baby formula and airport security?

[jkcyoung]

I was just chesking the TSA website for info reguarding carrying on baby formula. I see that you are allowed, but my question is am I allowed to bring unmixed formula (bottles with just water and the formula powder in a seperate container)?

 

[tjmw2727]

Unfortunately, no. You can't bring water through security even in a baby bottle or sippie cup.

You can either pre mix the bottles and use an ice pack to keep them cold (ice pack is permitted for formula) or purchase water to mix the formual after security.

TJ

 

[jkcyoung]

Thanks for the reply, but that is not the answer I was hoping for. That really stinks

 

[LovePug]

Hmmmm....well, that was exactly how I did it flying home from Guatemala. Maybe I just got lucky at Security, but they just asked if it was for the baby and let me through....

 

[SiClone]

Earlier this year, flying out of Minneapolis, they checked the cooler, saw 2 full bottles and 2 ice packs and had no problems with it.

At MCO, they took the ice packs and tossed them. Bottles were fine.

 

[tjmw2727]

Since the TSA agents are not consistant some folks will get through with items they shouldn't like LovePug (glad it worked!) and others won't be allowed things they should be allowed like SiClone (sorry).

IMHO its best to check the TSA website and maybe even print out the applicable page just in case you have an uninformed TSA agent. Either way though I would not try and bring water through.

TJ

 

[jrandtysmom]

My nephew works for TSA and we had a recent discussion about this. He said that it definately depends on the agent and his exact words "how much of a jerk they feel like being." It is at their discretion I guess as to whether they let you through or not and he said he would not because he doesn't want it called back on him because it's water in a bottle.

 

[ljcrochet]

I would just put the water in the baby's bottle. This way the water is for the baby. When it is time to make the bottle just add the powder into it. If you have to add the powder first, bring an extra bottle.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would just put the water in the baby's bottle. This way the water is for the baby. When it is time to make the bottle just add the powder into it. If you have to add the powder first, bring an extra bottle.

Except that water (over 3oz) isn't allowed even in a baby bottle.

The TSA has banned all liquids over 3 oz but there is an exception for baby formula, breastmilk and milk. There is no exception for water even for a baby.

The options are to make the formula and bring the bottles onboard in a cooler with an ice pack or to purchase the water after security to bring onboard and mix the formual as needed. Once you clear security you can purchase water and bring as many bottles as you like onboard.

TJ

 

[Silverscreen]

We had this dilema earlier this year. For the plane I bought a six pack of the pre-mixed (not concentrate) formula. The TSA pulled our bag aside and asked how much of it we actually needed. I said all of it, and he let us keep it. I also had jarred baby food and he also asked how much we'd actually need, and I told him what we'd use if we weren't delayed, and he said oh, you won't be and took the rest. Eh, like someone else said it depends on what TSA person you have and their mood at the time.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

We had to dump our water at mco. We just filled it back up on the other side of security at a drinking fountain.

 

[MaleficentFan]

We just returned last night from a trip to WDW. I brought the small bottles of ready-to-feed formula on the plane. It's a short flight for us but I went through security at Newark Liberty and Orlando with three bottles of formula and 4 jars of baby food for each plane ride. I was paranoid about getting everything through... they didn't even ask me to take the stuff out of the diaper bag. I simply told the TSA worker operating the scanner that I had formula and baby food in the diaper bag. In both places they waived it off like "whatever" and scanned the bag in normal course.

You may want to consider the small bottles just for the plane and pack the mixable stuff for use when you get there. I'll cross my fingers that you have as easy of a time with airport security as we did!

 

[Carriemel]

There *is* an exception for NURSERY WATER. That's the flouridated stuff. If you have that in the bottle, it *SHOULD* be acceptable.

I do work for TSA, and that was what they taught me. YMMV.

 

[tjmw2727]

There *is* an exception for NURSERY WATER. That's the flouridated stuff. If you have that in the bottle, it *SHOULD* be acceptable.

I do work for TSA, and that was what they taught me. YMMV.

I don't doubt you but since it's not printed on the website I would still advise folks that it very well may be confiscated and to have a back up plan.

