Any know if milk is allowed through airport security for toddlers?

Freiden8

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 16, 2003
Messages
570
Breastmilk is ok..
Formula is ok..

Is vit. D milk, for my 20m old, ok too??
 
As far as I know, you are limited to 3 ounces of fluid. There are places in the airport once you get through security where you can buy milk, and the flight attendants will likely have milk on board too.
 
You are supposed to be able to bring formula or milk for babies and young toddlers but the TSA is very unpredictable on this.

Here is the TSA website on liquids:
http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

This is the section on travling with babies:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtra...en/index.shtm#0

The website clearly says you can bring milk but to try and limit it to what you will need for the flight. That said, DH and I fly often and the TSA agents won't always allow the milk through. Rather than be caught off guard or get into a difficult situation I would have a back up plan just in case.

You can purchase milk, juice, water etc in the gate area (after you clear security) to bring on board. I would just bring a couple empty bottles or sippie cups to fill after you clear security. The FA's have also been good about filling babies and toddlers cups with juice prior to takeoff to help with ears. They don't usually have milk however except on some morning flights.

TJ
 
I wouldn't bother with the hassle of whether it will go through or not. Just bring an empty sippy cup and buy a small carton of milk on the other side of security.
 

bellarella said:
I wouldn't bother with the hassle of whether it will go through or not. Just bring an empty sippy cup and buy a small carton of milk on the other side of security.

That is what I plan on doing. During our last trip in September the TSA wouldn't allow milk through for my ds either directions. Of course, he's not technically a "toddler" any more but milk is still his mainstay because of oral aversion issues. FWIW, we survived the trip (cross country) w/out it. Fortunately this time we can buy milk in the airport.

Of course if your airport doesn't have many vendors beyond security that can pose a problem so if that is the case, I would bring it knowing I may have to toss it, but hopefully the TSA agents may take that into consideration.

hth.
 
Part of the confusion is caused by the terminology. While Americans say "baby formula", many other countries use the term "baby milk" for the same stuff. TSA included the "milk" terminology for the benefit of overseas visitors, but unfortunately phrased it as "baby formula or milk", when they should have said "baby formula or baby milk."

Regular milk will be refused at the checkpoint if they know that it is regular milk. The biggest problem in passing off regular milk as formula is refrigeration, as cow's milk generally needs to be kept pretty cold if it is not to spoil, but you can't bring ice or blue blocks through security except to cool Rx meds. In most airports you can buy milk airside, though, so that is usually your best bet. You can also get ice airside to cool it, though you need to bring some sort of insulated container to put it in for the flight.

I'll also offer a frequent-flyer-mom observation: I long ago learned the hard way to avoid giving any dairy to small ones within an hour each way of a flight. While dairy will not cause airsickness, if a child does get airsick, the presence of dairy in the stomach will make the whole experience MUCH more unpleasant for everyone concerned. Clear fluids are best when airborne.
 
Another option, if your child doesn't mind the taste, is Toddler Formula powder. You'd just need to add water to the cup, shake, and you're ready to go.
 
I always bring milk, knowing I may have to dump it & buy more once we get through secuirty.

My DS is a milk-a-holic, especially chocolate milk.

And milk will stay good for a couple of hours without it being cold.

We flew for Thanksgiving & TSA let us bring DS's chocolate through each time. One time they asked for one of us to take a sip of it, and DS was more then happy to show them it was good & even offered some to the TSA person.

DS is almost 3.5, so not considered a toddler by most. But they let him through. I also saw them letting kids through with suppy cups full of water & juice.

The thing that is so frustrating is, it all depends on the individual TSA people they day you are flying.

One of them questioned DS's prescription medications, but no one questioned the guy behind me with the huge bottle of OTC adult cough medication.

That was one of the times they said nothing about DS's lagre cup of chocolate milk, but were questioning his prescription medication. :confused3

Just be prepaired to dump whatever you bring & buy more once you are through security.
 
Yes, the inconsistancy is difficult to deal with ~

Lclark - interesting that they made you test the milk sine the TSA website clearly states that the TSA agent will not make you test the liquid. You just never know anymore :(

The links are in my post above but here is the quote: "You or your baby or toddler will not be asked to test or taste breast milk, milk or formula. Our Security Officers will not test or taste formula or breast milk."

Weird huh??

TJ
 
We flew 3 weeks ago and the first flight I had a sippy full amd they didnt ask questions. The 2nd flight they made sure it was empty before going through security.
 
tjmw2727 said:
Yes, the inconsistancy is difficult to deal with ~

Lclark - interesting that they made you test the milk sine the TSA website clearly states that the TSA agent will not make you test the liquid. You just never know anymore :(

The links are in my post above but here is the quote: "You or your baby or toddler will not be asked to test or taste breast milk, milk or formula. Our Security Officers will not test or taste formula or breast milk."

Weird huh??

TJ

Yes it is strange. But then again TSA agents are doing a lot of things that are & are not listed on the website.

DH had even printed out the most current list from the TSA website & showed it to the agent when they started questioning my DS's medication. When DH explained & then handed him the paper, the agent read it like they had no idea what was & was not allowed on the plane.

There needs to be more consistency with the TSA agents at airports.
 
The inconsistencies of what you can and cannot bring through is what makes me just not bring ANYTHING liquid at all through security and just buy whatever I might need once we're through. I just consider it one of the travel expenses. And if you think about it if you just buy the item once you're past security even at a higher price you're saving money if you had bought the item first, had to dump it at security, and then buy it again inside security. I've been to some pretty tiny airports in the U.S. and I don't think I've been to one that didn't at least have a place where you could buy water or a carton of milk.
 














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