Baby food for flight travel
3 Easy Tips to Meet The TSA Baby Food Guidelines
October 20, 2020 By Alexandra Maloney
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Bringing your little one along for a trip is a great way to bond and make lifelong family memories. Flying with your baby doesn’t need to be intimidating or stressful, and neither does getting their food through TSA. Your baby’s food is the most important thing you’ll travel with, and you’re permitted to bring frozen and bottled breast milk, as well as juices and formula for your baby on planes. All you need to do is plan ahead and budget more time at the airport!
TSA policies regarding baby food
TSA allows baby food in your carry-on bag — don’t leave your child’s food in your checked bag and risk it all getting lost in transit! Pack your formula, breast milk or juice in TSA pouches. When you arrive at TSA with your carry-on full of baby food, be sure to inform the TSA agent that you are traveling with the food before you begin your screening process. TSA will ask you to take these items out of your bag and will screen them through a separate process.
All formula, breast milk and juice will go through an X-ray screening process, the same one as your checked bag. TSA may need to test your liquids for explosives or concealed prohibited items and may request you to open them. If you don’t want your baby food open, you can deny this request — additional steps will be taken by TSA to ensure they’re safe for travel without opening.
Formula, breast milk and juices are an exemption under the 3-1-1 liquids rule for flying. This means that you can bring them in quantities greater than 3.4 oz, which is not the case for most other liquids going through TSA. Additionally, TSA allows ice packs and freezer packs for the purpose of freezing baby food — you can line a cooler bag with these to keep your baby food fresh!
If you’re flying with a toddler, you can bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred, and processed food along in carry-on baggage.
Tips for getting baby food through TSA without hassle
Make traveling with baby food quick and easy!
Determine how much food you’ll need to travel with in advance
No one knows your baby better than you — you know when your baby needs to eat! Before your trip, think about how long you’ll be gone, how many times and the amount your baby eats per day. Plan to bring at least this much food for your trip!
For parents that pump, consider pre-pumping and freezing some breast milk, and bring your pump with you to supplement the rest. For parents using formula, pre-package your baby’s food in TSA baby food pouches and store them away for the trip.
Pack your baby food well & keep it with you
TSA allows ice packs, freezer packs and the like for baby food — take advantage of this! Make sure you’re packing your cooler bag tightly and putting as many of these as you need inside to keep your food frozen.
Since baby food is allowed in your carry-on bag, be sure to keep your eye on it at all times.
Don’t let it leave your sight when it’s going through TSA or in the airport in general — your baby needs it and unless you’re on a very short flight, they’ll probably need to eat on the plane.
Insider Tip: Some airlines, like Southwest, allow babies and young toddlers to travel for free! Always be sure to check if there’s a child fare when booking your flight.
Give yourself extra time to go through security
Because of all the policies TSA has surrounding baby food, it’s important to give yourself extra time when traveling with it. You might need to jump through a few hoops to get it past TSA, and all food needs to be separately screened. This applies especially if you plan to bring a large amount of baby food on the plane. It’s better to be safe than sorry in this case — make sure you get your baby food through security and make your flight with plenty of time to spare!
FAQ for traveling with baby food
Can you bring squeezable baby food on a plane?
Yes! Squeezable pouches, jars or cans of baby food are all allowed on the plane and adhere to the same rules as breast milk, juices and formula.
You can even bring gel or liquid-filled teething rings and toys for your little ones on the plane!
How much baby food can you take on a plane?
TSA allows baby food in “reasonable quantities” on planes. Basically, this means there is no strict cut-off for how much food you can bring on the plane. Bring only the amount of baby food your baby needs for the trip and you shouldn’t have any problems getting through security.
Can I bring water for baby formula on a plane?
Yes! Again, water for baby formula and babies is permitted by TSA in “reasonable quantities” in carry-on bags. The water for your baby formula will have to undergo the same screening process as the other foods you bring for your baby, but you shouldn’t have any trouble getting it onto the plane.
Bottom line
Whether you’re solo parent traveling or tag-teaming it with little ones, getting your baby’s food through TSA can be a stress-free and hassle-free process. TSA allows formula, breast milk and juices in quantities that exceed 3.
