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Original poster

Taking formula in hand baggage

15 replies

CurleyShirley · 18/02/2008 08:49

Hi All
I am flying with my 9 month old DD to the USA, with American Airline. Does anyone know the best way to take on formula for her? I guess I will want to take on 3 feeds to be sure (flight is about 10 hours) - I am concerned that if I take pre-mixed cartons they will make me open them, taste them, then I will have to chuck them! Is it OK to take the bottle on with water in them (and then the powder seperately? Is that classed as baby milk?? Anyone had any experience?

OP posts:

cmotdibbler · 18/02/2008 08:55

The Boots at the airport (airside) has premixed cartons of all the formula brands, so you could buy some more there.
They are really funny about the whole thing, so you might be best taking the powder plus water, with a backup plan of buying more cartons once airside in case they aren't happy, or of using bottled water (bought airside) to make up the feeds.

PuppyDogTails · 18/02/2008 09:00

I would do as cmot suggests - I find it so irritating that they make you open the pre-mix cartons when they are sealed units. Makes no sense at all, they don't seem to appreciate the concept of milk needing to be sterile.

saladsucks · 18/02/2008 09:01

Hi CurleyShirley,

Lots of experience unfortunately! The answer is that it totally depends on the airport that you fly out of and the person operating the machine at the time. Heathrow and Luton are very good at allowing baby milk through and often don't even ask you to taste it. Gatwick is the pits and will happily confiscate anything they think they can get away with (in my experience).

My strategy is usually to take water (a little bit more than you need) and powder and then you only have to sip the water when they ask you to taste it at security and can mix it with the powder whenever is good for you. I also take 2 cartons as back up in case the plane is delayed (I usually plan for a 24 hour delay as I am a born worrier).

If all else fails - the Boots at the other side of security (at all airports) sells the cartons of milk and you can replace them for some extortionate price. Or - worst case scenario you could make up the bottles with mineral water which although isn't great long term would be ok for a couple of bottles.

By the way - do you know that most British formulas are not sold in the States so you have to take it with you if you want to have it there.

saladsucks · 18/02/2008 09:02

hee hee cmot said it much quicker than me!

Original poster

CurleyShirley · 18/02/2008 09:30

thats so helpful everyone, thanks very much. It all seemed a bit ad-hoc to me, so good to have that confirmed (well, not good obviosuly, but at least I can stop being frustrated that I cant get a definitive answer!) We are flying out of Heathrow. I hadnt thought of the fact there is a Boots the other side of security, as an all else fails solution. I will do as you all suggest, and will take bottles with water and powder, in the knowledge I can buy cartons the other side. Plus I didnt know that it was OK to use bottled water for the odd feed - thats reassuring too. (I am still breastfeeding DD morning and night, so theres always that too, but I dont actually think she gets all that much feed from it, so certianly dont think it would be enough for the whole time. can you tell I am a born worrier too?!?) Thanks for the tip on taking my own formula too - hadnt thought they would have that in the States!

OP posts:

saladsucks · 18/02/2008 09:41

you can contact the formaula manufacturer via their website and ask them if they sell it in the states. I contacted SMA and they confirmed (with 48 hours) that they did not.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 18/02/2008 17:59

This is the phone number for Boots airside in Terminal 3 (this is the terminal that AA use at Heathrow). I would certainly call them beforehand to check they actually stock the formula milk your child likes.

0208 890 1891
Open - 06:00 - 22:00

Would also suggest you take a couple of tins of formula milk with you in your suitcase to the USA. This is because practically all formula milks sold in the UK are not sold there.

Original poster

CurleyShirley · 19/02/2008 19:43

Thank you Attila! Will do so, v helpful.

