Rules for Traveling with Pumped Breast Milk
A mother who travels without her baby and needs to pump may be confused by the latest changes in airline restrictions on what can be packed in carry-on luggage. Andi Silverman of Mama Knows Breast examined what the rules are for taking expressed breast milk on an airplane. Basically, if you are traveling with your baby, you can carry on pumped breast milk (or formula) and ice to keep it cold. If you are traveling without your baby, you are limited to one quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag holding three-ounce containers of breast milk. Any additional milk must be transported in your checked luggage or shipped home separately. Read Andi’s article here for a detailed explanation.
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6 opinions for Rules for Traveling with Pumped Breast Milk
Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » Petition to Change Airline Rules for Breast Milk
Oct 28, 2006 at 5:33 pm
[…] Recently I wrote about the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s policy that limits the amount of expressed breast milk a mother can carry-on a plane when traveling without her baby. Many women unaware of the rules have had to throw away precious breast milk. If enough people express their outrage at this, perhaps the administration will change its policy. You can voice your opinion by signing the e-petition “Unlimited Expressed Breast Milk on Board Airplanes Now!” Specifically, the petition calls for the guidelines to be changed to the following: 1. Separate pumped breast milk from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag. 2. Declare pumped breast milk to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint. 3. Present pumped breast milk for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. […]
Callie
Jan 28, 2007 at 6:04 pm
I will be soon be traveling for work and gone for 3 full days. I plan on pumping and bringing back all my milk in my checked suitcase. Does anyone have any advice or experience with carrying a pump on board without any liquids? Do the airlines have a problem with this? Thank you for any replies, if you have them.
Angela
Jan 28, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Callie, I can’t imagine it would be a problem to take the breast pump with you on the plane. Here’s the link for the Transportation Security Administration’s list of permitted and prohibited items:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#3
Just to be sure you can call or email the TSA Contact Center:
Phone: 1-866-289-9673 toll-free
E-mail: TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
Have a good trip!
Airline Travel with Unlimited Breast Milk
Jul 20, 2007 at 2:31 pm
[…] the old airline rules, if a mother were traveling without her child, the carry-on amount was limited to one quart-sized […]
ecompo
Sep 18, 2007 at 1:30 pm
What is considered a “reasonable quantity” of milk allowed to be carried on board? I have a 2-day (36 hour, really) business trip coming up. Will I be able to carry-on all of my pumped milk from this time, or will I need to check it? Either way, any tips?
Thanks
Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Sep 19, 2007 at 5:14 am
Ecompo - the rules were recently changed again. See the comment about “Airline Travel with Unlimited Breast Milk,” above or here:
http://www.breastfeeding123.com/airline-travel-with-unlimited-breast-milk/
Basically you can take any amount of breast milk on the plane as long as you declare it first at the security checkpoint for inspection. You might want to print out a copy of the new rule to take with you, just in case the security officers are not familiar with the rule.
Have a good trip!
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