and proper care for your baby!

TSA Regulation for Bringing Water for Baby Formula on a Plane

The Transportation Security Administration has some strict rules about bringing formula on a plane , but we’ve got the scoop on how to make sure you don’t get in trouble.

The 3-1-1 Rule for Liquids

If you’re traveling with a baby, you might be wondering what TSA regulations say about bringing water for baby formula on the plane.

The 3-1-1 rule for liquids is pretty straightforward:

• 3 oz or Less per Container
• 1 Quart-Sized Bag (No Larger Than a 1 Gallon Bag) Per Person
• 1 Bag per Carry-on

When traveling with carry-on bags, passengers can bring reasonable quantities of baby food on board. However, it must adhere to the TSA’s screening process. Baby food must be in containers of 3 oz or less. All containers must not exceed one gallon’s worth of bottles. Also, passengers must place all small containers of baby food in a quart-sized bag for screening. When you pack for a flight with a baby, consider how much baby food you will need. Kindly pack accordingly to ensure a smooth screening process.

Exceptions for Baby Formula, Breast Milk, and Juice for Infants and Toddlers

When you take on a plane, TSA regulation permit some exceptions with your baby’s food. You can carry medically necessary liquids, such as baby formula or breast milk, in quantities over 3.4 ounces. Just ensure they undergo separate screening at security. When you take a plane, TSA regulations permit some exceptions with your baby’s food. You can carry medically necessary liquids, such as baby formula or breast milk, in quantities over 3.4 ounces. Just ensure they undergo separate screening at security.

You can also carry frozen gel packs, freezer packs, or partially frozen liquids in your carry-on bag or diaper bag. However, the final decision rests with TSA agents, who may consider your baby’s formula or breast milk toddler drinks as medically necessary liquids.

It’s essential to declare any concealed prohibited items and carry a letter from your doctor if required. If TSA denies you bringing your baby’s formula, you may want to pack it in a checked bag instead.

Quantity Limits for Exempted Liquids

You can bring up to 100 milliliters of formula, breast milk , or juice for babies on a plane. The TSA regulation will allow you to bring the liquids in a bottle that is 3.4 ounces or less in size, but only if it has a spill-proof cap.

How to Declare and Present Exempted Liquids at Security Checkpoints

Here’s what you need to know about carrying formula through airport security with you:

• Inform the TSA officer at the security checkpoint that you are carrying exempted liquids for your baby, such as baby formula or water (either cold water or hot water).
• Remove the exempted liquids from your carry-on bag and place them in a separate bin or bag as they will undergo additional screening.
• Tell the TSA officer about any non-exempt liquids in your carry-on, like your own water bottles. These must follow the 3-1-1 rule and go in a separate bag for screening.
• The TSA officer will likely perform additional screening procedures on the exempted liquids, such as opening the containers and conducting a swab test.
• After screening, you can proceed through the security checkpoint with the exempted liquids.
• Be sure to repack the exempted liquids securely in your carry-on bag before continuing with your travel plans.

It’s important to note that while the TSA allows exempted liquids for infants and toddlers, they may still perform additional screening procedures for security reasons.

To avoid delays or issues, arrive at the airport with enough time to go through the security checkpoint and pack your exempted liquids according to TSA regulations.

Tips for Traveling with Baby Formula and Water on a Plane

When traveling with baby formula and water on a plane, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Packing and Storing Baby Formula and Water for Travel

Here are some tips to make sure both are safe and secure:

1. Pack your liquids in a clear plastic bag.

2. Put that bag inside another bag to prevent leaks.

3. Put your formula and water in a separate container from everything else in your carry-on bag so you don’t accidentally spill them on other items.

4. Carry these liquids through security and prepare yourself!

Recommendations for Types of Bottles and Containers to Use

When traveling with baby formula and water on a plan e, you must make sure you’re using the right type of containers and bottles.

The first thing to keep in mind is that you’ll want to use disposable bottles if possible. Ensure your reusable bottles seal tightly to prevent your formula from going bad. It’s also important to label each container with what it contains so that you can easily identify it should there be a leak or spill.

Don’t forget about the ice packs when packing your bottles and containers! These will help keep your formula cool throughout your trip.

Suggestions for Preparing Formula on a Plane

When traveling with a baby, having the right supplies is important. So what are some of the best ways to prepare formula and water for your baby on a plane? Here are three tips for doing so:

• Pack powdered formula in your carry-on bag. You don’t have to worry about it getting hot; if you’re flying in a window seat, you can keep an eye on it occasionally.
• Don’t forget the water! If you’re traveling with a baby who’s still breastfeeding, you’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of water available for her. Fill up several bottles in advance for ready use when needed. You can also order bottled water at the airport before boarding your flight. Just be sure it’s room temperature before giving it to your baby!
• Ensure you meet your child’s special dietary needs (like soy allergies) while flying!

