Bringing milk for a toddler (26 mths) on a plane?

[amarberry]

Hi...we're traveling 2 weeks from today with our 26 month old DD. It's a little unclear to me from the TSA website regarding whether or not I would be allowed to bring milk for my DD. Would a 26 month old fit the definition of toddler or small child by the TSA? I'm just curious if anyone else has traveled with a child who is approximately the same age and if milk was allowed to be carried on.

I was thinking about bringing one of the sealed Horizon milk singles and an empty sippy cup or two. If I have to pitch the milk, I figure I can get her some past security before we board and water from the flight attendant once we are on the plane.

 

[bicker]

Due to enhanced security measures most liquids, gels, lotions and other items of similar consistency will not be permitted in carry-on baggage. These types of items must be packed in your checked baggage.

However, baby formula, breast milk, and baby food if a baby or small child is traveling is allowed.

Unfortunately, regular drinking milk is not permitted to be brought aboard. Even milk procured from the shops in the concourse cannot be brought aboard. You can contact your airline to see if they are willing to provide you with milk from their stores of passenger beverage service, when you board the flight.

 

[lklasing]

I could have sworn that my DD has gotten milk from the beverage service offered on various carriers, but my memory regularly fails me. I would think you will be okay getting milk directly from the airline attendants, but to make sure, I'd check with the airline first. Good luck!

 

[amarberry]

I will absolutely will ask for some milk if my DD is considered too old to be "small child". It's just very difficult to justify to a just 2 yr old why she can't have milk if she is asking for it. We'll offer it to her before boarding and hope she is content with water if milk is unavailable. Thank goodness we only have a 2.5 hour flight!

 

[NotUrsula]

No, unless you did the devious thing and put it in a RTF formula bottle. The problem with that is the difficulty of keeping it cold; the only coolant you can now carry is frozen food of one sort or another.

Has your child flown before? I ask because milk in the stomach exacerbates airsickness; if she feels sick at all, the presence of milk will make it more likely that she will end up vomiting. When flying with a child old enough for table food, it tends to be the better part of valor to skip milk during the flight and for at least an hour before the flight. Water and clear juices are less likely to cause problems if she feels ill, and are certainly not as nasty to clean up.

BTW, not all carriers have milk on board on short-haul flights. SWA for one does not stock it.

 

[DJNOWICK]

TSA's website says this about traveling with items for kids:

Baby formula and food, breast milk and other baby items - These are allowed in your carry-on baggage or personal items. You can take these through the security checkpoints and aboard your plane. However, you must be traveling with a baby or toddler. All items including formula or breast milk will be inspected. Learn more on traveling with children.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#10
(see the food and drink items)

You could argue that milk in a sippy cup is "other baby items" and try - worst that happends is that you dump it.

The website is pretty unclear, though - under the baby section it says that juice and other items won't be permitted...

Also, from personal experience, whether you are or aren't allowed to take an item on board can have less to do with the actual rules and more to do with the particular TSA screener you encounter. According to TSA's website solid deoderant is technically permitted - my TSA screener made me throw mine out. Liquid mascara is technically prohibited - my TSA screener let me keep mine (yes, she saw it - she went through my makeup case).

Jackie

 

[bdcp]

Liquids that are allowed are more about what is required or medically necessary (meds, formula for infants, etc) than what is "wanted". There's lot of things you have to explain to a two year old why they can't have and this will be one if they can't provide it onboard.

 

[jodifla]

Liquids that are allowed are more about what is required or medically necessary (meds, formula for infants, etc) than what is "wanted". There's lot of things you have to explain to a two year old why they can't have and this will be one if they can't provide it onboard.

Uh, do you have a 2 year old? Most can't understand why they can't have something to drink when they are thirsty. This isn't like not touching something hot or not getting a toy. Not every kid drinks water, and some kids don't drink juice.

Your best bet is to try and buy milk past security. In reality, they don't recheck the bags before you get on the plane.