I fly alot and have seen and experienced TSA try and take formula and or juice for babies even though it is exempt. I can't see them allowing water.

The only "fall back" a parent has is to print out the rules from the website since unfortunatley many agents don't follow them. Since it dosen't list water as exempt then the TSA agent can confiscate it.

From www.tsa.gov

Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

The bold is mine - nothing about water??

TJ

 

[Seabean]

I wanted to bump this since its probably the most relevant thread that I searched on.

What about the idea of taking a bottle w. liner filled with about 4 scoops of Enfamil powder (to make an 8oz bottle)... and then buying a bottle water once past TSA to mix while waiting for the plane?

Even though we have a baby with us, would they be suspicious of a bottle with dry white powder in it? Will they ask to prove it's Enfamil by tasting it?

 

[tjmw2727]

I wanted to bump this since its probably the most relevant thread that I searched on.

What about the idea of taking a bottle w. liner filled with about 4 scoops of Enfamil powder (to make an 8oz bottle)... and then buying a bottle water once past TSA to mix while waiting for the plane?

Even though we have a baby with us, would they be suspicious of a bottle with dry white powder in it? Will they ask to prove it's Enfamil by tasting it?

You can bring as much of the powder to make formula as you like, in fact you can bring the entire can Its the liquid that causes an issue.

So yes you can bring the powder to make formula through security and then purchase water prior to boarding. FWIW I never had any luck adding water to the powder - always worked better to add the powder to the water, YMMV.


TJ

 

[DISNEYFOS]

In my experience MCO is definitely a different duck in terms of TSA regs....I had a 30 min argument with a TSA agent trying to bring back home bottles of ready made hypoallergenic formula.. He was trying to only allow two 4 oz bottles as a "reasonable amount"..without allowing any extra for 'what ifs' As it was all my daughter could eat and its not readily available..there was no way in heck I was going to give in.

This was shortly after they left all those people on the runway for 12+ hours or something.. and we were traveling into weather..yeah right.

 

[jkcyoung]

We played it safe and had empty bottles and powdered formula with us, bought bottled water after we got through security. A friend of mine flew out of Atlantic City and Tampa with bottles already filled with water and had no problem. I wasn't willing to take that chance and have a major hiccup getting through security with 3 under 5.

 

[NotUrsula]

We had this dilema earlier this year. For the plane I bought a six pack of the pre-mixed (not concentrate) formula. The TSA pulled our bag aside and asked how much of it we actually needed. I said all of it, and he let us keep it. I also had jarred baby food and he also asked how much we'd actually need, and I told him what we'd use if we weren't delayed, and he said oh, you won't be and took the rest. Eh, like someone else said it depends on what TSA person you have and their mood at the time.quote]

Too late for you now, but do not tolerate this. TSA does NOT fly planes; they have NO IDEA whether or not you may be delayed, and they have no business second-guessing how much food your child needs to eat in a given period. Any time I get that song and dance I ask to speak to a supervisor, and I ask that supervisor to give me his ID information and to personally guarantee that I will not be delayed either in the airport or on the ground. Of course, the supervisor can't do that, so I get by with my supplies. I'm scrupulously polite, and it has never failed yet.

ALWAYS carry 24 hours worth of any special supplies that your child needs on your person, not in checked baggage. Do not trust the airline to provide it. Do not trust the airport to have anything except bottled water available; if there is a ground stop they will begin to run out of food very quickly. All but the very largest international airports don't normally have baby food, formula or diapers available for purchase in the first place, and even when they do the selection is very limited. You need to cover all the possibilities yourself.

I've been stranded on a runway for hours with a baby; it is NOT pretty. I've also been in situations where our flight was scheduled to depart at 4 pm but didn't leave the ground until 1 am; that's not helpful, either. Not having the proper supplies in hand would have transformed it into the seventh circle of hell.

 

[soontobewed07]

We brough RTF with us on the plane. I had 6 of them with me since we were leaving Boston in the winter and I wasn't sure of delays etc... They didn't even question it told me to leave everything in the diaper bag. They now sell packets of powder to make an 8 oz bottle and my aunt is a FA and she says they will give warm water and bottled water to mix formula.