Warning for those traveling with Formula

[Not so Dumbo]

Flying out of Detroit we didn't have any problems with baby formula or water in a bottle, but coming back from Orlando the TSA agent said no water in the bottle. Either dump it out in front of her or mix it with the baby formula right there. Aparently, even one baby bottle of water is too much for a baby to have.

 

[littlelaura]

Dh and 3 of our dks were already through and putting on their shoes. I was standing holding an infant. He called his supervisor and she said "nope, you can't take it. These is no way she needs 3 bottles."

we will be travelling via MCO in April. Being from the UK, we'll have an 8 hour flight ahead of us, so i was hoping to use the ready to drink formula cartons. if these get taken off of us, will i be able to buy replacements once past security?

 

[NotUrsula]

Formula is very hard to find in most airports, though MCO probably does have some available. However, it should not be an issue, because you ARE allowed to carry on formula; however much that you judge that you need to cover contingincies for the itinerary. People who try to confiscate it are exceeding their authority.

Here is TSA's statement on the subject: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

 

[mrsltg]

Of course you are just joking - and know that terrorists were planning on smuggling liquid explosives on flights, and that's why your containers were not allowed on board. The cabin doors on the planes have been reinforced so you can't get to the pilots, BTW

And of course you know the level of liquid explosives needed to take down a plane is in the range of several gallons, coupled with something to ignite it. No, you are not safer because the TSA confiscated someone's shampoo or made the rest of the traveling public secure their toiletries in quart sized Ziploc bags.

 

[RangerPooh]

Our experiences with airports have been hit or miss when carrying formula. We haven't had any problems flying (so far) out of Santa Ana, Seattle, MCO, Spokane, San Jose, Hawaii, and Portland. However, Oakland, Ca was a different story. I had to dump out every bottle (6 8oz bottles!) because 1. there was more than 3 oz of liquid, and 2. the bottles wouldn't fit inot a sandwhich bag. That meant that the only formula that I had on me were 2 formula sticks, for a grand total of 8 oz when combined. Definately not enough for a 2 hour flight and 3 hour drive on top of that. I agrued with the TSA agent who was getting very angry with me. DH was afriad that I would be kept from reaching my flight over the issue. I told her that by doing this my baby would starve. She didn't care. What's wrong with these people? Why do some airports let you through while others don't? There needs to be a standing policy for all, consistency is needed!

Has anyone ever seen an airport sell formula? I haven't, so it would only make sense to allow bottles. I mean most of us don't enjoy carrying the large cans of powdered formula to guarentee that our children won't starve. So why don't they just let it though?

 

[peemagg]

If you look at the TSA website they even have a video of what to expect in regards to formula. In fact as long as you declare that you have the formula and that all your other things (hand cream, shampoo, etc) in the right amounts and correct baggy then you shouldn't have much of a problem. We will be traveling with three babies in January and are planning to just bring empty cups and bottles and packets of formula. We will then get bottled water after we get thru security.

 

[Eeyore2142]

We just flew back through ORD on November 4. I had about 6-8 RTF 8oz bottles of formula with me and some pedialyte. We had no issues - I made sure to declare to the agent. Now, my cast iron tea pot that I bought at EPCOT was another issue - they almost took that.

 

[tjmw2727]

Wow - its sad that the TSA agents are so uncaring and or misinformed about their own rules.

For those traveling again or in the future you CAN bring baby formula or expressed breastmilk through security and onto the aircraft and it is not subject to the 3oz rule.

NotUrsula provided the link above that takes you directly to the TSA's wesite stating such. Her suggestion to print a copy and take it along is a good one. Normally I would not suggest arguing with a TSA agent but in this case ask for a supervisor and have the printed copy with you as they are wrong in not allowing formula.

TJ

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Wow - its sad that the TSA agents are so uncaring and or misinformed about their own rules.

For those traveling again or in the future you CAN bring baby formula or expressed breastmilk through security and onto the aircraft and it is not subject to the 3oz rule.

NotUrsula provided the link above that takes you directly to the TSA's wesite stating such. Her suggestion to print a copy and take it along is a good one. Normally I would not suggest arguing with a TSA agent but in this case ask for a supervisor and have the printed copy with you as they are wrong in not allowing formula.

TJ

Unfortunately having a copy might not help, the TSA agent wasn't arguing that Formula wasn't allowed just that we had an excessive amount. And apparently, he was going to decide what we needed. I did try to educate him on the FAA regulations. My husband did present him with an interesting dilemma..We were traveling with family. So once he said how much we could bring on.. My husband said OK, then I will carry 12 oz, My Sister will carry 12 Oz with her, My Brother in law will carry 12 oz with him. etc.. start splitting it up. The guy realized he wasn't going to win. I'm not sure what exactly he was trying to win. "Let see who can starve an infant!!"


If your baby is able to tolerate powdered formula (some babies with reflux are not), that probably is the best solution to this. However, you might need to be careful about which spring water you choose to mix with. My Ped office has a listing of local spring waters and the levels of flouride each contain. Infants aren't supposed to have flouride. Lord knows how you are supposed to figure out the right spring water to chose in another state.

I did like the idea of bringing a prescription from the Ped if you need ready to feed.. Meds are not subject to their ridiculous rule.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I know this thread is a couple of days old now, but I'm curious: Those who had trouble getting formula or water through security-was it separate from your carry-on and did you declare it? I ask because I've flown 4 times (DTW and MCO) in the last couple of months (last being a couple of days ago) and never was my bottles with water in them to mix formula even given a second glance. I had it in a separate case, handed it to them and told them it was for the baby. That was it. They did one time yell "baby supplies coming through!"

They did, however, dig through my backpack for several minutes with a flashlight in Detroit. I asked "did I put something in there I shouldn't have?" and the guy just smiled and said "I don't think so", so I have no idea what that was about.

 

[thepeach80]

Ours was in our diaper bag, and we told them ahead of time we had it. Their problem w/ us were the sealed bottles of water we wanted to take on to mix her formula w/. They had no problems w/ the 8? juice boxes we carried on, just the water. Thankfully we had no problems w/ the extra formula either b/c it's rx and I can't just pick it up anywhere. They probably would've had to arrest me had they wanted to mess w/ that! Again, we had no problems at one airport and problems at the next.

 

[Amyshubby]

It's too bad I am not an airport screener. I would have opened one bottle, then let you right on the plane because I could have verified you were telling the truth. Anyone who has come into contact with Alimentum would know what it is. My son was on it six years ago and I swear I can STILL smell that awful stuff!