How to bring expressed breast milk on a plane?

Traveling with Expressed Breast Milk: A Comprehensive Guide
Traveling with expressed breast milk can seem daunting, but with the right preparation and knowledge of regulations, it can be a smooth experience. Whether you’re a nursing mother on the go or a caregiver transporting milk for a little one, understanding the rules and best practices is essential.
Understanding TSA Regulations
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has specific guidelines that allow travelers to bring breast milk on planes. Notably, breast milk is exempt from the usual liquid restrictions that limit liquids to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). This means you can carry a reasonable amount of breast milk in your carry-on baggage without needing to fit it into a quart-sized bag. When passing through security, it’s advisable to inform TSA agents that you are carrying breast milk and to separate it from other items in your bag for screening.
Packing Your Breast Milk
When preparing to travel, the way you pack your breast milk is crucial. Most breast milk coolers come equipped with ice packs, which should be frozen solid before your trip. It’s recommended to make your milk the last item you pack and the first to unpack, ensuring it stays as cold as possible. If you’re transporting a larger quantity, consider using a larger cooler with additional ice packs to maintain the milk’s temperature throughout your journey.
Traveling Without Your Baby
Interestingly, you can travel with expressed breast milk even if your baby is not accompanying you. Many mothers have successfully transported significant amounts of frozen milk—some reporting up to 60 ounces—without any issues. This flexibility allows caregivers to ensure that the baby has access to their mother’s milk, regardless of travel circumstances.
During the Flight
If you do not need to access the breast milk during your flight, you can opt to check it in a small insulated cooler with frozen ice packs. The storage compartments in planes are typically cool enough to keep the milk safe for the duration of a domestic flight. However, if you prefer to keep it with you, ensure that it is easily accessible for security checks.
Final Tips for a Smooth Journey
1. Notify Security: Always inform TSA agents about your breast milk when you arrive at the security checkpoint.
2. Use a Cooler: Invest in a good-quality cooler designed for breast milk transport, which will help maintain the right temperature.
3. Plan Ahead: If you’re traveling internationally, check the regulations of your destination country regarding the importation of breast milk, as they can vary significantly.
By following these guidelines, traveling with expressed breast milk can be a hassle-free experience, allowing you to focus on your journey rather than the logistics of transporting your milk.

How to store expressed breast milk when out?

Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to six hours. However, it’s optimal to use or properly store the breast milk within four hours, especially if the room is warm. Insulated cooler. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler with ice packs for up to one day.

How to go out with expressed breast milk?

Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to six hours. However, it’s optimal to use or properly store the breast milk within four hours, especially if the room is warm. Insulated cooler. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler with ice packs for up to one day.

How much breastmilk does TSA allow?

3.4 ounces
Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in excess of 3.4 ounces. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings.

How much breastmilk can you fly with?

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag.

Can you fly with expressed breast milk?

One of the questions I am asked a lot is about traveling with breast milk, flying with breast milk and whether you can take expressed breast milk through airport security. The answer is yes, you can bring expressed breast milk through airport security in individual containers no more that 2000ml each in size.

How much breastmilk can I bring through TSA?

3.4 ounces
Liquid Formula, Breast Milk, Toddler Drinks, and Baby/Toddler food (to include puree pouches) Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag.

What can I do with breast milk instead of dumping?

6 Creative Ways to Use Breast Milk as a Home Remedy

1. Soothing Baby’s Diaper Rash.
2. Clearing Baby’s Stuffy Nose.
3. Easing Teething Pain.
4. Treating Baby’s Acne.
5. Helping Baby’s Cradle Cap.
6. Healing Cuts and Scrapes.

How do you pack expressed breast milk?

Before expressing or handling breast milk, wash your hands with soap and water. Then store the expressed milk in a clean, capped food-grade glass container or hard plastic container that’s not made with the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). You can also use special plastic bags designed for milk collection and storage.

How to bring pumped breast milk on a plane?

Easiest thing is to freeze the breast milk, put it in a small little lunch box cooler with bottles of frozen water. You can bring water through TSA as long as it is frozen, I don’t think breast milk has to be (if you’re planning to feed it to baby on the flight, looks like you’re not bringing baby though). It was easy!

How do you carry expressed breast milk while Travelling?

Transporting your breast milk. Take expressed milk home or to a childcare setting in bottles or bags, inside a cooler bag with a freezer pack. If your ice packs are defrosting then ask for a bag of crushed ice from a fast food outlet or cafe.