 

[bicker]

I'm sorry that the terrorists have made our lives so difficult, but I feel it is very inappropriate to suggest something illegal on a public forum. OP: Please don't deliberately violate the law, just because they're relying on our voluntary compliance.

 

[powellrj]

Your best bet is to try and buy milk past security. In reality, they don't recheck the bags before you get on the plane.

We flew the weekend after the new regulations and they DID check your carry-on as you were boarding the plane. They had tables set-up after you gave them your boarding pass as you were boarding the plane and they went through our bags again.

 

[jodifla]

We flew the weekend after the new regulations and they DID check your carry-on as you were boarding the plane. They had tables set-up after you gave them your boarding pass as you were boarding the plane and they went through our bags again.

I flew last night, nobody checked anything. I gave my son juice while we were at the gate, pitched it and then got juice and water for him again while we were on the plane from the FAs.

As for suggesting something illegal, that's inane. Do you think terrorists read the signs, and don't bring explosives on because they've been asked not to?

Of course, bringing something on is probably more trouble than it's worth because if you're caught giving your toddler milk on the plane they probably feel it's their right to shoot you or something. People have lost all common sense on this, and the fact that DISboarders give up their rights so easily makes me fearful for this country's future.

We worked it out like I said, but it helps that DS is 4, not 2, when he would not have understood any of this and would have screamed and screamed.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I flew last night, nobody checked anything. I gave my son juice while we were at the gate, pitched it and then got juice and water for him again while we were on the plane from the FAs.

As for suggesting something illegal, that's inane. Do you think terrorists read the signs, and don't bring explosives on because they've been asked not to?

Of course, bringing something on is probably more trouble than it's worth because if you're caught giving your toddler milk on the plane they probably feel it's their right to shoot you or something. People have lost all common sense on this, and the fact that DISboarders give up their rights so easily makes me fearful for this country's future.

We worked it out like I said, but it helps that DS is 4, not 2, when he would not have understood any of this and would have screamed and screamed.

No one here has given up their rights. It is NOT a right to fly. It is NOT a right to carry on a prohibited item (no matter how silly you or I think the rules are). When you purchased the ticket YOU agreed to follow the rules.
I found that the word NO when used consistantly worked quite well with my children. It let them know who was in charge.

 

[bicker]

Of course, bringing something on is probably more trouble than it's worth because if you're caught giving your toddler milk on the plane they probably feel it's their right to shoot you or something.

Probably not, but you can be sure that your trip will be delayed if another passenger sees you boarding with a non-approved liquid, and reports it to the crew. People are rightfully paranoid, especially when they see someone deliberately violating the law, and what Flight 93 taught us is that personal vigilance is heroic.

the fact that DISboarders give up their rights so easily makes me fearful for this country's future.

The fact that DISboarders are so disrespectful of the law, and moreover so self-motivated as to think their own personal needs trump the law (and I'm not really just referring to what is being discussed in this thread -- I've seen other messages in this forum, most notably from a very frequent flyer and long-time member, that prompts me to say this), makes me fearful for this country's future.

Let's let this judgmental aspect of the discussion drop, okay? Is it legal to bring milk aboard? No. Can you violate the law? Yes, sometimes.

 

[jodifla]

No one here has given up their rights. It is NOT a right to fly. It is NOT a right to carry on a prohibited item (no matter how silly you or I think the rules are). When you purchased the ticket YOU agreed to follow the rules.
I found that the word NO when used consistantly worked quite well with my children. It let them know who was in charge.

Your blind loyality to the government is inspiring!

What does it remind me of?? Let's see....there was Germany in the '30s.....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

You can buy milk in the terminal, which your child can drink before boarding the aircraft. Once onboard, milk is usually available during the beverage service (and at other times, if you ask). And once you get off the plane, you can again buy milk for your child in the terminal.

