Help! Bottle feeding and flying

[Achad72]

Hey, I am new to mumsnet.com ☺️ In desperate need for some help and advice I think I am stressing my self over nothing rather than getting excited to go out first family holiday.
So my LO is 4 and a half months old, and we are planning on booking up pretty last minute for may June, short haul so she will roughly be 6 months.
So bottles and flying what do I do? What am I allowed through security etc? Ready made bottles don’t not agree with LO so it can only be powdered formula, I use my perfect prep which I will be taking for when we are away but when I am out and about I use a flask but I read you can’t take this through security so what is my other options?
And also do I need to take a car seat? I obviously am taking a pram but what type is best for abroad and travelling?

You can take cool boiled water through security in a bottle/sippy cup but I know it’s not recommended to use cool water for making formula. Your best bet would probably be to take the powder and empty bottles through security then ask an airside cafe like Starbucks for hot water and tip that into your bottles to make them up before boarding. If they get funny about it buy a green tea and ask for the tea bag to be left out! Don’t whatever you do ask for hot water on the plane, those tanks are never cleaned and in many cases have tested positive for all sorts of gross bacteria (google it and it will make you think twice about that inflight coffee).

Most airlines will allow you a pram and a car seat for free but definitely check. If your pram has a separate seat bit then you will need to put it in a travel bag so the pram in its entirety is only 1 piece of luggage. But it’s probably easier still to use the pram as a travel system (if yours does that) so the car seat on the frame. And if you are taking the car seat make sure it can be fitted with the seatbelt if your intention is to use taxis.

I’d take one made up feed ready in a bottle if she needs feeding when you get there etc, and the powder in the bottles and make them up in a cafe when you get to the other side of security. You can take all this through security.

Hi OP, I'd go on your airline's website or contact them via Facebook as they all have different policies :) I had to contact Flybe last week as we're taking our 6 month old on holiday soon and I exclusively pump milk for him so was a bit stressed about how we'd take liquid with us but it's exempt if it's baby food related- they just have to test a sample of my breastmilk apparently 😂

I wouldn't bother taking the perfect prep. I have a five month old and do it like this - get a cafe to give you Half the amount of water you need boiling. Pour this in to the bottle with the powder and shake it up. Then use a bottle of room temperate mineral water to top it up to the required amount - it'll be the perfect temperature for baby straight away.

Also it doesn’t depend on the airline - it’s standard (UK) airport security policy. You are allowed baby milk, formula, breast milk, any substitues eg soya, baby food and sterilised water in a bottle no bigger than 2000ml. Sometimes they do ask you to taste it

Great thank you so much for your replies, that’s a great help! I have read you need to be careful with mineral water abroad and make sure it doesn’t have a high sodium content of something?

Yes that’s correct. There is a baby symbol you see sometimes but rather than faffing with labels I know for certain that Evian and Volvic are ok and you should be able to find those brands fairly easily.

Also OP you can order baby-related stuff (nappies, wipes, cream etc) to be delivered to Boots at your airport - if you collect them at the airside store (after security) then you can take it on the plane rather than as part of your luggage allowance. (Of course you can just buy them too but the stores tend to be quite small so it depends what you want!). If you order via the website just remember to do it about 10 days in advance