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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Formula milk on long haul flight

31 replies

MrsJangles · 15/10/2011 19:14

Hi
My DH and I are going to Canada in December with our DD who will be coming up to 5 months by then and was wondering if anyone can offer any advice about what we are allowed to take on the flight in terms of formula. Are you allowed to take pre-made bottles, powder, and cartons? It takes about 7 - 8 hours and I want to make allowances for delays etc.
What does everyone else do?
Thanks

OP posts:

laptopwieldingharpy · 15/10/2011 19:25

Powder only, the crew will give you mineral water on board and heat it up for you.
You can buy little cartons in boots at the duty free area but may not be her favorite. So just pack ready measured powder in container or ziplock bags.

laptopwieldingharpy · 15/10/2011 19:27

In my early anal stage I used to also pack Milton tabs to clean bottles between use.
You can actually just rinse them and get crew to wash them again with hot water.

Original poster

MrsJangles · 15/10/2011 19:31

Thanks laptopwieldingharpy - can I ask what you did while waiting to board? Is there anywhere that will supply water for you to mix formula with?
Thanks for the help.

OP posts:

laptopwieldingharpy · 15/10/2011 19:37

You can buy small water bottles at duty free area and they will usually let you bring it in to mix formula. Have travelled extensively with babies post 9/11 and have never been refused baby milk. They might make you taste it.

RitaMorgan · 15/10/2011 19:37

I would buy cartons airside - you can call the Boots or whatever there and ask them to hold some back for you.

You could take ready made bottles through with you, but it might be difficult to keep them chilled before use. You'd have to taste it going through security.

I'm not sure about taking powder and asking the crew for boiling water - would they be able to give you water that is hot enough? And you'd have to wait for it to cool. Cartons might be easiest.

laptopwieldingharpy · 15/10/2011 19:40

They will not boil the water but heat the bottle after you mixed it. You Can always add a scoop and 30ml cold water if it turns out too hot.

RitaMorgan · 15/10/2011 19:43

That's not safe though - the powder isn't sterile and can be contaminated with bacteria like salmonella, so it needs to be mixed with recently boiled water (above 70c).

In that case I would definitely go with cartons, as they are already sterile so no risk.

TheSkiingGardener · 15/10/2011 19:47

On BA I was provided with hot water, hot enough to make coffee and tea with, which I mixed with powder and then topped uP to the usual level with mineral water. Sterile and at the right temperature.

Cartons are best if your DC has that formula TBH. I took powder in a powder dispenser thing. They asked what it was and then were ok.

wigglesrock · 15/10/2011 20:48

I carried a few pre-made bottles through security this year, just in case we couldn't get ready made cartons air-side. You can pre-order the ready made cartons from most Boots airside and pick them up after security, although obviously it depends what time your flight is at. Although the WH Smith after security also did dd3s formula (SMA). The 100ml rule re liquids doesn't apply to baby bottles although I did have to taste one of them.

Original poster

MrsJangles · 15/10/2011 21:20

Thanks for the replies everyone. I def want to make sure that if I bring powder it can be made with water above 70 degrees - so prob pre-ordering cartons is the easiest option with some powder for backup.

OP posts:

dikkertjedap · 15/10/2011 23:55

Definitely cartons, this is by far the safest. You can buy sterilised bottles ready for use (empty obviously) which are sealed, so even if inspected by security they won't get contaminated. You can then fill these bottles with the packs once you are on the aircraft. I wouldn't trust hygiene levels in an airplane for a little baby. You still have several months to prepare, so I would find out from Boots what they stock and then get your baby used to that taste.

Merlion · 17/10/2011 02:10

Also be prepared for return flight as they don't make or sell ready made cartons plus you might not be able to get the same brand there so may need to take a tin with you.

savoycabbage · 17/10/2011 03:41

I took water and powder when I flew to Australia. The water was in baby bottles, nine of them. I had to have a swig out of them at KL. They kept them in the fridge on the flight, just to keep them out of the way really.

laptopwieldingharpy · 17/10/2011 05:38

9 bottles? Why not wash bottles between use? and all that faffing about boiling water to the right teMp? Why not refill with mineral water readily available on board?
Avent disposables are great too.

fraktious · 17/10/2011 06:31

Cartons airside is easiest and safest.

If that isn't possible I would use the hot water. Even if it's not 70 it will be hot enough to kill a large proportion of the bacteria, safer than using cold/room temp water in any case, especially if the powder's been hanging around.

I have been known to use an electric thermometer to test flight water It is around 70, just ask the crew to get you fresh hot water, not the stuff they're using to pour tea.

For the return I would pack cartons into the luggage.

savoycabbage · 17/10/2011 07:54

As I said, I took nine bottles with water already in. I didn't want to wash them. It worked well for me.

pommedechocolat · 17/10/2011 07:58

Take bottles just out of the steriliser that morning. Get Boots airside to hold cartons back for you.

Do not make up bottles with powder the way people are telling you here. It is unsafe.

savoycabbage · 17/10/2011 08:08

Is it? Why?

pommedechocolat · 17/10/2011 08:46

Because the water needs to be at 70C plus to sterilise the powder, heating the bottle afterwards or 'about the right temperature' is not safe.

laptopwieldingharpy · 17/10/2011 09:18

Milk powder is not sterile in the first place?

fraktious · 17/10/2011 09:51

No, how would they make it sterile? And it comes in whacking great tins which would cease being sterile when they were opened. Add to that the spoon going between powder and bottle/dispenser, the dispenser itself etc and you have thousands of chances for contamination.

But at the root of it the powder isn't manufactured in a sterile environment and can't be pasteurised.

RitaMorgan · 17/10/2011 13:41

Milk powder isn't sterile, can contain bacteria like salmonella and enterobacter, and babies (in Europe, not in the third world before anyone starts) have died from it. That's why it's important to follow the instructions on the tub and make in up with very hot water.

BartletForAmerica · 17/10/2011 14:16

Not used formula but this is what my sister does:

Takes ready made bottles through security but she does need to taste it (Yuck!)

Phones Boots a week before to order her DD's formula in cartons for the flight.

laptopwieldingharpy · 17/10/2011 17:20

Well, am glad i bf and was so ill informed. I would not have set foot out of my house if i'd known! (regularly travelled throughout 3rd world countries relying on non boiled mineral water)

Original poster

MrsJangles · 18/10/2011 08:44

Well, I have very good reasons for not breastfeeding anymore - thanks for all the replies. I have phoned heathrow boots and will arrange cartons to be made available for me airside - as for the way back, Canada has less restrictions than here and I can take pre-made bottles with me (without having to taste it either!)
Cheers everyone.

OP posts:

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