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Original poster

To ask for your experiences flying with a formula fed baby

80 replies

Sayhellotothethings · 09/09/2019 11:19

Posting here for traffic

We are visiting family abroad when LO will be 5 months. Only a short flight but I'm wondering about getting formula, sterile water etc through airport security or at the airport. I read that you can take up to a litre of cool sterile water but have now been told by the airport we are flying from that the 100ml rule applies! Unless we take 10 100ml bottles? And get boiling water at the other side?

Not sure about any prepped formula!

Has anyone done this and what were your experiences?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 09/09/2019 11:35

100ml rule Doesn't apply to infant formula. Maybe take empty sterilised bottles and take pre made cartons. You could order and collect from boots after security (if the airport you're flying from has boots).

Greatnorthwoods · 09/09/2019 11:39

We flew on a 5 hr flight with a 3 week old. We just took powder formula and then purchased a bottle of spring water in a shop the other side of security

Gracie300 · 09/09/2019 11:41

You can order the ready made bottles from Boots after security beforehand - we did this and it worked well.

Soontobe60 · 09/09/2019 11:42

You can order ready mixed formula from Boots to be collected airside. Just take an empty sterile bottle through.

Soontobe60 · 09/09/2019 11:43

We just took powder formula and then purchased a bottle of spring water in a shop the other side of security
The problem with this is that you're supposed to use boiling water on the formula then top up with cold.

mindutopia · 09/09/2019 11:53

Just buy the pre made cartons post security (you can pre order for collection), sterilise bottles at home (closed up they should remain sterile enough for 24 hours), make sure you are able access space to clean and sterilise them when you get where you’re going so you’ll be able to make new ones as soon as you get there.

It’s really not a hassle at all. Flying with my 2 year old who drank a cup of cow’s milk before bed was actually much more tricky (flight attendants aren’t always happy to provide milk and milk isn’t as easy as formula to buy in the airport). Just try the cartons in advance so your baby is used to them.

dementedpixie · 09/09/2019 11:54

We just took powder formula and then purchased a bottle of spring water in a shop the other side of security

This is not a good method to use, unless you boiled the water, as it needs to be hot to kill bacteria in the powder.

Yogurtcoveredricecake · 09/09/2019 11:54

We just brought ready made at Boots after security.

mindutopia · 09/09/2019 11:56

You also almost certainly be able to get boiling water on board (cooling it is the challenge). Formula shouldn’t be made with cool water. So the cartons really are easiest.

Cheeserton · 09/09/2019 11:58

The problem with this is that you're supposed to use boiling water on the formula then top up with cold.

Eh? What formula is that? Bottled water is fine (per midwife, paediatrician, HV, experience...). Many formulas mix just fine with cold.

InterestingView · 09/09/2019 11:58

Ready made bottles! The stuff if dreams. We used them when out and about in the uk too - much easier to chuck in the bag and no faffing about.

InterestingView · 09/09/2019 11:59

FORMULA IS NOT STERILE

says it in massive letters on the box! Must be mixed with boiling water/cooled boiling water to make it safe.

Tippety · 09/09/2019 12:00

You're supposed to mix the powder with a bit of booking water and then top up with cooler water. Ready made will be easier if your little one is okay with it (it can sit differently on their tummies).

Tippety · 09/09/2019 12:00

Boiling*

peachgreen · 09/09/2019 12:02

Cheeserton The only formulas you can make up with cold water are some of the dairy-free ones. All the others have to be made up with boiling water to ensure it's sterile.

FlaviaAlbia · 09/09/2019 12:04

Nothing specific about carrying it on but bring extra to cover a delay. We were stuck on a plane for 2hrs at the airport before take off once and there was a family worrying about running out of formula as we didn't know long the delay would take. Horrendous.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 09/09/2019 12:08

We flew with mix fed ds when he was 12 weeks.

The wee ready made bottles all the way- any other method is just unnecessary faff.

I used the easy jet web chat to confirm what we could and couldn’t take onboard and screenshotted the advice so I could refer to it at security. It was totally fine in the end. Wouldn’t want the headache of fannying about with powder and cooled boiled water etc anywhere outside a kitchen!

Greatnorthwoods · 09/09/2019 12:11

The problem with this is that you're supposed to use boiling water on the formula then top up with cold.

We have never used boiled water for formula, we use cold bottled, or tap water (tap water is sterile anyway) and have never had any issues in the 5 months.

HappyDinosaur · 09/09/2019 12:15

The 100ml rule does not apply to baby milk, formula or otherwise. We found it easiest just to take several bottles of ready made stuff and the empty bottles to decant into as and when needed. They take the ready made milk and test it separately in a machine without opening it.

NannyR · 09/09/2019 12:19

greatnorthwoods, saying that you make it up with cold water and have never had a problem is like saying that you never wear a seatbelt and you've always been fine, you will be ok until you have a car accident. Likewise, not all formula is contaminated with seriously bad bacteria, but you can't tell which tin will be. If you make it with cold water, most of the time the baby will be fine, but if you get the one tin that isn't ok your baby could be seriously ill.

This advice has been printed on every tin of UK formula for around ten years, NHS advice has been to prepare it with boiling water as well.

dementedpixie · 09/09/2019 12:20

We have never used boiled water for formula, we use cold bottled, or tap water (tap water is sterile anyway) and have never had any issues in the 5 months

Tap water is not sterile! The issue is not the water though. Powdered formula can be contaminated with bacteria that can be deadly in some babies. It should be added to water that is 70 degrees to kill this bacteria.

Greatnorthwoods · 09/09/2019 12:21

NannyR

Interesting, thanks. I am a Brit in a different country so don’t read NHS guides

DungeonDweller · 09/09/2019 12:23

Jesus there is some really dangerous information on this thread.

The WHO guidelines are clear: boiling water is used to mix formula (unless it's a niche special one, but then you'd know because you get it from pharmacists etc). It needs to be at LEAST 70 degrees c when hitting the formula to ensure all harmful bacteria are killed.

Let me reiterate it: you should NOT be using cool bottled or tap water for 5 month old babies formula. Even cooled boiled water isn't safe. It needs the minimum heat to kill the bacteria.

If you're doing that, stop immediately. Just because you've got away with it so far, doesn't mean it's safe:

"The WHO says their main concern is a bacterium called Enterobacter sakazakii, which is relatively rare (it is estimated to affect one in 100,000 babies), but when it does strike, it is deadly in 20-50% of cases. During an outbreak in France in 2004, nine babies fell ill (most of them premature babies), and two died." Yes, babies have died because of the risks!

(Ref: www.lindageddes.com/133/pouring-cold-water-on-baby-formula )

NoraEphronsneck · 09/09/2019 12:23

We have never used boiled water for formula, we use cold bottled, or tap water (tap water is sterile anyway) and have never had any issues in the 5 months

Tap water is definitely not sterile. The Tap head unlikely to be sterile either. Definitely not suitable to be added to formula which may also not be sterile.