Can you bring soy milk on the plane?

[CrzyforPiglet]

We just found out our 13 month son is allergic to milk so we've switched him to soy. I did a forum search and know they have soy milk available at WDW and that some stores also carry it in juice boxes that don't have to be refrigerated which is great and I'll be looking for some today. Now I'm wondering if we'll be able to bring a couple of boxes on the plane with us. It isn't technically formula but I wouldn't think that you could get soy milk after the airport security checkpoint. Has anyone tried to bring soy milk through security and what happened? I also e-mailed the TSA to see what the official answer is but I was hoping to hear of some first hand experiences.

Thanks much!
Laurie

 

[Kuffam]

I would get a note from your doctor, it might make things go easier. You might want to let the airline know too, they might supply some for the flight.

 

[tjmw2727]

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/airtravel/children/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.

If your flight is short maybe you can get by with juice purchased after the security area since you can carry on liquids purchased at the gate.

Another thought is to use the powdered soy follow up type forumla. My youngest can't drink milk and we ended up using that until she was about 18mos when we switched over. You can bring the powder and then purchase water to mix.

Honestly though if you can get buy without it I usually avoided giving my dd's too much milk or dairy prior to a flight in case of air sickness. The dairy won't make them sick but if they do get sick it makes things much more unpleasant to deal with

Good luck and have a save flight.

TJ

 

[DISNEYFOS]

My DD drinks Soy as well. We typically pack enough of the single serving Silk Vanilla Soy in our suitcase (doesn't need to be refrigerated) for the week. We just recently stayed at the Pop Century and the food court had Soy...but I had looked for it at the store at the Boardwark before and was unable to find it. So you should not count on it being available. You could also arrange for the grocery delivery services to deliver some to your room.

I did not try to bring any on the plane. I figured we could give her some before we left and then another when we arrived with our suitcase (she typically only has 2-8oz glasses a day)..water or juice would be fine for the plane.

I agree with the person that said get a doctors note if you need it on the plane...Medically necessary liquids were an exception.

Actually if he drinks it from a bottle still..ummm...how are they going to know its not formula???

Hope that helps!!

 

[sully7]

My sister went to WDW in Oct and needed to bring a certain kind of soy milk along (my nephew will only drink certain kinds and she couldn't be sure what would be available!)

They packed a suitcase with boxes of the soy milk each packed in a ziploc bag in case of breakage. On the way home thay used the suitcase for gifts etc.

My thought is bring what you need! Put it in the packed luggage and get a fridge for the room (warm soy milk is not exactly yummy!) You will have no big expense from either the grocery store delivery or have to buy it at the hotels (which is iffy at best, and pricey!) Most of the restaraunts have a milk free alternative either soy or at the least juice.

 

[fakereadhed]

Not to start anything, but moms should not have to worry about stuff like this on a flight. Makes me really

Sorry, had to vent.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

Thanks everyone! We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so I'll ask her about giving me a note. Believe it or not our son has only just started drinking juice b/c for some reason he really didn't have a taste for it. He won't take a pacifier so we always give him a bottle during liftoff and landing so that his ears will pop! I think we'll either put some in a couple of bottles and say its formula and take some empties with us and maybe give him juice.

Not to start anything, but moms should not have to worry about stuff like this on a flight. Makes me really

Sorry, had to vent.

I couldn't agree more. On our last flight in September I had to get special clearance at security to bring pedialite (the single serving bottles no less) and had our small tube of balmex confiscated. We were told the balmex had to have been prescribed to bring it.

Laurie

 

[tjmw2727]

Not to start anything, but moms should not have to worry about stuff like this on a flight. Makes me really

Sorry, had to vent.

Yep - I am all for safety but some of this is just silly.

OP - if the soy is in a bottle you "should" be fine. They are not supposed to question you about it or make you d "taste" it. OTOH some overzelous TSA agents just won't allow any liquid through. (Other than the 3.4oz bottles in the zip lock of course!) I would consider brining the printout from the TSA website but if you get a TSA agent that want's to hassle you that may not be any help.

If for any reason you can't bring the soy onboard and he won't drink juice don't worry. Any swallow will help with the ears, in fact some people do better with chew and swallow than sipping. Bring some cheerios or even some of the baby fruit chews if appropriate. This is a nice alternative in case he just dosen't feel like having a drink! Beware that the takeoff is usually less of a problem than the landing.

TJ