Worried about airports and RTF formula..

[HunnyJar]

So, my daughter has a protein allergy and is currently on Alimentum. It's an hypoallergenic formula and the only one she can take. She is also on the RTF or Ready-to-Feed version of this formula. The powdered version of Alimentum contains corn and unfortunately, she cannot take corn.

So here's my concern.. She eats about every 2.5-3 hours. Will airport security let us through with her bottles? Am I going to need a Dr.'s letter to get her formula through security? I've heard that some security stations are actually throwing away the filled baby bottles! I'm seriously worried about this and have no idea what to do at this point..

 

[mommy2princesses0309]

they are supposed to let formula through but who knows how things are now. we use the powder so i'm just carrying that through and buying water once we're through. i'm also carrying baby food.

to be on the safe side i'd get a letter from her dr. just in case. i have a letter from my dr. for my insulin pens and needles that i carry when i travel, though i've never needed it i feel covered for that just in case time!

good luck!

 

[justwinnie]

They should let you through-- just show them the formula before it goes through the xray machine.

I brought milk (in shelf-stable boxes) for my twins so there were 6 boxes of it and they let me through. They did ask how many kids I had since there were so many boxes of it though.

You might want to print this to bring with you in case they give you a hard time:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

 

[msmama]

Take it out of your carry-on and tell them you have it before-hand.

They'll take it aside and test it - they're not supposed to open sealed containers nor will they make you taste it.

My DS was BFed but I took medicine bottles and even a bottle of water through for him and that's what they did/said.

 

[HunnyJar]

Thank you for the tips. After hearing that some bottles were thrown out I became very worried. I still am worried to be honest. I'm definitely going to talk to my daughter's Dr. about carrying around a note of some sort, just to be on the safe side. We have a pretty long day of travel ahead for us (about 8-9 hours or so) and I just want to make sure my daughter is taken care of.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I've had problems with them allowing the amount of ready to feed formula I had..they were trying to limit what I could bring and take away the extra. I would definitely have a letter from your doctor. I also had a hypoallergenic formula that wasn't available in most stores. This was a year and a half ago...I would think its worse now

 

[kim_o]

I haven't had a problem with anything in a sippy cup or bottle, be it formula, bm, regular cows milk, water, juice. I just put my whole diaper bag threw security, they see it has liquie, they just test the outside of the bag (takes two seconds) and they sent me on my way. I never even had to take the cups out of the bag. I just flew this week and the sippy cups had 12 oz. of milk in them.

 

[dmbfan]

I have a 9 year old that is tube feed, so we travel with ready to use, open the can formula to pour in his backpack and it if the can is closed, they usually do not have an issue with it. If I were you, I would get a note from the dr saying you need to travel with the ready to use cans, and NOT put them into bottles until you are ready to use them. That way they see they formula has not been opened yet.

With my son's backpack, they have to wand his pump, and the outside of the bag that the formula was in...so if you can leave them in the cans, than leave it in the cans until your child is ready to eat. We also ship his formual and other IV needs to the place we are staying so we do not have travel with ALL his supplies.

Good Luck and enjoy your trip..

 

[roobug]

I would definatly get a dr's note. I had them confiscate almost all my breastmilk on a cross country trip this fall. I have twins, and they only let me keep one bottle for each of them! I was in tears and freaking out because they eat way more then that, but none of the TSA people would let more then one bottle each through. Thankfully they nurse so they didn't starve but take offs and landings where no fun as I could only feed one at a time

I have traveled many times and this was the first time I've had an issue with it - I think it really depends on the people you get and if they are feeling power hungry or annoying. Even with a print out of the TSA regulations they don't have to let BM through - it is at their discression, so get the dr's note just to be covered. Most likely you won't need it but you don't want to be in a situation where you get the one annoying person who refuses you and you don't have a dr's note.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I agree with the poster who said not to put the formula in bottles. Leave it in the sealed cans when going through security so they can see exactly what it is and that it has not been opened. You can pour it into bottles after you get through security.

 

[HunnyJar]

Thanks again for all the advice.. Flying really is our only option, but boy it seems like they just keep making it tougher on parents with infants/toddlers and those with disablities. I'm going to try to keep as positive as possible, this is for security reasons after all, but it's not super easy to be so upbeat about this as I would have liked!

I'll talk to our daughter's Dr. next week and get a note and it does make sense to travel with an unopened bottle of Alimentum. I'm crossing my fingers that we won't get anyone who is feeling prickly or power hungry that day as well. I just have to find a baby cooler that will fit six bottles now.

We haven't booked our flight yet, but generally we take a two hour flight to Denver and then a five-six hour flight to Orlando.. That's a long day for anyone! Hopefully, we'll arrive in one piece and ready to see Mickey the following day.

 

[bonoriffic]

Usually at least 1 lane of one of the security areas is designated as a family lane. Use that, and declare you liquids, bottles, powder, etc. ahead of time.

TSA employees don't all come in one size and level of understanding of their own rules. If you see one of them as being a problem on a power trip, pack your stuff up and head to another security location.