We've been flying with our kids since they were infants, and they're now teenagers. I don't recall ever having trouble getting milk for them. And I don't recall ever feeling the need to bring milk through the security checkpoint or to carry milk onto the aircraft.

 

[jodifla]

Probably not, but you can be sure that your trip will be delayed if another passenger sees you boarding with a non-approved liquid, and reports it to the crew. People are rightfully paranoid, especially when they see someone deliberately violating the law, and what Flight 93 taught us is that personal vigilance is heroic.

The fact that DISboarders are so disrespectful of the law, and moreover so self-motivated as to think their own personal needs trump the law (and I'm not really just referring to what is being discussed in this thread -- I've seen other messages in this forum, most notably from a very frequent flyer and long-time member, that prompts me to say this), makes me fearful for this country's future.

Let's let this judgmental aspect of the discussion drop, okay? Is it legal to bring milk aboard? No. Can you violate the law? Yes, sometimes.

Realistically though, she could say the TSA let her bring on the milk. Their website seems sufficiently vague to me. In fact, that's another way she could go. Just put the milk in bottles and bring it on. Lots of the TSA might let it through....just depends on the TSA individual. Which is of course part of the argument about the absurdity of this rule.

 

[bicker]

Your blind loyality to the government is inspiring!

Your disrespect for the trappings of civilized society (such as the law) is only exceeded by your disrespect of your fellow DIS poster, in this case disneyldwjr. You owe disneyldwjr an apology.

What does it remind me of?? Let's see....there was Germany in the '30s.....

Read up on Godwin's Law. You've just invoked it.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Realistically though, she could say the TSA let her bring on the milk. Their website seems sufficiently vague to me. In fact, that's another way she could go. Just put the milk in bottles and bring it on. Lots of the TSA might let it through....just depends on the TSA individual. Which is of course part of the argument about the absurdity of this rule.

Vague? I don't think so.

See http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm from which I'll quote two paragraphs:

Baby formula and breast milk are allowed in your carry-on baggage or personal items. You can take these through the security checkpoints and aboard your plane. However, you must be traveling with a baby or toddler. All items including formula or breast milk will be inspected.

Please note, that juice and all other liquids or gels are not permitted.​

OP wanted to carry on "sealed Horizon milk singles" — not Baby formula and breast milk.

Again, milk can be purchased for consumption in the airport terminal. And milk is available during beverage service (at least it is in American and United, and I suspect on all other airlines). Sure there might be a catering glitch now and then, but that would be the exception, not the rule.

 

[TravelinGal]

Let's let this judgmental aspect of the discussion drop, okay?

your own advice may well apply to you.


BACK ON TOPIC...

I agree with a pp that said milk can upset tummies. Does your toddler drink juice? (even diluted with water?) Especially if it's something you limit, that might make the flight even more special for DC. I've found straight apple juice gives DS very loose poos, but half juice and half water (which all airlines DO have - if there's a beverage service in the first place) does well for him. All airlines I've ever been on have had milk, but I haven't flown every single airline (and you didn't say which airline you are traveling on).

Hope you have a safe and PLEASANT flight. I know how traveling with toddlers can be!

 

[DJNOWICK]

Is it legal to bring milk aboard? No.

That is unclear from TSA's own website, Bicker, when you are talking about babies and toddlers (for which a 2yo qualifies). See my PP and contrast that with the one above about juice and other liquids not being ok -- both are directly from the TSA website. It comes down to how you interpret "other baby items."

TSA is VERY irregular about how they themselves interpret their own rules and much depends not only on the airport but the particular screener. In Islip on 8/14 they hand-checked for liquids before you board the plane, but ONLY if you were leaving the food court area. There was no hand-check in the normal baggage screening process.

I found that the word NO when used consistantly worked quite well with my children. It let them know who was in charge.

Right - you'll be the person glaring at said 2yo from across the aisle because she's upset that she can't drink anything during take-off...

Jackie