4oz, which is the typical rule, and you’ll be able to bring stocked cooler bags as well if needed. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get through security and have the food screened properly, plus keep it in your carry-on bag to make sure you have it with you whenever your baby needs it. After that, all that’s left to do is enjoy your trip with a happy and full baby!
Alexandra Maloney is a contributor for Million Mile Secrets where she covers points and miles, credit cards, airlines, hotels, and general travel. She's worked as a writing consultant for the University of Richmond and is a features writer for The Collegian UR.
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Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
TSA Baby Food & Formulae Rules (Plus Tips for Flying)
It’s finally time for your baby’s first trip on an airplane.
Luggage is packed, the itinerary is planned, and the camera is ready to snap a million first-time family travel photos. But what about food for the flight?
While traveling with a baby, one of the biggest concerns for us parents is making sure that our little ones are well-fed and comfortable. Especially if the flight is going to be a long one.
A full tummy keeps your munchkin happy and playful, which is the best-case scenario while you’re up in the air.
TSA Baby Food & Formulae Rules (Plus Tips for Flying)
The TSA is pretty strict about what you can and what you cannot carry on the plane. Especially liquids. But baby foods are an exception. If you follow their rules and guidelines properly, there should be no hassle in carrying your baby food and baby formula past the security and onto the flight.
Can You Bring Baby Food on an Airplane?
Anyone traveling with an infant is allowed to pack baby food, milk, and juice for the flight into a carry-on.
While the TSA has strict rules about other liquids and foods allowed on the plane, baby food and formulae are less restricted. You may bring as much baby food as you need.
Tip: Check out what we like to use for packing baby food for the airplane.
TSA Rules for Baby Food
The TSA aims to protect passengers while traveling. Which is why they are so particular about the items in your carry-on bags.
They have a list of food and liquids that are allowed on the plane, as well as how much. However, not all of the rules apply to baby food and liquids, regulations are quite simple for infants:
- You must be traveling with the baby to carry food (obviously)
- Keep your baby food and other liquid carry-on items separate
- Inform the TSA officer that you are carrying these liquid food items at the checkpoint
Traveling with Formula and Baby Food
It’s always a good idea to know in advance what you’ll be required to do at the airport in terms of security procedures while traveling with formula and baby food.
1. Notify the TSA When Traveling with an Infant
Just as you need to remove your laptops from your carry-on bag during the screening process at the airport, the same is required of baby food as well.
At the security checkpoint, take your formulae, juices, breast milk, and other baby foods that may be in the liquid form out of your bags. They will be screened separately.
You will have to inform the TSA officer before the screening that you’re traveling with a toddler and are carrying liquid baby foods in excess of the permitted limit.
2. Liquid Rule Exemption for Baby Food on Planes
Typically, the permitted quantity of liquids that you can carry on a plane is 3.4 ounces(100 milliliters). But when it comes to baby food, this is often not nearly enough for a full flight.
Thankfully, the TSA understands this and allows you to travel with as much as you need.
In addition, if you need to carry additional paraphernalia such as ice and frozen gel packs to keep your baby food fresh, you’re allowed to do so.
But they are subject to the same screening process as the rest of your baby food items.
3. Screening Process for Baby Food and Baby Formulae
The TSA officers need to be absolutely sure that the liquids that you’re carrying are safe for the other passengers on the flight. Hence, they are screened thoroughly for concealed prohibited items.
You might even be asked to open the bottle and dispose of a little bit or transfer it to another empty container, which is also screened.
If you’re specific about the fact that the bottle must not be opened before consumption, you can inform the TSA officer and they will find an alternate method of screening. You may then have to undergo a more vigorous check yourself before they clear you to carry your baby formula on the plane.
4. TSA PreCheck with Kids
When you’re traveling with baby formula, it’s always better to get TSA PreCheck. This will help you get a Trusted Traveler Number, which means that you qualify for expedited screening.
TSA PreCheck queues are much shorter relatively and you have to spend very little time awaiting your turn. In addition, you don’t need to take off your shoes and your laptops can stay put in your carry-on bags.
But the biggest advantage for people flying with baby food pouches and breast milk is that they do not need to take these contents out of their bags. Sure, the bags are screened from the outside for detecting explosives, but that’s about it. Your formula can stay arranged in the bag and doesn’t need to be taken out until it’s time to feed your baby.
