airport security and bottles

[Anonymous]

Can someone inform me on how it works with taking bottles through airport security. We are flying out west w/ 7 week old DS on a 5.5 hour flight and need to transport approximately 12 oz of formula. Also, any additional advice on flying w/ a newborn this young would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I believe formula is on the list of liquids you can bring on a plane. Check the TSA website.

Mine always slept on the plane when she was small. Sit in the back for the droning of the engines, it worked wonders.

[Anonymous]

To avoid hassles you could take powder and then buy bottled water or fill up from water fountains once inside security. But I traveled a few months ago with baby food and I just told the security it was for the baby and they let it through no questions asked.

[Anonymous]

I traveled recently and carried the pre-mixed 8 oz bottles. It might be a little wasteful for you since you only need a total of 12 oz, but I just thought it was easier than bringing on powder and trying to find unchilled bottled water. I wasn't questioned at all. I also brought on a few tubes of Purell, diaper cream, etc that weren't questioned. I'd suggest bagging this stuff in zip lock bags in advance, because you will be juggling a lot through security with baby, stroller (if you take one), taking off shoes, other carry-on items, etc.

[Anonymous]

I traveled cross country a couple of months ago when DS was nine weeks old. I took a couple of bottles of BM with me, and put them in a clear ziploc bac (like you would use for liquid/gel toiletries) and took them out of the diaper bag while going through security (again, like they make you do for toiletries). I had printed out the rules on traveling with BM/formula from the TSA website, just in case anyone gave me any trouble, but nobody did. My biggest recommendation is to wear your baby in a Bjorn or other carrier while in the airport--you do not have to take DS out going through security, and it makes it sooo much easier to have your hands free. You can't wear the baby while you're on the plane, but I took a boppy and just had DS in my lap. He nursed and slept the whole way. Good luck and have a great trip!

[Anonymous]

Airport personnel are consistently inconsistent -- I've had to take my son out of the Bjorn every time I've gone though security - unlike the PP.

[Anonymous]

I have had no problems flying domestically, but when I was returning from the UK I had to empty two premixed cans of formula -- my husband was forced to drink a sip! We were livid that they gave us such a hard time.

[Anonymous]

I think airport "security" depends on the day of the week and hour of the day how they will treat you. I have found that leaving from the metro area was much easier than getting back. I had fresh BM leaving National and requested that they not put it through the xray machine. They were fine with inspecting it by hand, very plesant and professional. Now leaving from Detroit was a nightmare. When I said BM you'd have throught I said nuclear bomb mixed with anthrax! At least five people came from who knows where to inspect DD milk. Advice to you, take the powder and buy water on the other side. Save yourself the headache.

[Anonymous]

I went through National and Logan at the end of June with two pre-made bottles of formula and got no questions. I gave Security guys on both legs the bottle bag to examine - no one even opened it. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

my sister in law travelled recently from the east to the west coast. They made her throw away the breast milk she had pumped. they said she could only take formula. it was terrible for her.

[Anonymous]

You are allowed to bring baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice that are larger than three ounces. However, you must declare them before you go through the metal detector. I had travelled several times over the past 2 years with and without my son, and I always handed the bottle/breastmilk/formula/whatever to the security person right away. Every person I have talked to that had stuff taken away were people that did not declare it to begin with and waited until they found it.

Below is the link to the TSA page regarding this. The security people are bound by the TSA rules. If you are at all worried, print it off and bring it with you. If you are asked to taste any of the liquid or are told that you cannot bring it through, ask nicely to speak with a supervisor. The only thing I have had done to the liquid is that on 2 of my flights, they opened up one of the bottles and tested the liquid with a test strip.

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