OP posts:

sandy0 · 20/02/2008 09:59

HI, been there done that soooo many times!!! I am a travel goddess now with my dd! If your little one say has 3 feeds due on the flight take enough powder for at least 5, incase of any delays. you can take water in the bottles but always put more in (if you need 8oz put in 9) as they will get you to taste it, pre-packed cartoons area no no as yes they will make you open them!! esp to the states. You can get cartoons at boots but don't rely on them every mum ransacks them and a few times i have noticed them sold out. Also dont know if babe eating solids yet but they will make you open jars of baby food to so may be worth taking plastic containers to transfer them into if you need to. The best thing i ever ever brought was a steam travel steriliser from jo jo mama bebe is very compact fits in 2 advent bottles or 1 doc brown cost £20 and you do it as at home just plug in- no messing with tablets or bags etc... mother care now sell a version of it to. It really is the best thing ever! (how sad so excited by it!) remember the 100ml stands for bottles of calpol etc to so get some sachets to take on flight just incase. might be just me but aswell as taking change of clothes for dd take clean top for yourself, its a long flight in a small space and can pretty much gurantee you will get something on you! Hope this all helps. xx

Original poster

CurleyShirley · 20/02/2008 18:03

It really does, thanks v much Sandy. Excellent idea re containers for the baby food. I in fact have one of those sterlisers and it is aboslutely brilliant isnt it? (We spent a week in france when DD was 3 months, but was breast feeding so no issues re water/milk on flights). Love the way it fits together so compactly!!!
And thanks for the tip about the change of top for me too!

OP posts:

PavlovtheCat · 20/02/2008 20:34

My health visitor told me that taking 4-5 feeds already in the bottles sterilsed onto the plane would be fine, and if they need to be opened and tasted, they would be fine until the end of the journey, if the baby is over 6 months old.

I am doing this journey with a 19 month old, and will luckily be taking less milk, and will take the Hipp Organic Growing Up milk, it has a screw type top so if it has to opened i ill then pour it straight into the bottle and it will still be ok.

thefortbuilder · 21/02/2008 14:15

we too have done this soooo many times with ds - to NZ in one go which was a mammoth expedition! take what you really need made up and you can taste it - i always joke if i get a man asking me to taste it "have you tasted this stuff I don't know how they drink it blah blah blah". I always take a couple of extra empty bottles with the powder measured out in breast milk storage bags and labelled - you can always put your finger in if they make you taste it but after tasting the bottles at LHR they certainly let you off generally.

and as for changes of clothing - take more than you ever think you will need! there's nothing worse than sitting in vomit covered clothes because you took an extra top and ds threw up twice / tipped milk over you etc etc. we once had terrible trouble getting him to sleep and when he finally went to sleep laying on me he did this massive stinky liquidy poo after about an hour and it all leaked (sorry if TMI) all over me - i'd already had to change clothes earlier i nthe flight becuase he'd thrown up so another change of clothes was a blessing

and whoever said they take anything they can at gatwick is right - they're horrible there!

slinkiemalinki · 28/02/2008 23:55

Buy it airside, without question. This is what I do. I can't be doing with all the powder & faffing.

barbara3 · 03/03/2008 16:36

If it makes anyone feel better....... i got stuck on a long haul flght without my formula aaaaaaargh in the hussle and bussle the bag with it got left at our connecting airport...... we had already taken off!! a few steely glances between myself and dh and 10 hours of flying!!i survived using real milk on board and still being lucky enough to bf. some airlines do stock some baby bits - worth finding out and for one feed so long as it is sterile it wont matter.

Judy1234 · 03/03/2008 16:52

The rules are stupid and the people enforcing them don't always do it consistency. I haven't taken a baby abroad recently but have had loads of trouble in London, Paris, US all about different rules over foods. Out of the UK to the US you can take solid food now like peeled raw carrot but not soft food (might be different for baby food). So curry is out but a cold piece of chicken with no sauce is allowed. It is all completely ridiculous, sledge hammer to crack a nut, just designed to terrorise citizens. Be prepared for delays. On one trip we had 24 hours between entering Heathrow and getting to our destination! Another time we had 6 hour delay before a plane too off. Assume there will be no stocks air side either and may be try to bolster your own milk supplies before you leave - thankfully at present they don't require to test mother's milk..... yet...

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