Having said that, you may still be asked to remove the baby food pouches and bottles from your bag under certain circumstances.
5. Carrying Water to Make Baby Food on the Airplane
Since you’re traveling with baby food, you’re definitely going to need water to make fresh formula when your little peanut gets hungry. It’s advisable to buy bottled water after the check-in point from an authorized vendor, instead of bringing it from home.
While the TSA does not restrict carrying food items for your little ones, they may want you to discard the water, as it’s easily available beyond the check-in point. You can carry an empty thermos along with you which can easily be filled at the many water fountains at the airport.
Another alternative would be to ask your flight attendant for a sealed water bottle before mixing up your formula. Avoid using tap water from the bathroom faucets of the airplane as it’s not considered safe for your child’s sensitive tummy.
6. Pre-Preparation when Flying with Baby Formulae
It’s essential to be prepared for your baby’s hunger needs on the airplane. Preparing a bottle in a small space, with a baby on your lap or playing next to you isn't ideal.
You may have no choice, for an emergency feed, but try to have as many of your feeds already planned for and portioned into bottles. That way, you will only have to pour water into them later, eliminating the need to deal with loose powder.
This will also save you the hassle of additional screening by the TSA as your baby food will not be in the liquid form at the time of check-in.
Tip: You might be also interested in reading our article about tips for surviving the trip with your little one here.
How to pack formula for air travel?
Getting past the TSA is one thing, but you also need to make your life easier by packing the formula for maximum convenience.
1. Carry a Formula Dispenser with Sections
If your formula dispenser is sectioned, you won’t have to worry about measuring the powder quantity every time you make formula on the plane. Each section of the dispenser can simply be emptied into a bottle to make enough for a single feed.
Check out the price for this formula dispenser on Amazon here.
2. Take a Cooler Bag when Traveling with Baby Food
In addition to carrying ice and gel packs, it’s important to carry your baby food in a cooler bag as it helps keep your breast milk and other pouches fresh for a longer duration.
Check the price for this baby food cooler bag on Amazon now.
As we mentioned, the restrictions on baby food are much lighter than usual TSA regulations. So pack a little extra and be prepared in the case of delays.
Check the price for this baby formula on Amazon now.
Summary – Flying with Baby Food
Traveling with kids requires a little more preparation and planning, but it's often easier than it seems at first. With a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can make some of the best memories of your life traveling with your little ones.
The TSA is meant for the safety of the people and they are extremely cooperative when you’re traveling with children. There’s no limit on the amount of food you can carry for your little ones.
Tip: Check our our article on what accessories to take for a long haul flight here.
Not sure where to go for your first vacation? Here is our list of the best places to travel with a 1 year old.
Baby food on board, or how not to leave a child hungry on an airplane
Many families indulge in the pleasure of traveling with their children. If you are going to fly on a plane with a small child, you need to properly prepare for the flight, because the baby needs regular and nutritious food.
The question often arises: is it possible to take baby food on the plane, will it be taken away during the pre-flight inspection, is the menu offered by airlines suitable for a child?
Our article will tell you how to get ready for the journey so that your child is not hungry on the plane.
Contents
- What can I take on the plane?
- How much food should I take?
- Weight of hand luggage
- Children's menu on board
- How to transport canned food and drinks?
What can I take from baby food on a plane?
First of all, let's determine that is allowed to take baby food in hand luggage.
It is necessary to prepare food for the child if you have transfers and a long journey from the airport to your destination, as well as if you are flying on a low-cost airline (low-cost) airline. So, for a child, you can take:
- baby food jars, drinks, milk formula;
- suitable snack foods: fresh and dried fruits, nuts, crackers, corn sticks;
- basic food (needed while waiting for a transfer or when flying with a low-cost airline): it is advisable to take such food that the child is used to and which is convenient to eat in "marching" conditions, without cutlery;
- sour-milk drinks or products (it is important for children to get such food when the climate changes).
When planning to take food with you, calculate the amount based on the fact that airlines also offer baby food (see below).
Perishable products must be carried in a cooler bag. However, we remind you that for the safety of air travel , most of the items are checked in before boarding the plane in baggage .
What if you need to take baby food with you not only for the duration of the flight, but also for the entire holiday?
