Traveling with purified water on airplane - will the TSA monkeys let me do it?

[Anonymous]

TSA agents have always been nice and helpful, esp when I am traveling with children. Of course, I'm always courteous to them.

That said, I have had to dump bottles of purified water. At 3M it should not be a problem to give your child bottled water that you buy after security. Or you could buy the individual bottles/cans of premixed formula, as those will keep until you open them.

[Anonymous]

One more thing- I'd be more worried about various germs on the airplane than having to drink 6 oz of Dansani!

[Anonymous]

We just flew - we brought bottled water for powder, plastic jarred food and 3 oz glass and 8 oz plastic bottles of formula and no one cared or questioned us at either airport - flew out of BWI to Orlando. We were concerned but no big deal - if they take it you can buy some overpriced before you get on the plane, if worried - that was our back up plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP, maybe you don't like TSA as an agency, or respect /agree with what they do, but to call everyone who works for them "monkeys" and "mouth-breathing droolers" makes you come off like a self-entitled, snotty bitch. Most of the TSA employees are not particularly well paid folks who are simply trying to do their job.

and is is really that hard to figure out that you can buy a bottle of water after you go through security?

OP again. Fair enough. I'm having a bad day. I shouldn't have used such disparaging terms. And no, I don't exhibit this attitude to TSA agents who are doing their jobs and who are polite. I'm really not as evil as it apparently sounds, but I don't suspect that will change any of the responses that follow.

The issue I had with buying water after security is that my pediatrician strongly recommended purified water (boiled, not just run through a Brita). What I was wondering is whether this is really that big of a deal for a healthy child, and whether Dasani would be fine (which, incidentally, is what I'm going to do).

My ped told me tap water is fine. I think if your baby is healthy, there is no reason to boil water.

Dasani is a Coca Cola product--does your Ped have stock in the company? AT $2.50 /bottle, he would make a fortune. Also, bottled water has been found to have far more bacteria than tap water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP, maybe you don't like TSA as an agency, or respect /agree with what they do, but to call everyone who works for them "monkeys" and "mouth-breathing droolers" makes you come off like a self-entitled, snotty bitch. Most of the TSA employees are not particularly well paid folks who are simply trying to do their job.

and is is really that hard to figure out that you can buy a bottle of water after you go through security?

OP again. Fair enough. I'm having a bad day. I shouldn't have used such disparaging terms. And no, I don't exhibit this attitude to TSA agents who are doing their jobs and who are polite. I'm really not as evil as it apparently sounds, but I don't suspect that will change any of the responses that follow.

The issue I had with buying water after security is that my pediatrician strongly recommended purified water (boiled, not just run through a Brita). What I was wondering is whether this is really that big of a deal for a healthy child, and whether Dasani would be fine (which, incidentally, is what I'm going to do).

My ped told me tap water is fine. I think if your baby is healthy, there is no reason to boil water.

Dasani is a Coca Cola product--does your Ped have stock in the company? AT $2.50 /bottle, he would make a fortune. Also, bottled water has been found to have far more bacteria than tap water.

I don't think her pedi said anything about Dasani. ? And just going to buy a couple of bottles of water is easier (and probably cleaner) than schlepping around the airport looking for a water fountain or something.

[Anonymous]

It seems like the correct point in this discussion to point out that Dasani and Aquafina both start life as .... TAP WATER.

[Anonymous]

OP to actually answer your question, I think regular bottled water would be fine. But if you are concerned, why don't you mix up the formula at home and bring the bottles in one of those mini cooler things with an ice pack? (You probably have like 5 of them that you got free from the hospital.) If they make you toss the ice pack you can always get more ice as soon as you get through security. For the way home if you've lost the ice pack you can just use a ziplock full of ice.

