Bottle feeding on a flight and airport.

[Natalie2900]

I am after some advice on bottle feeding whilst at the airport and the plane.
What is the easiest way people have found?

I have been told to order pre made formula airside. Which is what I plan on doing. My issue now is what to use to get through security with? Can I take pre made cartons through security? Or do I take scoops of formula in clear containers? My only issue with this is adding it to boiling water??

I am finding this so stressful trying to think of the best way!

Any advice welcome! PLEASE!!

I've been thinking about this too! I've checked online and it looks like the standard rules don't apply, thank goodness!

www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/baby-food-and-baby-milk

Hope this helps!

I had one experience where they wanted me to drink some liquid formula to prove it wasn't toxic (gross but understandable), and another where they let me through with pre-packaged bottles no problem. That being said (and this probably sounds super ridiculous), if you end up getting disposable teets for the top of the disposable bottles, double, triple, quadruple check the damn things actually fit on the bottle before you fly Mine didn't (looked like they would!) and our 7 hour flight with a six month old was miserable, whilst the newborn beside us slept happily throughout!

If you do opt for the powdered formula in bags option, I'd probably also take the container so it doesn't look like anything dodgy. I've heard though that the airline staff are usually happy to boil the water for you, so you should be fine. Safe travels

I usually take sterilised bottles and cartons of ready made formula. No problem taking them through security (same either pouches of baby food). They may put them through a seperate check but there’s no problem. Take a couple more than you think you need in case of any delays.

I never had a problem. I think I had to open and taste one so I poured contents away I think rather than opening a sterilised bottle. I always had about 6 pre made with me as flew long haul. You can order airside but I've heard nightmares about them not finding the order and then you're stuck!

To be fair this was about 6 years ago though. Babies way too big now

Thanks for replies.

Im also wondering how people prepared their bottles?

ive heard people fill their bottles with pre boiled water and then seperate pots of formula powder. But you cannot add formula to water that isn't boiling as it doesn't kill the germs?

My LO will be 7 months when we go away, so do i not need to worry about germs in formula powder?

If you're ordering milk to pick up airside order pre-made bottles then there won't be any powder or water to deal with. I had 32 bottles in my extra shopping bag you're allowed ftom.the airport shops.

I will order the pre made formula from Aptimal . they don't do the actual bottles in the 2 milk if that makes sense.

I think what ill do. is make up a fresh bottle before i enter security so that is good for an hour. then soon as im airside im going to buy 2x 4 pack of pre made formula! Hopefully this works out ok. I think im over thinking it. its just the fear of being stuck with a hungry baby and no way of feeding him.

I flew recently and took bottles filled with cooled boiled water and powdered formula measured out in a separate container, so I could mix them as and when they were needed. I took enough for three feeds (that's all she has a day now), just in case there were any delays. I also tweaked my usual routine so that she drank her milk during take off and landing, to help clear her ears. I also took separate sachets of food. They scanned them in a different machine, but other than that, it was fairly straightforward. Just allow plenty of time to get through security, so you're not in a rush. Good luck!

Two options - if you are going to use the pre-made formula then no need to worry about how you will make it up. I've always taken mine through security with me rather than pick them up airside (just incase something went wrong and I wasn't able to pick them up and was left without milk). You are allowed to take the pre-made bottles through security no problem (they are exempt from the 100mls rule). When we've flown with them they usually take them off me and put them through some sort of scanner and then give them back.

If you want to take powder - you can ask any of the cafes inside the airport for hot water to make up the bottle with, and many airlines with also provide hot water to make the bottle up with. If you do this then maybe just check with your airline that you can get hot water for this purpose on board.

The boiling kills the bugs in the water, the powder should already be sterile. We used to travel with powder and cooled boiled water. We sometimes had an issue with the water but never the powder side of things. Indeed the powder was just not mentioned by us.

Don't forget to have a soother/pacifier/dummy for the climb out which is when the problems arise. Its too hard to time the perfect temperature bottle for the right time as delays occur.

Good luck.

So i can add formula to pre boiled cool water???

Contrary to what PP mentions - current advice is that powder does need to be added to hot water (over 70 degrees) in order to kill any bugs, as the formula powder is not sterile. However some people do just add the powder to cooled pre-boiled water and the baby seems to be fine. I'd probably not risk it though - don't want baby getting sick when you're going away.

Yes absolutely. My baby isn't precious about the temperature so will drink if cooled. Otherwise fill your bottle up 2/3's with cooled boiled water and then ask for boiling water from cafe or flight attendant on plane to top up the final third. This should make the bottle temp pretty much perfect to drink and you can then add the powdered formula.