Breastmilk on Flights

[RadioFanatic]

Anyone dealt with this issue when flying with your infant? What are the rules? thanks!

 

[Laura.bora]

meaning pumping or breastfeeding on the plane? I've never had a problem breastfeeding on a plane.

 

[Neesy228]

I nursed all three of my kids when they were flying. It helps with the pressure in their ears, plus usually put them to sleep! It was win-win! I always just tucked myself into a window seat, with a blanket and my DH helped to "shield" me a little more. I don't think anyone even noticed I was nursing.

And, you're allowed to breastfeed in public. Some states even have laws regarding it.

 

[Mommytink]

I have breastfed on a plane many times. No problems...actually it helps their little ears.

 

[RadioFanatic]

thanks for the info - what about taking a bottle of breast milk on the flight - are we allowed to do that?

 

[Princess Roo]

thanks for the info - what about taking a bottle of breast milk on the flight - are we allowed to do that?

Yes - you are allowed to bring pumped milk whether or not you are flying with an infant. (My friend with twins just flew carrying on over 200 ounces after a long weekend without her kids! She's my hero. )

 

[Mommytink]

Yes, check this out...

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

 

[mamaLori05]

Yes. We recently carried formula on the plane, and had no problems at all. I know you are taking breast milk, but for anyone wondering about formula, as long as it's pre-mixed or dry you will be fine. You can not bring a water to mix it later, unless you purchase a water after you go through security.

 

[Minniemouse07]

It used to be that you could only take breastmilk on the plane if you had your child with you. This was quite the conundrum for WOHMs that had to travel for work and pumped for their kids... they went to great lengths to pack it in dry ice, ship it home or check it w/ their luggage.

After a lot of complaining the TSA finally changed their rules and started allowing breastmilk through the security checkpoint.

You should be fine if you have it EBM in a bottle or just nurse on the plane.

 

[bumbershoot]

(My friend with twins just flew carrying on over 200 ounces after a long weekend without her kids! She's my hero. )

Dang, she's my hero, too!!!!!

 

[labdogs42]

Dang, she's my hero, too!!!!!

wow, me, three! Good for her. I'm glad to hear they are allowing breastmilk on flights now for moms NOT traveling with their babies. that rule was so bizarre! Why would you need to travel with a lot of pumped milk if your baby was WITH you? So weird.

 

[Princess Roo]

wow, me, three! Good for her. I'm glad to hear they are allowing breastmilk on flights now for moms NOT traveling with their babies. that rule was so bizarre! Why would you need to travel with a lot of pumped milk if your baby was WITH you? So weird.

She's amazing...never had to use any formula with twins. It's hard enough with one! I applaud everyone out there who do it with multiples.

My sister had to pump&dump for two business trips last year before they changed the restrictions. I'm so thankful that they have. My first business trip is next week and I'm hoping to be carrying 90 ounces or so on the way back.

I also wanted to add that if you are traveling with pumped milk without a baby or with LOTS of milk and a baby that it might be good to print out that link that Mommytink posted in case the particular TSA doesn't know the rule. You can also ask nicely for a manager. (My sister was recently told - incorrectly - that you can't bring the ice to keep that pumped milk cold, for example, but a manager cleared it up.)

 

[gaelic grace]

I have nursed on a plane many times with no problems. In fact I think everyone around me was relieved! I did travel with an infant shortly after 9/11 and I had to drink out of a breastmilk bottle at security. It was a little strange but at that point in time no one knew what was going to happen next so it didn't seem worth making a fuss over.

 

[Munchkin'sMommy]

As a former Flight Attendant, I can tell you that you are allowed to nurse your baby onboard and the sucking does with help their ears. You just can't do it during take off and landing, obviously. I would always tell parents to let the child suck on something during take off and landing--a binkie, a bottle or candy or crackers/cookies if the child is older.

If you need to keep milk or juice cold, just ask the Flight Attendant to fill the sick sack with ice and it will keep your liquids cool until you land. If they try to tell you it's against FAA regs, they are lying.

Most FA's will ask you to cover up if you are exposing yourself jus to make others more comfortable. Just a thought.

 

[LovingtheCastle]

I've breastfeed many times on flights. My biggest problem was the packed flights, when there is no elbow room and the business man next to you can actually hear your baby drinking.

It did help with their ears.

Just make sure that you don't have a starving baby on your hands, during takeoff/landing or turbulence. Mine was 2mo old and I had no formula (he had never had any). It was AWFUL (we both were in pain)! At least, have a back-up ready.

You may be able to "hide" your nursing during take-off, if you didn't purchase a seat for baby. It's a little obvious if the bucket seat is empty, when the FA does her seatbelt check.

 

[Zeebs]

As a former Flight Attendant, I can tell you that you are allowed to nurse your baby onboard and the sucking does with help their ears. You just can't do it during take off and landing, obviously. I would always tell parents to let the child suck on something during take off and landing--a binkie, a bottle or candy or crackers/cookies if the child is older.

If you need to keep milk or juice cold, just ask the Flight Attendant to fill the sick sack with ice and it will keep your liquids cool until you land. If they try to tell you it's against FAA regs, they are lying.

Most FA's will ask you to cover up if you are exposing yourself jus to make others more comfortable. Just a thought.

Must just be an American thing, am so glad we can when we fly. I always have fed while in takeoff and landing, but we have had our babies as lapchilds, with a lapbelt so they are on me anyway and are happily feeding away.

One flight we did, Cullen pretty much fed the whole 12 HOURS!!!!! he had a tummy upset and didn't want put down in the skycot just wanted to suckle, it is a very long time to have b00bs out.

Kirsten

 

[Zeebs]

My sister had to pump&dump for two business trips last year before they changed the restrictions. I'm so thankful that they have. My first business trip is next week and I'm hoping to be carrying 90 ounces or so on the way back.

I spilt some the other day, knocked the bottle over.... I just wanted to cry, imagine a whole bottle. I don't do it very often so it takes a while to get a decent amount out.

Kirsten

 

[Princess Roo]

Just to clarify, if your baby is a lap child, you CAN nurse during takeoff and landing. If you purchased a seat for your child, the FA is allowed to require that your baby be buckled when the seatbelt light is on (some do, some don't).

 

[PADISFAM]

My sister had to pump&dump for two business trips last year before they changed the restrictions.

pump & dump that stuff is like GOLD!!!!!

 

[Munchkin'sMommy]

Just to clarify, if your baby is a lap child, you CAN nurse during takeoff and landing. If you purchased a seat for your child, the FA is allowed to require that your baby be buckled when the seatbelt light is on (some do, some don't).

While it is allowed, some FA's will tell passengers to sit their children up while taking off and landing; more for safety than anything else. You and any child in a child restraint seat MUST be buckled in for take off, landing and anytime the fasten seatbelt is on. In fact, many carriers, including the one I used to work for, have a policy of leaving the FSB sign on. Some pilots do forget to turn it off but many will leave it to reduce any unnecessary movements in the cabin. Can be a security issue as well if you have alot people moving about the cabin. As for lap children, they are not allowed to have a seatbelt wrapped around them. In another words, you can't share your seat belt with your child. In an emergency your child could slip down your lap and choke on the seat belt.

My advice is if you don't know or arn't sure of a policy or procedure, just ask the FA's.