I was wondering if anyone had any experiences of flying long haul and carrying formula? I am flying to UK (so strict liquid retrictions) with my 4 month old and am a bit worried about having to carry enough food for 24 hours.
I've heard that if you get ready made cartons then they can make you open and taste 50%, so was planning to take 8 ready made bottles with cooled boiled water and then mix with powder.
Yeah, baby formula isn't included in the liquids thing. We're flying to Singapore in a couple of weeks so I was just looking at all the baggage restrictions myself!
It is tricky! My sis visited from the UK last year with a 4month old. She had the ready made formula and didn't have to taste it. I'm pretty sure she found it available for sale in transit lounge shops too.
BUT noting that different stopover / refuel cities have different rules when you get back on. eg Bangkok is really strict and annoying, they will take the water / coffee you just purchased in the transit lounge!! In contrast singapore is more reasonable.
I suggest you call your airline and ask to speak to someone who can give you reliable advice. Ask them about availability of water on board, taking on empty bottles, and how to bring premade formula on. They might suggest who else to consult with too.
I don't envy you, I know my sis was very stressed before hand but eventually got reliable advice and all went well. Good luck!
Hey hun, I have done it heaps of times in the last 9 years and I always take about 4 of the little ready-made cartons of formula (the little rectangular things like juice boxes) and then about 6 of the sachets of formula that are sealed. Then they can give you boiles water while your'e on the plane. I had to change the formula I used but thats not the end of the world
Thanks! I know it'll work out ok but it's just going to be stressful travelling alone with a baby. I know that formula doesn't count towards the liquid restriction -but all the advice I have received so far states that they will be "subject to further customs checks" which apparently means that they can make you taste it. This would be such a pain if you have taken cartons- cos then you can't use them! I think the best thing would be to take the sterilised water with pre-prepared water (which I can then taste without rendering useless if I have to) and add powder. I guess my main worry is that I don't want to be reliant on getting boiled water, and washing/sterilising bottles in airports/on planes ...so I;ll have to take enough for the whole trip- plus some extra just in case of delays. This means I'm going to be carrying A LOT of heavy bottles on my own, plus baby, plus nappies, clothes, some toys, etc etc. Wish I was breastfeeding! GRRR
CQueen- were you happy getting water form the air stewardesses? I was worried that they would be too busy and I'd end up with hungry screaming baby and water too hot!
Yep its a pain to get it when you need it...I took three empty bottles, asked them to fill with boiled water as soon as they had an oppertunity and then stored them around the seats so when I needed them they were cooled.
I've flown with the cartons heaps of times and they've never made me try them. As long as they're sealed it's fine.
With the bottles being sterilised it's tricky. How old is bub? I think the youngest I flew to the Uk with was 6 months old and I just had to bite the bullet and give a couple of bottles in un-steralised bottles. It's not the end of the world. You can ask them to put it in a container of boiling water for 5 minutes...they're usually happy to help
Did you take enough bottles for whole trip or did you clean and sterilise on the go, and if so how? I was thinking of taking small container and Milton tablets, plus brush and small bottle washing up liquid as back up in case I run out.
My baby tends to feed small amounts often, eg will only take 60-100mls but has 7 feeds a day, so I think I need to take quite a few back up options in case of delay.
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Has anyone flown long-haul with FF baby?
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