Rules for Traveling with Pumped Breast Milk

Comments

1. Callie says:

   January 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.

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2. Angela says:

   January 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!

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3. ecompo says:

   September 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

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4. Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor says:

   September 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!

   Reply
5. laura pisani says:

   June 3, 2009 at 10:49 pm

   This regulation has changed.
   http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

   “Mothers flying with, and now without, their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoint… 1. Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.
   2. Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
   3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.
   …You are allowed to bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred, or processed baby food in your carry-on baggage and aboard your plane.”

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Trackbacks

1. Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » Petition to Change Airline Rules for Breast Milk says:

   October 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. [...]

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2. Airline Travel with Unlimited Breast Milk says:

   July 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 [...]

   Reply