TSA changes breast milk rules!

[tylersmama]

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm

Finally, they show some common sense! Here's the pertinent info from the website:
"TSA is also modifying the rules associated with carrying breast milk through security checkpoints. 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.

Breast milk is in the same category as liquid medications. Now, a mother flying without her child will be able to bring breast milk through the checkpoint, provided it is declared prior to screening."

The whole breastmilk not allowed when traveling without a baby was probably one of the worst of the many stupid rules that TSA has come up with since 9/11. I'm so happy for the many mamas who have to travel away from their babies that they wised up and got rid of such a dumb rule!

[pb&j]

Thanks heavens! Makes me want to cry even more than I already did for the milk I had to pump and dump when I was on a business trip last fall.

Thanks for posting, this is great info.


-Ry,
mom to Max, age 1.5
and my girl in heaven

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[MarisaSF]

Do they need any "proof" that it is breastmilk? We don't need to sip it or anything, right?

[tylersmama]

I don't think so. They were pretty explicit before the rule change that they would not make people drink breastmilk (which of course, didn't stop some idiotic screeners from trying to do it anyway). My understanding is that all you have to do is declare it as breastmilk at the checkpoint, and they may visually inspect it, but that should be all. If they "inspect" it like they did my baby food that I carried on the last two trips I made, that means that they don't even look twice at it.

[deenass]

I'm travelling with my son in August and will need to bring BM with me - he'll be staying with a sitter that night and I can't pump enough for one bottle in one day ... so can I bring ice packs when I transport it???

[Momof3Labs]

I'd guess not, but a bag of frozen veggies works just as well and is definitely allowed.

[egoldber]

I would dearly love to know the answer to this question. I am flying with Amy on Friday and I want to be able to carry some breastmilk with me for mixing with her food over the weekend. I'm flying by myself with the girls and can't bring my pump.

I looked at flyertalk.com and the folks there seem to say that usually cooler packs used for baby bottles, baby food and formula are overlooked by TSA. I'm going to risk it.

[deenass]

Would love to know if you are successful in bringing ice packs with the BM.

THANKS!

[pb&j]

According to the TSA website, among the list of allowable items is:

-Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.


-Ry,
mom to Max, age 1.5
and my girl in heaven

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/37124.gif

[egoldber]

So does that include breastmilk and food for infants/toddlers or no? That is the question. At flyertalk some people report having to ditch gel packs and some report TSA not giving it a second glance. Apparently it all depends on the screener.

[pb&j]

In that case, I might buy a couple of cheap bags of frozen vegetables, rather than risk losing my gel packs.


-Ry,
mom to Max, age 1.5
and my girl in heaven

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/37124.gif

[niccig]

Posting late.

As soon as my friend gets through security, she goes to a fast food place and asks for some ice. She fills a ziplock bag with it, and uses that to keep food cold. It might be worth having an extra ziplock bag in case the frozen veges melt or the gel pack is taken away from you.

Nicci

[baileygirl]

I recently flew and used frozen veggies and got additional ice on the plane. When I went thru security I asked if I could have brought gel packs with me, the lady said that she thought it would probably fall under medical condition and most likely be allowable (but she wasn't postive). On the way back, I didn't have frozen veggies so I brought a gallon sized bag of ice filled about halfway...no one said a word about it. I agree with others that most likely you would be fine with the gel packs. However, you could always end up with that one screener.....

[baileygirl]

Reading the TSA page it says breast milk is considered a medical necessity...I would print that page and bring it with me.

[mudder17]

I'd either use my Fridge-to-Go (built-in ice packs) or frozen veggies as Ry suggests.


Eileen

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[egoldber]

I chickened out on using the gel packs and just used frozen peas. I also had a container of frozen breatmilk so that helped. But honestly, I think I could have used anything. TSA didn't even glance at my cooler bag, which was inside of another carry-on bag. Next time I'll just use gel packs.

[mudder17]

I'm glad you were able to get through with no problems! Thanks for the report back.


Eileen

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