3 month old DS - flying long haul and formula feeding

[dreamerkr]

Hey guys, I’m going abroad next Tuesday and it’s a long journey. 7 hour flight, layover for 3 hours, and then another 3hr flight. Any travel tips? Can I take a whole box of formula with me in my carryon/baby’s changing bag? Is it allowed? I’m planning to take about 6 sterilised bottles with me for the journey, shall I add the formula powder beforehand and then ask for water on the plane? Any help guys? What’s allowed through security even? FTM as you guys can definitely tell. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I’ll be travelling with my family so I’ll have plenty of help.

Sorry if I don’t make sense!

I wouldn’t trust the hygiene of the plane water! Can you not do ready made? It’s so much easier! You can take it through security in reasonable quantities for the flight or do a pre-order to the airside Boots.

Get some ready made formula from a shop airside. There's usually a Boots in uk airports. My youngest is 11 now, but you used to be able to order it in, ti collect in store, to be certain.

I’d buy ready made formula to take on the trip - you can order it to collect air side so it’s not in your bags as you go through security so saves bag space.

We also took a pushchair and had a bag for it that we stuffed with some blankets, clothes and nappies to save on space too (obviously the pushchair had to go in there as well!). You can take it right up to the gate but you might not get it back until you collect your bags at the other end.

Safe travels!

I haven't done this yet but I'll be in the same boat later this year with a 4mo. I was planning on taking premade formula - I think it's exempt from the 100ml rule? I'm planning on feeding him during takeoff and landing and hoping against hope that he takes a dummy!

Those saying order milk to collect airside - what do you do for the journey home?

I was first planning to take pre-made formula which I can get airside but then again I’m not sure if there’s a Boots through security at Gatwick airport. It would be much easier if I took pre-made formula. If thats what I do, will I just need to take sterilised bottles with me?

It is allowed through security in reasonable quantities for the flight or you can order it into the airside Boots to avoid it holding you up at security as it has to be screened. If baby doesn’t take a dummy then feed for take-off and landing and it’ll still help with their ears.

You can take baby food and milk through security, they may just make you open one to swab it (but that's never happened to me).

Personally, I wouldn't rely on being able to access boiled water on the plane and I certainly wouldn't rely on them having bottled water (some use jugs from tanks for the drinking water).

Will your DC take ready made? It's more bull to carry but that would be my preference.

We took six bottles and during the stop over I diligently measured out 2 litres using used bottles into a giant zip lock bag and chucked a Milton tablet on for 30 minutes. That was a faff and I think there are better ways!!! Hopefully someone else will be along to tell you...

Family member works in the airport and she has always said that baby milk is allowed - I've always taken ready made bottles through. Sometimes they have asked me to "drink" it, but never had to actually drink it, they have said "It's fine it's fine!" as soon as the lid came off and I without hesitation was ready to take a gulp.

Take premade. They just check it at security. You can also get teats that screw directly onto the bottle which are handy for keeping luggage down if your baby will take them.

*bulky to carry

Pre made formula is a must.

If you can try and get a pram that you can take on the plane e.g. joie pact. Also a sling.

Pretty sure there’s a Boots. Otherwise just take it with you through security, I’ve done this loads of times. Definitely definitely do the ready made. Take the bottles clean and empty and just pour out from the carton when it’s time for a feed.

Yeah preorder for after security and take an empty/near empty bag to shove them in.

You don't want to have to be waiting for hot water with a hungry baby on a flight.

Thank you so much guys! Definitely gonna take pre-made formula. Definitely a dumb question, but the big bottle of pre-made formula eg the cow and gate one, can that be used again and again after opening? Or in how many hours?

You can order from Boots. There's info about the reserve and collect here:

www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/shopping-eating/shops/boots/

For the 1L bottle of pre-made Cow and Gate formula, it says that once the bottle is opened, unused milk must be refrigerated immediately and used within 24 hours

I'd get the small ones. You have to refrigerate the big ones which won't be possible.

Get the small single serve ones, they’re usually 7oz. Discard leftovers and use a fresh one for every feed. Obviously not the most economical way of doing it but worth it for ensuring convenience and hygiene and really it’s peanuts compared to the cost of a long haul flight!

Usually you need to discard it within 2 hrs if not refrigerated or in a good cool bag. I would go for the 200 mL bottles and allow one for each feed. We are taking readymade for an even longer trip and packing the same for the way back in our hold luggage (since readymade is not available in the country we are going to). We will take enough bottles for at least the first long flight (also extra allowing for delays). Our stopover airport has a parents room (check airport websites for facilities) with a microwave so am hoping to sterilise the bottles there and will probably bring some Milton tablets and a bag as a backup. A friend of mine did the Milton approach on the plane but the thought of washing bottles in the airplane toilet is too ikky for me.

Thanks guys 😊