Question about Pediasure on planes

[katie111]

My son is 3 years old but is very small for his age & has had a "failure to thrive" medical diagnosis. Basically, he's totally healthy but he just doesn't like to eat much at all. He drinks Pediasure 3-4 times a day out of a bottle (the only way he will drink it). He won't drink regular milk.

My question is, since he's not a baby, will they let me bring cans of it on an airplane? Do you think a Dr's note will help? We're doing he Magical Express so I won't have access to my luggage for probably 6-7 hours. I know he'll want at least 2 bottles in that time. Usually I just bring an empty bottle & the cans, do you think pouring into the bottle beforehand would help?

 

[dana1003]

we have 3 year old twins and one of my girls is only 19pds.shes done all the blood tests,xrays,food diaries, you name it and they cant figure out why she gains so slowly , besides that ,shes healthy. her twin is almost 35pds but believe it or not their height is really close. good question about the pediasure..i would try to get a doctors note..we also are doing the ME and im more worried about them having "accidents".they're basically potty trained but once in a while they forget. keep me posted on what the outcome is

 

[disneymom225]

Bump!
Glad to know there are kids out there smaller than my DD. She's about 25 lbs @ 2 1/2 and we have been through EVERY test imaginable to figure out why she does not gain weight. The disgonis- fast metabolism (lucky thing!!!)- anyway we are travelling in Feb and I didn't even think about this! So I'm interested in knowing the outcome!

 

[katie111]

Good to hear I'm not the only one! My son was 24.5 at his 3 year appt. He's also short for his age, he's in the bottom 10 percentile. I just feel bad for him as other kids think he's so much younger and many times won't talk or play with him. Luckily he can be persistant so eventually they figure out that he's not a baby but I hate to see him being ignored. Adults do it too, i.e. waitresses always look at me when its his turn to order. An understandable mistake but still hard for a mother.

 

[mommyceratops]

Had to say Hi! My DS6 is growth hormone deficiant. (FTT too) He still LOVES Pediasure and drinks 5 cans a day, he would do more if I could afford it. LOL

I read somewhere that you can take drinks on board if you (mom or dad) drink it first? There is also the generic I have seen at Wal Mart in a powder you could mix with water if he will drink that. You could take that on the plane

The next option would be to call the airline and have a perscription from the doctor with you. People still have to take medicine and diabetic needles on the plane.

I would also call you local airport security and find out what they recommend you do.

I had to do this when we flew last year with my sons growth hormone shots. I took a letter from my doctor and documentation it was legit. I didn't get asked once for it but I had it if they asked.

Good luck!

 

[Love the Mouse]

When we were there in Sept. DD(2) got sick our last day there. She was vomiting each time she ate and really not keeping much down.

The front desk CM at the Boardwalk had someone open the store for DH to get some pedialyte. I was afraid that when we got to the airport they wouldn't let me bring it on the plane.

We explained that DD had a high fever and was vomiting. The actually let me bring the Tylenol (was 4oz) so it was it was okay. As for the Pedialyte...they let me bring that on as well. It wasn't opened and I asked at both the ticket counter and security.

I would get a Dr's note and call the airline just to be on the safe side. It certainly can't hurt.

Good luck.

Michaela

 

[all4fun]

My son is 3 years old but is very small for his age & has had a "failure to thrive" medical diagnosis. Basically, he's totally healthy but he just doesn't like to eat much at all. He drinks Pediasure 3-4 times a day out of a bottle (the only way he will drink it). He won't drink regular milk.

My question is, since he's not a baby, will they let me bring cans of it on an airplane? Do you think a Dr's note will help? We're doing he Magical Express so I won't have access to my luggage for probably 6-7 hours. I know he'll want at least 2 bottles in that time. Usually I just bring an empty bottle & the cans, do you think pouring into the bottle beforehand would help?

First of all, I can relate a little bit at least. My ds isn't FTT, but he does have oral aversion issues and would probably be FTT if it weren't for the exta calories we're able to get him to take via his special milk mixture we make him (w/CIB & half & half). He won't drink Pediasure for some reason.

