water in baby bottles for formula and TSA

[wendyoconnor]

I have a feeling I know the answer to this question but I would like to see what parents have actually experienced

I have read the TSA website tons of times and no where does it say anything about bringing water in baby bottles for powdered formula.

I checked out the premixed formula at the store and all of it needs to be refrigerated after opening which is unrealistic in an airport. My DD drinks 6 ounce bottles so the 8 ounce or 4 ounce bottles of the premixed won't work. I couldn't find the small two ounce four packs which is what I was going to do.

I could make the bottles at home and keep them in her cooler bag but she won't take refrigerator cold bottles. She goes from not hungry to hungry in 30 seconds. She doesn't have to have warm bottles, she is fine with room temp.

I really want to fill the bottles at home with water and dump in the pre-measured formula. My gut feeling is that the TSA won't let me do that.

So I guess buying a bottle of water or two after security is the best option?

 

[tigercat]

Yes. Buy the water at the airport.
tigercat

 

[Janepod]

I used to buy the single-serve bottles for my son (Enfamil? Similac? Can't remember.) They do not need to be refrigerated and security always let me bring them through.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'd just make up a little lunch box sized cooler of bottles, add a cooler pack, and then take one out and put it on the side about 30 minutes before the earliest she'd be hungry. As long as the bottle isn't contaminated by being drunk out of, it will be fine for up to 2 hours at room temp.

 

[ilovefh]

When DS and I would fly I would take the on the single serve powder packs and buy water on the other side of security. Most times I'd ask them if they had water they had not refrigerated.

I think the packs are 4 ounces.

 

[SandrA9810]

Don't even bother, they open and test the bottles of formulas. Plus it'll add a ton of time to the screening process. You'll have enough on your hands with a little one. Make it as easy as possible for yourself. Plus the cost of those little bottles will out weigh the overprice bottles of water in the airport.

I had to have my bag double checked because I had a jar. There was a mom next to me that had bottles of pedisure and some other things for her child that the TSA was opening and testing. I would be annoyed to have a bottle wasted because it couldn't be refrigerated after opening.

 

[clh2]

After you pass through security, would you be able to fill up the bottles at a "soda" fountain - most fountains have a "Water" button close to where the lemonade or iced tea dispensers are.

 

[Teacup53]

I've taken waterbottles to fill premeasured formula bottles through security both going out of providence and home from MCO. as long as you have a baby you shouldn't have an issue. They put the water in a machine to measure the weight but didn't open it.
Hopefully you won't have an issue. It should fall underthe "other liquid" catergory. http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-children
Good luck.

 

[malibuconlee]

This is one of those things where everyone seems to have had a different experience. I've had different experiences with different airports on the same trip.

It's easiest to just bring the powder and buy a bottle of water. Flight attendants were always very accommodating when I asked for water for a bottle. As for temperature, I started with room temp, but my daughter would take a bottle at any temp. Many times you can get a room temp bottle at one of the newstand/bookstores in the airport.

Not knowing how TSA will handle it I would suggest taking a couple of bottles with you from home and just be prepared to toss them at security.

As for pre-mixed. One way I was fine and after much discussion between agents they just swabbed the outside of the bottle to test for whatever. ON the return trip, at a smaller airport they said they didn't have the same machine and wanted to open to test...which we all know means it's worthless unless eaten right then. We tossed it and used powdered. Bring powder regardless!

 

[Minnesota!]

I would just take powder and empty bottles thru and then fill up the bottles at a water fountain after security. It will get to room temp as you wait.

 

[stargazer2892]

It really really depends on the TSA agent you have to deal with. My DBIL was able to bring sippycups full of juice through no problem they just swabbed the outside. When I flew with DS when he was 11 months I just pre-measured some formula (we used playtex drop ins) and brought a reusable empty water bottle through then filled it up once we got passed. We also had extra formula in ziplock baggies, nipples, and liners for the just in case. He was also eating puree's which we bought the squeeze ones and they just swabbed around the lid on those. However we just got back from Maine and had applesauce packets (more then the 3oz's allowed) and I fully expected them to swab those, neither Logan or Charlotte did.

I would just either fill a water bottle up after the gate (I have a large 32oz one that we brought and had no problems filling it up with water) or if your baby is used to bottled then buying a few bottles.

 

[stargazer2892]

It really really depends on the TSA agent you have to deal with. My DBIL was able to bring sippycups full of juice through no problem they just swabbed the outside. When I flew with DS when he was 11 months I just pre-measured some formula (we used playtex drop ins) and brought a reusable empty water bottle through then filled it up once we got passed. We also had extra formula in ziplock baggies, nipples, and liners for the just in case. He was also eating puree's which we bought the squeeze ones and they just swabbed around the lid on those. However we just got back from Maine and had applesauce packets (more then the 3oz's allowed) and I fully expected them to swab those, neither Logan or Charlotte did.

I would just either fill a water bottle up after the gate (I have a large 32oz one that we brought and had no problems filling it up with water) or if your baby is used to bottled then buying a few bottles. I miss flying with out kids, it's so much easier.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I'm flying next month with my four month old and I will be bringing my pre-measured powder formula container (the one with different compartments holding the pre-measured formula for whatever size bottle your baby takes) and a couple bottles. Plan on buying bottled water at the airport. I'm also going to have a little tiny bottle of dish soap in my diaper bag so I can wash the bottles as I go...I don't like traveling with a bunch of stuff.

 

[2binak]

When DS and I would fly I would take the on the single serve powder packs and buy water on the other side of security. Most times I'd ask them if they had water they had not refrigerated.

I think the packs are 4 ounces.

This is exactly what we did, buy non-refrigerated water after the security check point.