Jazmin Li
When travelling with a baby or toddler, it is important to know your options for buying milk at the airport. Milk is available for purchase at some airports, typically at coffee shops or fast-food restaurants like Starbucks and McDonald's. However, it may be challenging to find milk in convenient packaging, and there is no guarantee that the desired type of milk will be available. To avoid the hassle of TSA screening, some travellers opt to buy powdered milk or formula before their trip and mix it with water obtained after passing through security. It is also possible to bring your own milk, formula, or breast milk on board, but this may require additional screening procedures and proper storage to prevent spoilage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you buy milk at airports? | Yes, milk can be purchased at airports after passing through security checkpoints. |
| Bringing milk on a plane | Milk can be brought on international and domestic flights departing from the US in carry-on or checked luggage. |
| TSA rules | TSA allows milk and related supplies (formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, baby/toddler food) in quantities >3.4 oz (100 ml) in carry-on baggage. |
| Screening procedures | Additional screening procedures may be required if milk/formula is not X-rayed or opened. |
| Spoilage | Milk may spoil during travel. It remains safe for about 2 hours at room temperature. |
| Alternatives | Powdered milk, baby formula, and water can be purchased separately at the airport and mixed. |
| Availability | Milk may not be available at all airports or on planes. |
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What You'll Learn
TSA rules for carrying milk on planes
If you are travelling with a baby or toddler, you are allowed to bring formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (including pouches of pureed food) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on baggage. These items do not need to be fitted within a quart-sized bag. You can also bring breast milk cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs, in your carry-on luggage. You do not need to have your baby or toddler present with you to bring breast milk, formula, and/or related supplies.
Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying these items, and remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. TSA officers may need to test the liquids for explosives or prohibited items. It is helpful to the officers when formula and breast milk are in clear, translucent bottles rather than plastic bags or pouches.
If you do not want your formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food to be X-rayed or opened, inform the TSA officer, who will take additional steps to clear the liquid. You will then undergo additional screening procedures, including Advanced Imaging Technology screening and additional/enhanced screening of other carry-on property.
Note that TSA X-ray machines are not harmful to food or medicines.
If you are not travelling with a baby or toddler, you can still bring milk on a plane in your carry-on baggage or checked luggage. You can also buy milk once you have passed through airport security and bring it on the plane with you. However, taking milk off the plane and bringing it into a foreign country may be prohibited, as many countries have strict rules around bringing in dairy products.
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Buying milk at the airport
It is possible to buy milk at airports, but it may not always be available in every location, and you may have to try multiple stores. Coffee shops like Starbucks and McDonald's are a good option to try. You can also buy water at the airport and mix it with powdered milk or baby formula.
If you are travelling with a baby or toddler, you can bring milk, formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100ml in your carry-on baggage. These are considered medically necessary liquids and are not subject to the same restrictions as other liquids. You can also bring ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs, and other cooling accessories to keep these items cold. However, if you do not want these items to be X-rayed or opened, you will need to undergo additional screening procedures. It is helpful to have these items separate from your other belongings and in clear, translucent bottles rather than plastic bags or pouches.
If you are bringing milk for a toddler, it is a good idea to have a backup option, as milk may not always be available, and you may need to try multiple stores. Powdered milk or baby formula is a good alternative, as it is lightweight and easy to pack. You can also purchase water at the airport to mix with the powder.
When bringing milk onto a plane, it is important to consider the storage and spoilage. Milk will usually remain safe to drink for about 2 hours when stored at room temperature, whether opened or unopened. If you want to keep the milk cold, you can bring ice or a frozen gel pack, but these must be completely frozen when passing through airport security.
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Milk availability at airports
Milk is available at most airports, but it may not always be in a convenient form for babies or toddlers. Some sources suggest buying milk at the airport after passing through security, as any size of milk is allowable at this point. However, milk may not always be available in every airport or store, and it may be challenging to find the desired type of milk. For example, some airports may only offer pint-size bottles or cardboard half-pints that can easily spill.
Coffee shops at airports typically offer a range of milk options, from whole to skim, which can be useful for finding a suitable milk type for children. Some airports also offer milk boxes, similar to juice boxes, which are convenient for travel as they do not require refrigeration.
For those travelling with babies or toddlers, it is important to note that formula, breast milk, and toddler drinks are considered medically necessary liquids by the TSA and are allowed in carry-on baggage in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 millilitres. These items can be screened separately without being X-rayed or opened if requested, although additional screening procedures may be required.