Advice for Handling Spills or Leaks During Travel

Here are some tips for handling spills or leaks during travel:

1. Bring an extra bag of formula just in case your bottle spills. You can also bring multiple water bottles , so you don’t have to worry about running out if one spills.

2. Bring an extra change of clothes for yourself and your baby. If you’re traveling alone with your baby, this is especially important!

3. Store all liquids in plastic bags, not glass, and label them clearly as milk or breast milk. Bring them onto the plane with you.

To prevent contamination from items in your carry-on luggage or by TSA personnel, do the following. Store them separately and label them clearly, so officials know their contents.

Common Concerns and Questions

We know you have many questions, and we’d love to answer them. Here are some common concerns and questions we get from clients:

Can Parents Bring Ice Packs or Frozen Water for Formula?

The TSA regulation allows parents to bring ice packs and frozen water for formula, but only if the ice pack is completely frozen. It must be drained before being carried on a plane if it contains liquid.

Parents should be aware that TSA regulation officers will make sure all of the ice has been removed from the bag before allowing it through security. The bag will be tested for explosive residue if they do not remove enough.

Can Parents Bring Distilled Water, or Must It Be Bottled Water?

While it’s not recommended, parents can bring distilled water to the airport if they are flying with a child under two years old. However, it must be in a bottle, and the bottle must be less than 3.4 ounces.

How to Handle Connecting Flights with Different TSA Regulation?

If you are traveling from one city to another, or even on a long layover, and you have two flights with different TSA regulations, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.

First, if the first flight is domestic and the second is international, don’t worry! You can bring your electronics in your carry-on no matter what.

If the first flight is international but the second is domestic, this means that you will be going through customs when you land at your destination airport. The same rules apply keep your electronics in your carry-on luggage.

If both flights are international and there’s no customs checkpoint between them (for example, if they’re both going to Europe), then you can bring other belongings like any electronics with you in your checked luggage as well as in your carry-on baggage.

Time-Saving Tips with Ready-to-Feed Formula on a Plane

If you’re a frequent traveler or just seeking a more convenient way to feed your little one during flights, consider using ready-to-feed formula. Unlike powdered or liquid concentrate formula, ready-to-feed formula doesn’t require any mixing or measuring.

Ready-to-feed formula is pre-mixed baby formula that comes in bottles that are completely sealed and commercially sterile. When you’re ready to feed your baby, all you need to do is pop the top, attach a nipple, and give it to your baby. While it’s more expensive than powdered formula, the convenience could be worth the extra price, especially during travel.

TSA Regulation

Notably, TSA regulations classify ready-to-feed formula as a medically necessary liquid, meaning it’s exempted from the usual 3.4-ounce limit applied to carry-on liquids. So, you can bring it in containers larger than 3.4 ounces. However, remember to inform the TSA officers that you’re carrying ready-to-feed formula for additional screening.

Although it doesn’t need refrigeration, you may want to keep it cool during long trips. You can bring a cooler with ice packs, but remember that the ice packs need to be fully frozen when going through security. It may also be handy to bring a bottle insulator to maintain the right serving temperature once the bottle is opened.

Another advantage of ready-to-feed formula is reducing the chance of spills, which can be burdensome during flights. Since it’s pre-mixed, you don’t have to add water or powder, which significantly decreases the chance of any spillage.

However, just as with other types of formula, it’s vital to have a back-up plan in case of unexpected circumstances, such as travel delays. Also, bring extra sterile nipples and sanitized bottles to keep your feeding gear clean during travel.

Keep in Mind

Just keep in mind that once opened, ready-to-feed formula should be used within an hour, or you’ll need to refrigerate it and use it within 48 hours. If you are in doubt about the storage, adhere to the instructions provided on packaging.

Finally, before leaving for your trip, double-check the availability of your chosen ready-to-feed formula at your destination point, particularly if you’re traveling internationally. This is to ensure you won’t face any issues procuring your baby’s main food source while abroad.

So, amid myriad regulations and tips for traveling with a formula, ready-to-feed formula can offer parents an extra level of convenience and peace of-mind. Happy travelling!

In conclusion, traveling with a small child requires preparation, especially when it comes to water for baby formula. The TSA has strict rules about the amount of liquid one can bring on a plane, which can be confusing for new parents.

However, understanding the 3-1-1 rule for liquids, the exceptions for baby formula, breast milk, and juice, and how to declare and present exempted liquids at security checkpoints can help make the process smoother.

Additionally, packing and storing baby formula and water in the right containers, using the right bottles and labeling each container, and preparing formula on a plane can make traveling with a baby more comfortable. It is essential to follow the TSA regulations and arrive at the airport with enough time to go through the security checkpoint to avoid delays or issues.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Comments are always welcome.

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A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula

By: elisha brown - may 27, 2024 6:00 am.

