- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Breastfeeding
aforst
member
Bringing BM home on a plane
aforst
member
DH and I are going to FL in a week for 5 days w/o the kids. I'm taking my pump to keep my supply going and I would like to bring home what I pump. We are staying in a condo, so I'll be able to put the milk in the freezer while we are there. Any suggestions about the best way to fly home with it?
I assume I will want to carry it on? What did you use to keep it frozen (meaning, loose ice, ice packs,etc?). What kind/size cooler did you use? I'm not anticipating bringing back obscene amounts of milk. I'll probably be lucky to get 15 oz per day. I will freeze them in bags flat. Also, if I carry it on, do I need to tell them what's in the cooler? Does it get sent through the x-ray?
I appreciate any help!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Bringing BM home on a plane
My first response was "no liquids on the plane!" - and I would assume BM (defrosting or not) would count.
Have you looked into dry ice in a checked piece of luggage?
If it ends up being too big of a pain, maybe you could donate it in FL?
DH and I ended up pumping and just throwing away BM (*tears*) on a road trip a couple weeks ago. I was able to maintain my supply, but we lost about 70 oz.
I bring mine back when I travel for work. I brought back about 60 oz last week. I dumped a lot of it
But it's no big deal. You just keep it in the fridge (not freezer because then you risk thawing if you have flight delays, etc) and then store in a coolor with ice packs. When you get to security, open it up so they can see what it is. Some TSA folks want to inspect mine, others don't bat an eyelash at it.
You can print the TSA policy on mothers carrying BM and formula on the plane. I keep a copy of that in my pump pack in case anyone gives me trouble, which they never have.
GL!
Don't freeze it. Keep it chilled, fresh milk is easier to travel with than frozen.
I've brought back hundreds of oz from business trips. I just had my soft cooler with gel ice packs and have never had issues. but if the frozen milk thaws you'd have to use it up, that's why if it's in the 'safe' range date wise I'd keep it unfrozen IMO.
Just tell TSA you have bm and they may want to hand examine it for explosives with either strips they hold over the bag or pads they wipe off the bag with and scan...neither is a big deal.
And yes, it goes through xray.
One airport took a test trip and held it over one opened bag. It turned some color and he sent me on my way.
I honestly have had ZERO issues at all.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
That makes sense about it not being frozen! I'm glad I asked!!
It's NO big deal at all, really. They use either a strip or a pad and hold it over the bag (not even touching the milk) or wipe off the outside of the bag and then scan it for explosives. NOTHING touches the milk at all. They do the same for sippy cups of juice, etc that I've carried.
You can keep it frozen if you pack it up with dry ice in a cooler. Look online to find a place in FL that sells dry ice.
Each airline has different policies regarding traveling with dry ice. Jetblue, for example, permits dry ice in both carry on and checked luggage, as long as it is less than 5.5lbs worth. https://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/webisapi.dll?New,Kb=askBlue,case=obj%28631%29
Definitely carry it back fresh and freeze it once you're home (it's so much easier!). I've only ever had them test it once - and they just poured out a very small sample (1/2 a tsp) into a cup and dipped a test strip in it. It wasn't a big deal. Usually if you tell them it's breastmilk before you go through screening it makes them squeemish enough not to even open it.
Also - make sure your ice packs are the "hard frozen" as opposed to the "soft frozen/gel" type - TSA may make you get rid of the gel type. They have always seemed far more concerned with the ice packs than the breast milk.
I also pack extra ziplocks in case they make me throw out my ice packs and I need to get ice once I've gotten through security. They also come in handy (for the same reason) if you get delayed and your ice packs start to thaw. Have fun on your trip!