Flying internationally with a FF baby... advice re getting through customs!

[Yarrawin]

Hi all

We're moving to England in three weeks time and DD, who is on S26 Gold will be 15 weeks old.

I had hoped to bf until after the move but it just wasn't meant to be and I'm really, really nervous about bottle feeding on international flights and getting everything through customs.

We're taking boiled cooled water and the powder sachets as the pre-prepared formulas are just too heavy for the amount we need to take with us. I'm pretty confident about getting through customs in Australia as there is a government website clearly stating the plans I have outlined are fine but we have three days in Malaysia and I'm really worried about getting everything back through customs there.

Any hints and tips or good information about this that anyone has would be great.

Thanks!

[Arimeh]

I don't know about internationally, but we travelled interstate and didn't run into any problems with carrying formula or water in our bottles, so I hope you don't either. We carried a few of the ready to drink cartons though, just in our carry on luggage, because it was easier to do that than to make up the formula when we were on the plane.

[Livinthedream]

Maybe ask your airline. I know there are rules about how many mls of liquid you can carry on.
The powder would be fine though
GL

[JaCaMaDy]

Hi Yarrawin,

We flew to the UK & back again a few weeks ago. My DD2 is FF, and I took all her bottles with the boiled water, and the little containers with pre measured amounts of formula (novalac reflux doesn't come pre packaged) I also took solids (rice cereal & frozen cubes of veges) and her 120ml bottle of Losec suspension (need to be friged on the plane) We stopped in Singapore & Dubai on the way over & landed in Birmingham. We had no problems whatsoever.

On our return trip, going through customs at Birmingham, they made me take a sip from each of her bottles of boiled water, and taste her solids - no big deal really - I guess at least they are being vigilant. When I made the bottles with the cooled boiled water, I put a bit extra in so tasting them wouldn't affect making them up correctly. HTH

Bec

p.s. Have you organised to get a bassinette on the plane? - it made for a really comfortable flight (my DD was 4 months old when we flew) and she was a dream on the plane - sucking a dummy during take off & landing helped loads!

[Janie71]

Hi I haven't been through Malaysia, but with the UK they just made me take a sip of any fluids that we were taking with us. With the USA they actually test a small amount of any fluids that you take. Can you see if there is a website for the airport at you will be flying through, or ask the airline?

On all my travels I have found that most places are pretty good when it comes to little ones and all the extra things at you need to carry.

Good luck with your move.

Janie xxx

[Chocaholic]

Regarding the boiled water, I would only take 2 bottles with water in them. I made sure I had spare sterilised bottles that were empty and asked the staff on the airline or at the cafes to fill them with hot water. Only the cafes at Melbourne Airport refused as they have a policy not to do it in case the baby was given the boiling water by mistake. However, they were happy to fill it with cold water and every cafe supposedly has a bottle warmer which they let you heat to whatever temperature you like. I explained that the hot water was for the next feed, not this one. By the time the next feed came around, because they were in an insulated bag, they were just the right temperature for drinking. If they were still too warm, I just added cold water that I bought.

However, most airlines are quite understanding. Just contact the airlines customer service and ask them if there are any restrictions.

[purplepixie1978]

We're flying in June as well so glad you started this thread! A friend of mine had to taste hers as well. Call the airline to see what they recommend and see if you can book a basinette. Apparently they prioritise the youngest children, so at 15 weeks you should be okay? But certainly worth checking what they recommend in terms of bottles/formula.