[Anonymous]

The ban on liquid is for a reason. Remember the 2006 UK liquids plot? TSA has a really frightening video of a bomb made from small amounts of liquids (think sports drink bottle!).

http://mfile.akamai.com/25703/wmv/tsagov.download.akamai.com/25703/htdocs/assets/wmv/liquidexplosive_wide.asx

Also a good timeline of events on the liquids plot:

http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/terror_plot_hearing.shtm


The rules may seem silly, but typically security policies are informed by intelligence reports, much of which would be classified, and real-world events, like the UK plot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like the correct point in this discussion to point out that Dasani and Aquafina both start life as .... TAP WATER.

This is true. There have been many news reports that bottled water does not actually come from pristine streams in the Swiss Alps. It is tap water and it has been proven that tap water from your faucet is actually better than bottled. Google it.

[Anonymous]

I'm on OP's side, TSA agents can be truly, truly awful and ridiculous. And they did NOT let me bring water through to mix with formula the one time I tried, and gave me a shit ton of attitude even though I was being respectful.

Bottom line is, don't plan on getting it through. Maybe, if you're lucky or encounter a TSA agent who can actually think for themself, but I really wouldn't bet on it.

20:28 also has a good idea, since you can bring pre-mixed formula (supposedly, but who knows when some douchewad TSA drone will tell you you're bringing too much and you have to dump half of it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on OP's side, TSA agents can be truly, truly awful and ridiculous. And they did NOT let me bring water through to mix with formula the one time I tried, and gave me a shit ton of attitude even though I was being respectful.

Bottom line is, don't plan on getting it through. Maybe, if you're lucky or encounter a TSA agent who can actually think for themself, but I really wouldn't bet on it.

20:28 also has a good idea, since you can bring pre-mixed formula (supposedly, but who knows when some douchewad TSA drone will tell you you're bringing too much and you have to dump half of it).

Again, why the disrespectful tone when trying to make a legitimate point? In this case, the TSA agent you encountered did not follow policy, period. I travel a lot, with kid and without, and have had many more positive experiences with TSA agents than not.

That said, when I have to travel with stuff for the kiddo, or with pumped BM (but no kid), I always bring a copy of the TSA rules on carrying BM, formula, etc., with you. For the OP, if you absolutely feel you need purified water for formula, bring a note from your doctor. If you're hassled and showing these items to the TSA agent doesn't work, note that they are disregarding stated policy and insist on speaking to a supervisor.

[Anonymous]

Disrespectful tone because TSA invites disrespect when they cannot treat travelers with respect. Many do, of course, but the ones that don't are so bad that they give the entire organization a black eye.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disrespectful tone because TSA invites disrespect when they cannot treat travelers with respect. Many do, of course, but the ones that don't are so bad that they give the entire organization a black eye.

That's like saying you give all mothers a black eye.

[Anonymous]

We've had a very mixed experience with TSA agents. What is posted on the website and what happens in reality are two different things. On our last trip I was quizzed over how long my flight was and they spent a considerable amount of time testing all of the juice, liquid, food I brought for my child. They suggested that I was bringing too much for my child but did not ask me to throw away anything. Most airports do not have much after security that is for young children. So what might work for adults (juice, water etc) does not work for children. Although everything was sealed and in accordance to the TSA website I did come away from the experience not feeling like they were doing their job to protect us but rather where doing their job to annoy and inconvience us.

I have traveled to many other countries and faced many other security check points - they were always efficient and understanding when it came to children. So as the OP mentioned I have also experienced rude and disrespectful behavoir from the TSA agents and I was in no way attempting to do anything except follow their rules. But when they bark at children and make them cry, make it difficult to bring anything for your child on the plane to eat its stressful and annoying. I wouldn't not attempt to bring purified water on the plane unless you can produce a doctor's note.

During our last trip I was asked to produce one so I could bring with us foods my child can eat - he does not have allergies - just intolerance so I did not have a doctors note. I am going to request one from our doctor in hopes that I can get through security with more ease. Still I have never had to do that in other countries.