New parents share stories of tense encounters with airport security over breast milk and formula. A bill from U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, a California Democrat, would strengthen guidelines for U.S. Transportation Security Administration officers. (Getty Images)

As the summer travel season approaches, new parents may be navigating airports with their babies — and the complexities of keeping them fed. Despite federal guidelines for airport agents laying out how to treat nursing moms, stories about problem encounters with security sometimes go viral.

In 2023, actress and singer Keke Palmer said she was at Houston airport when she faced threats to throw out her 16 ounces of breast milk. A year earlier, engineer and science TV host Emily Calandrelli said U.S. Transportation Security Administration officers escorted her out of line and made her check her partially thawed ice packs, which are used to keep breast milk cool.

“It was a very traumatizing experience, and it also didn’t align with what the TSA policies were, which state that you’re allowed to have them for medically necessary purposes,” Calandrelli told States Newsroom.

In May 2022, she went on her first work trip away from her 10-week-old baby and was traveling from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. Calandrelli planned on pumping after going through security at LAX, but TSA officers drilled her with questions about what the ice packs were for and said it wouldn’t have been an issue if her breast milk was already pumped.

“I spoke to three different males who worked at TSA, and I requested to speak to a woman but wasn’t able to,” she said.

Like Palmer, she shared the experience with her legions of social media followers. Calandrelli said the agency later apologized. TSA issued a statement shortly after the incident: “Our employees go through regular training to effectively engage and screen diverse traveler populations, including those who are breastfeeding and/or traveling with breast milk.”

Both women’s experiences violate TSA guidelines : formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby food are allowed on planes and carry-ons in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces. Breast milk, formula and ice packs — along with other cooling accessories — are considered medically necessary. Passengers are advised to let TSA officers know they’re carrying these items when arriving at airport security.

Even though these protections exist, many lactating parents still encounter problems during air travel, and these issues carry physical and emotional side effects, according to Tina Sherman, a doula and interim executive director at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee.

“Lactating parents have to pump on a fairly regular basis to be able to continue to keep up their supply,” Sherman said.

When they can’t express milk or that cycle is interrupted, mothers experience pain or breast leaks, she said. In some cases, long delays in pumping can lead to mastitis — an infection that causes swelling in the breasts and cracked nipples. Emotionally, being prevented or delayed from expressing milk can make parents feel anxious, embarrassed and stressed, Sherman said.

Calandrelli’s plight two years ago led her to reach out to her local California congresswoman. U.S. Democratic Rep. Katie Porter first introduced legislation to strengthen existing protections for breastfeeding parents in August 2022.

“You have to have clear instructions and clear rules, and have people follow them in order for moms to be able to meet the standards,” Porter said. “There’s a lot of obstacles to breastfeeding. There’s a lot of challenges to feeding a baby and traveling with a baby.”

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening ( BABES ) Enhancement Act would require “hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula” by TSA officers and private security companies. Porter’s bill would direct airport officials to “minimize the risk for contamination” of breast milk, formula and infant drinks, along with ice or freezer packs and related cooling accessories.

Under the proposal, the agency must consult with maternal health organizations — March of Dimes, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine — to determine what policies and regulations need to be updated as pumping technology and best practices for breast milk storage evolve, she said.

BABES Act is an update to a 2016 law that required TSA training on special screening procedures for nursing parents. The original law also made it legal to carry larger amounts of breast milk, formula and infant drink — juice or purified water — in airports and on planes.

Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican, and Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, are the lead co-sponsors in the House. Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, along with GOP Sens. Steve Daines of Montana and Ted Cruz of Texas sponsored the bill in the upper chamber.

The bipartisan bill didn’t go anywhere last session , but Porter reintroduced the proposal. She said the bill is set to be heard in the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee soon.

As a mother of three, Porter is acutely familiar with the problems that come with traveling with infants. Her children are adolescents and teens now, but when they were babies, lactation stations in airports were uncommon. She said a flight attendant once told her to stop nursing her baby while the plane was still on the ground. Porter said she was angry and scared, but mostly “worried about my baby, who was hungry.”

As for her bill, she recognizes that TSA agents have a hard job. But the BABES Act will help them “have clear rules and better training so that they’re not put in challenging situations when they’re dealing with frustrated parents,” she said.

Making travel for lactating parents easier could chip away at larger stigma about breastfeeding, advocates said. More than 80% of babies are breastfed in infancy , and 58% are still getting some breast milk by the time they’re 6-months-old, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Still, earlier this month, an ad for lactation cookies featuring a cooking star’s covered breasts and pregnant belly was temporarily removed from a Times Square billboard, according to The New York Times .

“Normalizing breastfeeding and lactation is really critical to families being able to meet their breastfeeding goals,” Sherman said.

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics.

Elisha Brown

Elisha Brown is the Reproductive Rights Today newsletter author at States Newsroom. She is based in Durham, where she previously worked as a reporter covering reproductive rights, policy, and inequality for Facing South. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, The Atlantic, and Vox. She attended American University in Washington, D.C. and was raised in South Carolina.

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