If food is in a cardboard or metal package, then it will not be damaged in luggage, but if you have to carry mashed potatoes in glass jars or sour-milk products that need to be stored in the refrigerator, then it is clear that you cannot check them in luggage - fragile packaging can simply break .
You will most likely be asked to pack the food jars separately and hand them in at the front desk. They will not be transported in the baggage compartment, but directly in the cabin, and you will be given them before leaving the aircraft.
How much baby food should I take with me?
The need to carry a large supply of jars with you (for the entire holiday period) may arise if the baby has allergies and other food simply does not suit him, or if you go, for example, to resorts Egypt or Thailand , whose hotels are often remote from supermarkets and it will be difficult to quickly purchase baby food.
In this case, we recommend that you call the carrier in advance and consult about the possibility of carrying a certain amount of food in the cabin, in addition to hand luggage.
Usually, in such a situation, the airlines meet halfway and do not refuse the request.
If you are planning a vacation in European resorts (for example, at Austria, Germany, Bulgaria and others) or your vacation is associated with visiting large cities ( Vienna, Munich, Prague and others), then you should not worry about the supply of baby food: you can buy it at any time in a nearby supermarket or pharmacy.
What additional questions should I ask the air carrier during travel planning before arriving at the airport?
How much hand luggage can I take on a plane?
The weight of carry-on luggage varies between companies. Usually it ranges from 5 to 10 kg per person. When flying in business class, hand luggage can carry much more weight than in economy class.
If you are flying on a low-cost airline, you should definitely find out from the carrier whether hand luggage is included in the ticket price - some budget companies take separate, very significant money for carrying hand luggage.
Traveling with a child by plane:
What are the best places on the plane to choose if you are flying with children
The good news is that many major Russian carriers offer this service for free, regardless of flight class.
Children's menus can be ordered free of charge on all long-haul flights of the German airline Lufthansa and on some European flights when booking tickets, or by calling the Lufthansa Service Center no later than 24 hours before the departure of your aircraft.
The airline's children's menu is designed by renowned chef Stefan Marquard. Food for children is a topic close to the heart of this master, who is the author of a children's cookbook.
With his out-of-the-ordinary ideas and fun recipes, he excelled in creating dishes that were both healthy and appealing to children.
On the other hand, there is a limited amount of baby food for babies under 2 years of age on board each Austrian Airlines flight . Pre-order is not necessary - just ask the flight attendants.
Ukrainian airline UIA also offers meals for children (from 2 to 10 years old) on its flights, the need for which must be provided at least 50 hours before the scheduled flight departure. This service has recently been paid, the children's menu will cost parents 8 euros.
Aeroflot and Rossiya have baby food and baby food (soft chewable food for children from 2 years old and portioned milk and baby food in assortment (Aeroflot) or puree in jars (“Russia”) for children under 2 years old
Special meals must be ordered no later than 36 hours before departure One important nuance: ordering special meals on Aeroflot flights in Economy class is available on flights over 3 hours, in JSC Rossiya Airlines it is possible in Economy class on flights lasting more than 4 hours, in Business class - on flights lasting more than 1 hour.
Ural Airlines is ready to provide baby food if ordered at least 24 hours before departure. You should check with the carrier directly about what offers for baby food international companies have.
The Turkish airline Turkish Airlines also always takes care of its young passengers. A set of baby food is served in a colorful design with a toy. Usually the menu includes a salad, a second course (potatoes and meatballs), sweet pudding. Drinks to choose from: tea, ayran, juices, water.
You can make an order for special meals (any) in advance, at least 24 hours before the departure of your flight, by phone at the call center or the nearest office of the airline.
For reference. Nutrition codes: infant (for children under two years old) - BBML, children's (for children from two years old) - CHML.
How to transport canned food and baby drinks?
The rules for conducting a pre-flight screening in force in the Russian Federation contain a list of items that are allowed to be carried in hand luggage subject to special requirements.
This list includes: mercury medical thermometer, liquids in containers up to 100 ml with a total volume of up to 1 liter (they must be packed in a separate transparent plastic bag), medicines, special dietary needs, baby food, including mother's milk, in the amount required for the entire duration of the flight.
In order to avoid a conflict at the airport during the screening over the number of jars of baby food required for the flight, it is advisable to agree on the procedure for their transportation in advance.
