Traveling with children can be stressful, even for the most seasoned traveller. There is so much to think about, especially with babies or toddlers. For some mums, this can be anxiety-provoking. So many questions might be running through your head, such as what if my baby cries for the whole plane journey? What if my toddler runs off? What if I have forgotten something? What if I have to deal with wrongful imprisonment for bringing something onboard that I shouldn’t?
We can’t address all of those questions in this article but at the very least we should be able to alleviate any concerns you have over bringing milk or baby food onto the plane. Whilst the final decision always rests with airport security officers, we can offer some advice. Furthermore, there can be local differences so you can always check with local airports before you fly if you have any concerns.
The current rules are that you can only carry containers of 100ml or 3oz and that they must be carried in a clear, zip-top bag. Only one clear bag is allowed per person and the bag must be sealed. When you go through security the zip-top bag must be scanned separately from the rest of your luggage. However, do not put milk or baby food in 100 ml or 3 oz containers. These can be dealt with separately. You do, however, need to declare everything which you have brought with you.
Baby food and milk are exempt from these regulations. The rule is that you may bring enough baby food for the flight in your hand luggage. Although how much that is largely down to interpretation. There are cases where security has decided that people are carrying too much milk or food for the flight and parents or caregivers have been made to leave some behind. So, the best thing is to bring only what you need. You can always bring food, such as bananas which can be mashed on the plane and won’t be affected by rules regarding gels and liquids.
Another important thing to note is that if you are bringing baby food then they will expect you to have a baby with you. So, don’t let someone else go ahead with your child. If you are carrying the food, stay by your child as well to avoid any hold-ups.
When it comes to powdered formula, there are no restrictions as to how much you can bring on board with you. However, there are restrictions around water. The best thing to do is to get through security and buy some water afterwards.
Breast milk can also be brought on the plane, so long as you declare it. Regulations have recently changed and now even if you do not have your child with you, you can still bring breast milk onto the plane.
Any medicines for your baby, however, still need to meet standard guidelines. So long as you only bring what you need you shouldn’t have a problem traveling with milk or baby food. So at least that should be one less thing to worry about.
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