We flew last month (Sept 16th), and TSA would not let us through security with ds's "special blend" in a sippy cup. Fortunately, he refused to let us throw it out and stood there and drank the whole thing (about 8oz) right in front of the TSA agent. (he's in this whole "Mine" phase which really worked out for us in this instance, lol). I think she wanted to let us through but it would have technically been breaking a rule so she couldn't. On the one hand, I'm glad they take security very seriously, On the other hand, it seemed a bit silly since he was drinking it right in front of them. But it was in a sippy cup, not a bottle...I'm not sure a bottle would have helped since ds doesn't look like a baby any more.

My point is, they are real sticklers so definitely bring a doctors note with you. Putting it in a bottle first might help, but then would you have to keep it cold? I don't think they will allow ice or ice packs through unless they're to keep medicine cold, so that might create another problem for you.

ETA: According to the TSA website on Traveling with Children

September 25, 2006

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 wil be inspected.
.....
Canned, jarred, or processed baby food is permitted in your carry-on baggage and aboard your plane.

I would still get a doctors note though, just so your covered. And I would also print the TSA page linked above in case they question you about it for some reason.

hth and best of luck!

 

[tjmw2727]

If you want to put some in your checked bags that will be fine just be careful about the weight of the peice. Unfortunately you will not be able to carry it through security with you for him to drink on the aircraft.

Here is all the latest information on the travel retrictions:
http://www.tsa.gov/#home-col-a

We flew the first of this month and anything that wasn't 3oz or less and in a quart size baggie had to be thrown out.

As far as having the pediasure during your vacation, since your using ME I would either purchase a case and have it shipped directly to the resort where it will be waiting for you or use a grocery delivery service. I used www.wegoshop in April and October and they were wonderful. In addition to the pediasure you can have snacks, soda, breakfast and lunch items and fruits delivered.

As far as the flight, unfortunately you will not be able to bring the pediasure past the security checkpoint even in a baby bottle. I guess it won't hurt to try but be prepared to discard it and have an alternative. Based on my experience flying 2x since the August restrictions they don't make exceptions and you won't want to be arguing with them (IMHO!).

You will be able to purchase other beverages after security to take onboard and the FA's will be serving drinks and snacks as well. Hopefully he will be happy with a drink of juice, milk or chocolate milk or water during the flight. Make it an adventure perhaps? If necessary he can have some prior to your going through security.

TJ

 

[POOHDRMR]

We just traveled on October 2 with pediasure.My nephew is 5 and drinks pediasure out of baby bottles.It is his main source of nourishment.When we left from NY they just did extra screening and checked the unopened plastic bottles and let us through.When we came home through Orlando we had to declare it - which was easy they checked it and had to fill out a paper.They told us that they had changed the rule while we were away and now any baby food or formula has to be declared.When I checked the tsa website it still lists the changes made on Sept 25 that you can now carry any formula or food needed for the trip onboard and does not talk about declaring it.Either way it only took an extra few minutes to be checked and it should be no problem. We had 3 plastic bottles each way.We poured it after going through security.My sister also brought 8 cases checked in suitcases for the remainder of the trip. It would be far to expensive to have them shipped to the room since he receives the pediasure through a prescription paid for by the insurance company.

 

[katie111]

Thanks everyone for the info. Where did you have to declare it, at the ticket counter or going through the security gate? Did you have to bring a prescription with you to show them?

 

[karenTX]

We just got back and had the issue to deal with. I sent ahead the weeks worth of Pediasure to the hotel. I had DD's doctor write a prescription for the Pediasure explaining the why's about it. I didn't have to declare anything GOING to Orlando but had to declare it coming back. The security guy wrote it on the back of my boarding pass. But going both ways, I had 2 cans of it and a sippy cup full of it. No one made me through anything out. Actually, it was all pretty easy! Hope it goes as well for you!

 

[POOHDRMR]

They declared it at the security check point for us too and the cans for the plane didn't have the prescription label on them only the ones packed in the suitcases had the label that was still on the outside wrappers from the pharmacy.Don't stress yourself it was really painless! Go have fun!!!!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I didn't carry PediaSure but I did have a can of Gerber Graduates food (the little lunch bucket type things). I was never questioned about those. I would take them and get a Dr.'s note to be safe. I would only take exactly what you need so if they make you throw them out, you're not losing that much. I would also ship them or have wegoshop or gardengrocer delivery them to your room.