We also recommend purchasing special baby water to avoid disputes about whether it is liquid or baby food.
In conclusion, I would like to note that sometimes airlines publish on their websites far from the entire list of services that they provide to passengers with children.
Don't be afraid to call the carrier's representative to find out everything you need to know and what extra help you can get if you're traveling with a child.
Use this simple "key", and then the journey will be a joy to you.
Recommended: Do I want to fly, or Flying a child without parents
Now that you are armed with all the necessary information about baby food on board, you can safely move on to searching for the most suitable flights and booking air tickets. And of course, if you go on holiday with a child, do not forget to take out travel insurance .
It is not expensive, it takes almost no time for registration. But on the other hand, it will save you from unnecessary troubles while traveling, if God forbid something happens to the child. How to choose and what to look for when buying insurance you will learn from our Special Article . Happy travels to you and your children!
Rules for transporting baby food on an airplane
The topic of transporting baby food on an airplane worries all mothers without exception.
This is an adult who can understand that there is nothing to drink or eat, but you cannot explain this to a baby.
Feeding children on an airplane can be a problem
In addition, you never know what you might suddenly need on the road. It is advisable to have water, milk formula, juices, purees, yogurts and some medicines on hand.
Make sure your baby has plenty to choose from.
Make sure your baby has plenty to choose from.
How can you carry all this on the plane? And is it possible? The rules for transporting food in hand luggage state that you can carry a certain amount of liquid with you. As a rule, about a liter. But this liquid should be packed in plastic or tetrapack only 100g each.
Drinks must be in plastic and dosed
Do not take with you larger containers only partially filled.
According to the rules, you should not have half-empty containers of a larger volume with you.
On the one hand, these rules are a serious problem, because it is almost impossible to find 100 g bottles or paper-packed juices of this volume.
The standard size is 200 grams or more. But on the other hand, it is not so important. In the same rules there is a note that the requirements do not apply to baby and diet food.
But these rules do not apply to baby food and drink
However, there is one “but”. The vagueness of the wording leaves a wide field for interpretation of the rules by airport personnel. Therefore, parents are forced to wait in each case, and how the employees who inspect luggage will look at a liter package of juice or a 1.5 liter bottle of water.
They look differently. Most of the time there are no problems, but sometimes there are difficulties.
Usually airport employees are loyal in matters of baby food.
The most meticulous, in this respect, were known as the Chinese. There were cases when they confiscated all baby food, with the exception of what was needed for the duration of the flight. Sometimes they took away large containers of water. Passengers with children under 5 years old at Chinese airports are even more or less condescending.
But already there is no relief to the needs of older children.
There may be problems with Chinese airport employees.
Resort countries are distinguished by special loyalty. In Turkey, most likely, they will not even look into a bag with children's things. The same will be done in Thailand. In many countries, they will only ask the question “For baby” and will not meticulously check luggage. It's not worth it though. Proper packaging of products will help to avoid most problems.
How to carry baby food on an airplane. Experienced Tips
1. Buy baby food in minimal packages, plastic containers or tetra-packs.
2. If you are bringing fruit puree in a glass, pack each jar in a plastic bag. Then, even if something breaks, it will not leak out and remain in the bag.
3. Bring a feeding nipple larger than 100g empty and pack the food in a 100g container. On the plane, you can always pour as much as you need into an empty bottle.
4. Carry all baby food in separate baby bags.
As a rule, such baggage is treated quite loyally at all airports.
Children's bags receive less attention.
5. It is better to buy special water for a child. Packed baby water is passed everywhere without problems. Adult water can be forced to open and drink. The same is sometimes done with juice.
6. It is allowed to take a cooler bag and safely transport curds or yoghurts in it. A special permit can be obtained in advance for a cooler bag.
7. Before flying, it will be useful to consult about the rules of a particular carrier company, at least by phone.
This is for hand luggage. Baby food: a variety of mixtures, biscuits, dry cereals are easily transported in the main luggage. It is only important that he does not exceed the norm of weight.
A separate issue is the stroller and what is in it. It seems that she has nothing to do with baby food, but this is not entirely true. Parents put all sorts of things in it. This belongings during the inspection is checked less meticulously.
