taking baby milk/formula through airport security

[ilovelucy]

Does anybody know how liquid restrictions at airports fair in regards to formula?

I am flying with my 4 month old next week and ideally want to take 4/5 feeds worth in my hand luggage.

Can I take cartons through or would I be better off measuring the powder into bottles then asking for boiled water in departures/on the plane?

Thanks in advance

Hi, I just flew and this is what I did.

I used ready to feed stuff. I took one bottle through security (had to taste it). I hid one carton in my hand luggage and they never saw it/chose to ignore it .

I also (thanks to MN advice) phoned the Boots airside shop at the right terminal and reserved lots of cartons, and collected them after I'd been through security.

Hope that helps.

In the UK you can take baby milk through security if its mixed up in bottles already. You cant take cartons of readymixed milk, or bottles containing boiled water that you intend to add milk powder to later on.

So you can just make up the feeds and take them through. We were asked to drink some to prove it was milk. I am not sure if you can just take milk powder through and have some water boiled up once you get past security, but I dont think you can - we were told milk needs to be made up in a bottle before it can be taken through.

You can take powdered formula in any quantity you like - we took an enormous tin - and get boiled water on the plane to make up feeds fresh.

You can also take water and baby milk through security in baby bottles but you will need to sprinkle some on your wrist and taste it.

You can also buy cartons of ready made formula air side.

Don't try to sneak things through - it's not worth any potential dramas. If you want to take cartons of ready made through security be prepared to open and taste them.

That sounds like a lot of feeds to take - where are you going?

Thank You for your help so far!

I am a bit wary about making up lots of milk and letting it fester in my bag for the rest of the journey, especially at the other end where it (should) be hot, but will definitely be sure to take at least one pre made bottle through.

Thanks for the tip about ringing boots, I will look into that.

For anyone else facing the same dilema I have just found this

Forgot to say you should never put powder in and then add water. You must always add powder to the water to ensure the right ratio of water to powder so take your powder and empty bottles but keep your powder In the tin and use the scoop provided by the manufacturer.

Only to France, but want to be prepared for delays. On other long journeys and ferries I have measured the powder into bottles (using the scoop provided of course) then added the water from a small measuring jug. This has worked well, so if you are allowed to take powder in any form (and it I will do this again.

Thanks again for your help

Lol at only to France I know exactly where you're coming from!

You can take as many empty sterised bottles as you want too. The flight attendants will be happy to bring you fresh hot water and I've always found people in restaurants air side very happy to help and there's always loads of formula in Boots.

You'll be fine even if delayed for an age.

I've travelled loads of times with babies and we always take one bottle made up and spare bottle(s) - depending on whether long haul or not. We bought a container to put powdered formula in from mothercare and it holds enough for four further bottles. I would not buy cartons before hand as from our experience, they will normally open and taste them and of course you then can't re-seal them. They confiscated some when we flew from LGW in January.
You can however as someone else has said phone through to Boots airside and ask them to be put to one said.

I woudn't take the risk of having one in hand luggage and not declaring. We got caught out at LGW as had left a jar of baby food in handbag and forgot it was there. Normally all food/bottles are in changing bag but on the outbound flight was given a jar of babyfood which I put in my bag and forgot it was there (rather large handbag) and they got quite nasty about me 'not declaring' it and refused to accept I'd simply overlooked it. We there then (apparently) put on some naughtly list for 5 months. Twats!

Just a brief cautionary tale- airports don't all interpret the rules in the same way. We flew from Bristol when DD was 9wks and were told at check in that pre-boiled water to be made up as milk once through security would be OK- only to have it taken off me at security. Then we asked at 3 air side restaurants for boiled water and none would help. Thankfully managed to get some cartons at Superdrug.

Also, bear in mind delays can happen on the way back too. We had a 24 hr delay in a tiny Greek airport when returning when DD was 12 wks. Airport staff were reasonably helpful but I ended up attempting cold water sterilisation bottles in a sink in the loos. Thankfully it appears DD has the constitution of an ox!

It is a long time since my boys were babies, but I can remember being told to put the just boiled water into the bottles first, then add the powder.
Trouble was, that the steam from the water made the powder stick to the scoop, making it very difficult!
I put the powder in one bottle, then used another bottle to measure the water, and pour onto the powder.
Much easier!

I took double the amount of cartons I needed in my hand baggage for the journey as they can ask you to taste 50% of what you have. They only made me open one carton which I then put in a bottle so didn't lose any. Also reserved some at boots airside as they don't sell the cartons in France only the powder

Also if you want to take powder but don't want a whole box in your handbag maybe get a bibi www.bebeco.co.uk/bibi-formula-milk-powder-container-and-dispenser-1049-p.asp