Breastmilk and Security

Hi, J.~
I think this depends on each individual airport. All will let you bring breastmilk in a container, but the amount differs at each location. I would try contacting the local airports to see what their rules are...

Good luck!

-T.

Hi J.,

I traveled in October with my then 6 month old son, and breast milk is not a problem. And you DO NOT have to taste it any more! I was allowed through security with my frozen gel pack, but they did question me about it and acted like they were doing me a favor by letting me take it. I was made to dump the water out of his cup and through the tiny water bottle out. They also limit the quantities of baby food you can take on board. You are only supposed to bring enough for the flight(s). I brought extra in case we were delayed or luggage was lost and they gave me a hard time with it, eventually letting me take it. It's up to that particular agent. Dry snacks and cereal were not a problem. Just make sure you have all of the small medicines and creams (only diaper rash cream or medicated cream allowed) in gallon size ziplocs and place all of the liquids, gels and foods separate when going through the machine, otherwise, they will take the whole bag to search. Also, make sure the baby is with you when going through security. My husband was detained when he tried to bring some of the above mentioned items through alone. (He went to park the car while I headed to the gate with the baby.) Luckily he works at the airport and just showed his badge and they let him go "this time"! Try going on www.tsa.gov to get all the info.

Hope you have a wonderful, stress-free trip! Let us know how it turns out.

TSA allows milk and juice for children but not water. The Philly airport security can be difficult sometimes, so just know the rules so you can dispute anything if the agent gives you a hard time. I've traveled every 3-4 months to Florida with my (now) 2 year old, and I've encountered helpful TSA employees, and some who just don't know the rules. The TSA website states clearly what you can and can't bring.

If you are traveling with the baby, they should let you thru with expressed breastmilk. Before you put your breastmilk thru the security scanner, tell the guy at the scanner (the one watching the screen) that you have breastmilk in there.

I've traveled without my baby and generally they let me bring expressed breastmilk through [in a fabric cooler packed with ice (supposedly you cannot bring gel packs or ice packs)]. The only exception was Hawaii where they would not let me bring it through.

Be aware -- I've had my electric breastpump taken for additional screening (they swipe it with the cloth to test for residue), so you may need an additional few minutes to get thru security.

Hope that helps!

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

If you can copy & paste the above, it should take you to the information about traveling with children. Or you can go to the www.tsa.gov website & look for the link for traveling with children. I was just reading about this last week b/c we will be traveling at the end of the month. It looks like you should be able to take it along, just make sure when you get to the checkpoint, you tell them you have it.

You might want to check the website again in the weeks before your trip, as they seem to change these things often.

You should have no trouble bringing the breastmilk through. We even traveled to Canada with our older daughter when she was about a year and a half old, right after the initial scare about liquids last year, and they allowed us to bring regular milk through in a small cup. They may have a limit on the number of ounces, so you might wish to call the airline you are traveling to ask if that is still a restriction, but I wouldn't be terribly concerned.
R.

Hi J.,

I just read in an article in Mothering Magazine about this. The rule is that you can bring as much "life sustaining fluid" on the plane with you. (they had to change the name from breastmilk to life sustaining fluid to legitimize it for some reason...go figure) Because of all the press and the uproar amoung women who breastfeed their babies, the National Security Corp (I forget the exact name of this group) actually created a rule to allow women to transport they're breast milk without beinging harressed. The article suggested you go to the National Security website and print up the new rules so that if you do get harressed at the airport, you have proof that you are in the right. ...I just looked and I can't find that particular issue of Mothering right now in my house - I know that it was either Oct or Nov of 2007 though. You can go to mothering.com and get the details and read the article yourself. Good luck!

Hi J.,

I just traveled in August with my 10 month old (internation and multiple domestic flights - 5 total security checks in two weeks). Although I did not have bottles with me, I did have plenty of juice, baby food, and medicine. I was surprised how relaxed they were when it came to baby stuff. Once they see it's baby stuff they pretty much wave you through without much question (provided the baby is there with you.) Just to be sure on the laws you should go to www.tsa.gov

In case you haven't gotten this piece of advice, when you check in you should ask for a bulkhead row. There is no one in front of you and you have more room.

Good luck with your travels.