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Original poster

baby milk and heathrow

8 replies

appletiser · 08/12/2009 11:08

Hi we are due to take an 8 hr flight with a 5month old who is on formula. just a question about milk - i bought the ready made cartons for the flight there and for the return flight as i wasnt sure how id manage to get the boiled water to make up the formula. but now im wondering if heatrow allows the milk cartons? i checked the site and they say they make exceptions for baby milk but u have to taste 50% of it... ?? anyone with any experience....and has anyone taken blunted end scissors on a flight?? (to open the cartons)

OP posts:
Bettymum · 08/12/2009 11:13

My only experience was on a flight to Italy where I thought I'd take a bottle and a carton to save trying to BF a wriggly baby in a coonfined space . I was asked to open the carton - had to rip it open with my bare hands as they didn't have any scissors and nor did I, and then had to taste a bit and pour it into the bottle. Can you buy the cartons in Boots the other side of security?? Otherwise sounds like you might have to take an awful lot of cartons with you if you have to open 50% of them.

CMOTdibbler · 08/12/2009 11:13

Easiest thing is to buy the cartons airside at Heathrow - there are big Boots airside with all the normal formulas stocked, and you can call them ahead to reserve if you want

ilovemydogandmrobama · 08/12/2009 11:19

Am fairly sure the rule re: formula only applies to made up bottles. Closed cartons are exempt, although there is a Boots inside security.

Definite no to the scissors.

KSal · 08/12/2009 11:23

hi, they won't let you through with cartons as bettymum says they will make you open them.

When i did it, i had about 4 bottles with the pre-boiled water all measured out and then the pre measured powder in a dispenser. They made me taste a couple of the bottles but i think they let me shake it out of the teat then lick it from my wrist IYSWIM. however on a more recent flight they made me unscrew the lid and take a sip (but baby was was 13 months by that stage and it was cows milk... and i wasn't so flustered by sterility).

I know boiling the water that far in advance doesn't meet the current guidelines to the letter, but imho is perfectly fine

Original poster
appletiser · 08/12/2009 11:26

ok thanks ill try and contact boots i think

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 08/12/2009 11:59

Definitely won't let you through with the scissors or cartons unopened so you would have to open and taste. Boots airside sell them but to be on the safe side, you should phone a few days in advance and ask them to put some aside.

We normally take a made up bottle and a spare bottle with just water and use a dispenser that we bought at mothercare for the powder.

HKmama · 09/12/2009 13:07

I live a 12 hour flight away from the UK and I have come back a couple of times. I take the bottles with water and formula separately and then as back up take 4-6 cartons - i.e. enough to dump a couple after they make me taste them. I find sometimes when in a rush/stresssed the cartons are easier than mixing a bottle. They made me taste half the bottles with water and open half the cartons. The cartons tear open fairly easily and I didn't mind spilling a bit on the security table to annoy them for having such stupid rules. In Asia you just say 'baby stuff' when you go through the security and show them and they don't make you taste it - what a joy.

lobsters · 10/12/2009 19:36

I've been through LHR twice with DD on formula and did what Ksal described. Security people seemed perfectly OK with it, just sipped the water. The same process also worked in Nice and Helsinki

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