To avoid the hassle of TSA screening, some travellers opt for powdered milk or formula, which can be easily mixed with water purchased at the airport. This option may not suit all children, as some may not like the taste of powdered milk.
Overall, while milk is generally available at airports, the specific type and packaging may vary, and it may be beneficial to carry a backup option, especially when travelling with young children.
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Keeping milk cool at airports
When it comes to keeping milk cool at airports, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is important to distinguish between breast milk and cow's milk, as the regulations and methods for storing and transporting them may differ.
For breast milk, many sources recommend using a cooler bag, such as the Yeti, with frozen ice packs to keep the milk cold. It is important to note that the ice packs must be completely frozen when passing through airport security, as partially thawed ice packs may be confiscated by TSA screeners. Additionally, the Per Friendly Airports for Mothers Improvement Act, hub airports are required to provide private, non-bathroom lactation spaces in every terminal for mothers to breastfeed or pump. It is also possible to ship breast milk to your destination or back home for storage.
For cow's milk, the options are a little more limited. One suggestion is to use powdered milk, which can be purchased at any grocery store and mixed with water, which can be purchased after the security checkpoint. This eliminates the need to worry about keeping liquid milk cold. Alternatively, you can purchase cow's milk at the airport after passing through security and bring it on board, although the availability of milk may vary across airports. If you choose to bring your own milk, it must be stored in a tightly sealed container and can be packed with ice or a frozen gel pack to keep it cool.
It is important to be aware of the TSA regulations regarding milk and to declare any milk or related supplies at the beginning of the screening process. Milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, are allowed regardless of the presence of breast milk or formula.
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Formula and powdered milk as alternatives
While milk is available at most airports, formula and powdered milk are also suitable alternatives for babies and toddlers.
Powdered milk is a convenient option for travel, as it can be purchased at any grocery store and easily transported. It is also cost-effective, with one box making about three gallons of milk. It is important to note that powdered milk is not sterile, so it must be prepared properly to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. This includes cleaning countertops, hands, utensils, and digital food thermometers, as well as sterilising bottles, nipples, spoons, lids, and other equipment. Boiled water should be cooled to about 70°C before mixing with the powder, and the prepared formula should be used within two hours.
Baby formula, on the other hand, is fortified with additional ingredients to provide the nutrients found in breast milk. It comes in powder, liquid concentrate, and ready-to-feed forms. It is designed to be prepared in small batches and fed to infants using a cup or baby bottle. Infant formulas typically contain purified cow's milk whey and casein as a protein source, a blend of vegetable oils as a fat source, lactose as a carbohydrate source, and a vitamin-mineral mix. There are also formulas that use soybean as a protein source, which is suitable for infants allergic to cow's milk or lactose. It is important to note that some powdered infant formulas cannot be prepared with boiled water due to heat-sensitive ingredients, so caregivers should consult a healthcare professional for advice. Prepared formula should be used within two hours and any leftovers discarded.
For toddlers, follow-on formulas are available for ages six months to three years. In the US, transition formulas are marketed for children from nine to 24 months, while toddler milk is designed for children aged 12 to 26 months. Similarly, in the UK, follow-on milk is for children aged six to 12 months, and toddler milk is for ages two to three years. It is important to note that toddler formulas are not nutritionally complete and are not subject to the same regulations as infant formulas.
When travelling with toddlers, it is recommended to try out formula or powdered milk at home before committing to it during travel, as the taste may be different from what they are used to. Additionally, it is advisable to bring a small amount of powder and mix it with water at the airport or on the plane. While milk can be purchased at most airports after passing through security, it may not be available at every location, and the desired type of milk may not always be available.
Overall, formula and powdered milk are convenient alternatives to fresh milk when travelling, but proper preparation and taste considerations are important factors to keep in mind.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, milk can be purchased at the airport, but it may not be available in convenient bottles. Starbucks and McDonald's are two vendors that sell milk at some airports.
Yes, you can bring milk onto a plane in your carry-on baggage or checked luggage. However, milk will only remain safe to drink for about 2 hours when stored at room temperature.
Yes, these are considered medically necessary liquids and are allowed in carry-on baggage in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
Milk can be purchased after passing through security, so you don't have to worry about bringing it with you. If you do bring milk, it should be in a tightly sealed container to avoid spillage. You can also bring ice or a frozen gel pack to keep the milk cool, but these must be completely frozen when passing through security.
Powdered milk or formula can be brought on a plane and mixed with water. Formula sticks are lightweight and easy to pack.
